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Calgary Flames Daily: Special teams continue to be a problem

By Ramina Shlah

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) tries to latch onto the puck with a pile in the crease during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Calgary Flames on February 13, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Flames 5-2. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) tries to latch onto the puck with a pile in the crease during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Calgary Flames on February 13, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Flames 5-2. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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In a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins last night, one thing’s clear with the Calgary Flames:  Their special teams desperately need some work.

Death, taxes, and the Calgary Flames inability to generate anything on the powerplay. Last night, the Flames lost 5-2 to the Boston Bruins. While one goal was an empty-net goal, the Flames were down a goal with 15 minutes left in the third period and they went on a powerplay. But they couldn’t generate anything. They couldn’t even get a single shot attempt on that powerplay.

"Head coach Glen Gulutzan even said that the team couldn’t generate anything in the third period last night. This also seems to be a downfall for the Flames lately – the inability to play a full 60. They’ll either have the first period where they don’t show up, or they won’t show up in the third period."

Basically, it’s hard to trust in the third period if they’re not down by a goal or if they’re not up by at least four goals. There is no in-between.

Via Calgary Sun:

"“We didn’t generate a chance in the third,” Gulutzan said. “Not one chance. 4-2, 5-2. I mean, we weren’t generating a thing. We generated nine chances on the evening. I don’t think I pulled Ritty too early.”"

About pulling David Rittich early, Gulutzan pulled him out with a little over four minutes left. He was somewhat criticized for that, but what’s done is done.

"“You know what?” Gulutzan said. “I thought this was a game where your top guys had to come and play and I thought theirs were a little better than ours tonight.”“There were some plays I’d like to take back,” Brodie said. “(It’s frustrating) the fact we were tied going into the third, but you can’t change that now.”"

While David Rittich didn’t back up the team as much as they could have used, he also didn’t cost them the game. And at the same time, he did face 39 shots and he isn’t an NHL starting goaltender. He’s not at fault for this at all.

Some links surrounding the Flames

Bruins knock off Flames (Calgary Flames).

‘We weren’t generating a thing,’ says coach after Flames fall 5-2 to the Bruins (Calgary Sun).

Bergeron, Nash lead Boston Bruins past Calgary Flames 5-2 (Global News).

Some links surrounding hockey and the NHL

Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators complete 4-player trade (FanSided).

Brian Gionta, James Wisniewski could be back in NHL after Olympics (FanSided).

Seattle group formally files for NHL expansion team (Sportsnet).

Next: Flames feel the wrath of the Boston Bruins

That’s all in today’s Flames Daily!

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