Calgary Flames 2 - Ottawa Senators 4

NHL Standings

While the Flames were stumbling their way through their 6th loss of the season to the Ottawa Senators the Edmonton Oilers were “trying” to help Calgary out by defeating the Canadiens 4-1 Monday night. Instead of beating the last place Sens and getting to within four points of Montreal with a rather large three game series looming with the Habs, Calgary laid an egg and fell 4-2 to Ottawa.

Calgary had more shots (28). They won more faceoffs (58%). Had less PIM (9). Threw more hits (23). Had more giveaways....wait, that’s not good. Calgary’s 18 (!) giveaways on the night helped seal their fate as sloppy play would send the Flames to defeat. A bad turnover by Juuso Valimaki would lead to a goal. A bad turnover by Noah Hanifin would lead to a goal. And lastly, a bad turnover by Matthew Tkachuk would lead to an empty net goal, the fourth marker of the night for Ottawa and another frustrating loss would be added to the pile of many frustrating losses this season.

If you’re waiting for the “playoff” Flames to show up and take control of this season you are probably going to be waiting a long time. The effort put forth by this team night in and night out is all over the place and today was a prime example. Calgary would push the pace of play and then dumb mistakes would rear their ugly head. A short handed goal off a turnover. Drawing back to back penalties and then taking a penalty on the power play.

It’s just more of the same old Flames showing up on your screen and because Montreal is playing just as poorly you’re being lulled into a false sense of hope. Losses like tonight are proof positive that this team doesn’t belong anywhere near the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Scoring

1st Period: OTT: 9:50- Tkachuk (Norris), CGY: 11:23- Lindholm (Gaudreau/Giordano)

2nd Period: OTT: SHG 19:04- Brown (Paul)

3rd Period: OTT: PPG 7:52- Norris (Brannstrom/Batherson), CGY: 10:47- Stone (Backlund), OTT: Empty Net 18:25- Brown (unassisted)

Shots On Goal

Calgary: 28 (11-9-8)

Ottawa: 20 (11-5-4)

Goaltending

Calgary: Markstrom- 19 SA - 3 GA- 16 SV

Ottawa: Murray- 28 SA - 2 GA - 26 SV

Special Teams

Calgary: PP: 0-4, PK: 1-2

Ottawa: PP: 1-2, PK: 4-4

Flame Of The Game

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Elias Lindholm (C): 1 goal, 3 SOG, 52% faceoffs, 17:18 TOI

What’s Next?

4/23: Calgary Flames vs Montreal Canadiens, 7 PM MT