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No one is shedding extra video games within the NHL than the Calgary Flames proper now.
The one query, actually, is how low can they go?
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The Flames’ 4-1 loss to the host Los Angeles Kings on Thursday evening was nothing to get too upset about. The Kings had all the things to play for and clinched a playoff spot with the win. The Flames are absolutely conscious that they’ll kick off an early spring in precisely every week after they get their closing common season recreation out of the best way.
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And mixed with the Arizona Coyotes — can we name them the Salt Lake Metropolis Coyotes but? Are there coyotes in Utah? — profitable on Wednesday and the Ottawa Senators knocking off the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, the Flames now have three groups inside two factors of them within the total standings.
Getting as few factors as potential from their closing 4 video games might see these groups leapfrog the Calgary crew and the Flames enhance their probabilities within the draft lottery.
That will be the very best factor for the group long-term. Buying the very best younger gamers potential within the draft clearly issues greater than any factors they’ll choose up within the standings within the subsequent week. That’s not even a debate.
However it doesn’t make all of the defeats any extra irritating for the fellows within the locker-room.
They’re nonetheless rivals and all this shedding stings.
Luckily, at the very least there’s a fast turnaround this time and so they can attempt to transfer previous Thursday’s uninspiring loss to the Kings with a recreation in opposition to the Anaheim Geese on Friday. (8 p.m. MT, Sportsnet One/Sportsnet 960 the Fan).
“It’s good, clearly on a back-to-back, it’s good to show the web page,” Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau advised reporters in L.A. post-game. “We’ve acquired 4 video games left, we’ve acquired to provide it our all and simply overlook about tonight and be higher tomorrow.
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“They’re staff, they confirmed it tonight. I believe we’ve gotta give a greater effort to get a win or at the very least compete in opposition to a staff like that. Simply put this one within the rubbish and get again to it tomorrow and be higher.”
There’s solely a lot worth in dissecting a recreation just like the one the Flames performed Thursday.
Head coach Ryan Huska mentioned he thought they regarded gradual for the primary two durations. The Kings may be very exhausting to attain in opposition to after they get arrange in their very own zone, and the Flames simply weren’t fast sufficient in transition to catch their opponents sleeping.
They did, to their credit score, push to get again within the recreation within the third interval. They had been down 3-0 after 40 minutes however pulled again to inside two after Huberdeau deflected a Daniil Miromanov shot previous Cam Talbot.
It wasn’t sufficient, although. The Flames have now misplaced 9 of their final 11 video games. Their 2-8-0 document over their final 10 is the worst of any NHL staff over that stretch.
That would change. Their schedule is form over the ultimate 4 video games, with matchups in opposition to the lowly Coyotes, Geese and San Jose Sharks, in addition to the playoff-bound Vancouver Canucks.
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The Flames themselves need to win as many as potential. That’s what you need from the fellows who truly play, even when everybody else is aware of that a number of extra losses wouldn’t be such a foul factor within the grand scheme of issues.
“We’ve simply acquired to regroup right here, be taught from our errors and hold going,” Miromanov mentioned. “It’s a brief turnaround, again at it tomorrow evening in Anaheim. Simply gotta be taught what we’ve gotta do, hold shifting ahead right here, final little stretch we’ve acquired to essentially dial it in right here. “
ACROSS THE ICE
Blake Coleman was unavailable for the Flames on Thursday evening. The staff introduced he was out day-to-day earlier within the morning … Miromanov took a completely wild penalty within the first interval. He dropped his stick, caught the puck with two arms after which snapped it between his legs like a centre in soccer. It resulted in a power-play that led to a aim, in order that’s not nice, however it truthfully made this reporter snicker. That’s acquired to depend for one thing … Adrian Kempe did an awfully good job getting beneath the Flames’ pores and skin, particularly within the first 40 minutes. It began when he pushed Brayden Pachal into goaltender Jacob Markstrom, which the Flames clearly weren’t thrilled about, however he proceeded to get himself in the course of nearly each different mix-up — and there have been a number of — for the primary two durations.
daustin@postmedia.com
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