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So far as homestands go, this couldn’t be going a lot worse for the Calgary Flames.
These half-dozen video games on the Saddledome had been speculated to solidify the Flames’ (21-22-5) place within the wild card race and ship them into their all-star break feeling like momentum was on their aspect for a late-season playoff push.
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As an alternative, after dropping 5-2 to Johnny Gaudreau and the Columbus Blue Jackets (15-23-9) on Thursday evening, the Flames have dropped four-straight and their post-season hopes are hanging by a thread.
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“It’s unacceptable,” stated Flames defenceman Chris Tanev. “4 straight losses at residence whenever you’re attempting to make the playoffs.”Their time beyond regulation win over the Arizona Coyotes to open this stretch in Calgary feels prefer it was ages in the past they usually’re six factors again of the Nashville Predators, who’re at the moment occupying the second wild card spot. There are three different groups, all with games-in-hand, between the Flames and Preds.
So this homestand has accomplished the alternative of what the Flames hoped it might do. If it’s solidified something, it’s that the Flames are very a lot on the outside-looking-in on the Western Convention playoff image.
If Thursday evening is remembered for something by Flames followers, although, it should certainly be the return of Oliver Kylington to the lineup. The defenceman hadn’t performed in 20 months whereas he attended to his psychological well being and was greeted with loving applause when he was launched and each time he touched the puck.
That needs to be rightly celebrated. The disappointing end result does nothing to remove from Kylington’s large second.
However the end result does matter to the Flames season.
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They’ll really feel unfortunate on the Blue Jackets’ two first interval objectives, with Yegor Chinakhov capitalizing on a wonky bounce off the ref.MacKenzie Weegar tied it up shortly for the Flames, however then Jacob Markstrom turned the puck over and Damon Severson had it behind the Flames internet earlier than their goaltender may get again in place.
Connor Zary tied it earlier than the primary interval was by, however from then on, it was all Blue Jackets with Alexandre Texier and Dmitri Voronkov placing them up 4-2 earlier than Adam Fantilli completed issues off with an empty-netter.
“We’ve taken a step again, for certain,” stated Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “The sport in opposition to Toronto, there have been a number of good issues in there. Actually, the 2 video games that we’re not overly happy with are the final two. These ones are harder to swallow whenever you’re in a struggle and people are factors that whenever you’re at residence, you need to be sure to’re doing all the things you’ll be able to to get these factors and I don’t assume we had the required vitality that we needed to play with tonight.”
It was an unpleasant loss for the Flames at a time once they desperately want factors within the standings simply to remain within the struggle for a playoff place, not to mention e book one.
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They’re again under .500 they usually’re dropping floor.
They’ll nonetheless salvage two factors in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday evening, however even with a win, this was not how this homestand was speculated to go.
ACROSS THE ICEFourth-liner A.J. Greer fell awkwardly into the boards and left Thursday’s recreation within the second interval. He put no weight on his leg as he skated off the ice … Jonathan Huberdeau was assessed a five-minute penalty and a recreation misconduct for boarding on Jack Roslovic halfway by the third interval. The hit left Roslovic bloodied and few may argue with the punishment … There have been boos for Gaudreau all through Thursday evening’s proceedings, however they weren’t practically as loud because the cheers that greeted Kylington, and had been nowhere close to as vitriolic as what the Calgary crowd served up final season when Gaudreau returned for the primary time.
daustin@postmedia.com
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