Three takeaways as Flames drop OT decision to host Red Wings
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It was another turkey away from home for the Calgary Flames.
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At least their timing is right, given it’s U.S. Thanksgiving.
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But it’s tough to swallow another road loss — this one 2-1 in overtime to the host Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night, making it five straight losses and eight in their last nine away from Scotiabank Saddledome.
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The only forkful to take from the result was a point taken from the evening.
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“I didn’t think it was our best game,” said Flames captain Mikael Backlund. “I didn’t think we got pressure — really — until the third. We can play better than we did.
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“But to get a point when you don’t play well is big.”
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That was made possible by a late third-period surge from the Flames that eventually led to a power-play goal by Connor Zary.
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After Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin took a rare penalty for playing the puck backwards at the faceoff dot in the defensive end, Zary ripped a shot past goaltender Cam Talbot with the man-advantage with just 2:48 left in regulation.
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The tying tally marked the fifth-straight game with a power-play goal for the Flames.
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“That was a big goal for us,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “We talked a lot before about our power play, and now we’re talking about it in a positive way.”
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The goal finally cracked what was an offensive challenge otherwise for the visitors, who began the affair with a strong effort but then ran into penalty trouble — again. Three of them taken in the first period stopped their momentum, and Alex DeBrincat scored on the first of those power plays for the only goal until Zary’s timely one late.
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“I thought it was a hard game both ways,” Huska said. “It wasn’t a typical game for us. There wasn’t a lot of room on the ice, and I’m happy the guys stuck with it.
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“I’m not disappointed with the effort at all.”
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It was the second game of a four-game road-trip, which began Monday with a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
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The next game for the Flames goes Friday afternoon for what’s expected to be an emotional affair against the Columbus Blue Jackets (1 p.m.).
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Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s game at Little Caesars Arena:
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HOLIDAY HISTORY
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Despite the loss, the Flames woke up Thursday morning in a playoff position in the NHL’s Western Conference.
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That’s significant because U.S. Thanksgiving is considered a historical benchmark in the post-season race, with the turkey day’s standings often reflective of which 16 teams eventually secure playoff spots.
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So the Flames can certainly gobble up and savour that in the face of what happened Wednesday night.
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“It’s tough to lose it that way,” said Zary, of the penalty taken and the power-play goal scored against in overtime. “It always sucks, obviously.
