Calgary Flames: Same old story – lose 4-0 to the Anaheim Ducks

The Calgary Flames lost yet another game where they outplayed their opponents. Where have we heard this story before?

Take this game and apply it to their last like, ten games, and it’ll still work. In a game where they shoulda, coulda, woulda, the Calgary Flames were shutout 4-0 by the Anaheim Ducks. The Flames also badly outplayed the Ducks, especially in the first two periods. But poor goaltending and the inability to find the back of the net, and the Flames paid the price, yet again.

Mike Smith got the nod between the pipes to start the game off (for some reason). But David Rittich would relieve him to start the third. It was also Matt Stajan’s 1000th game and he deserved everything good tonight, but he didn’t get it.

Let’s see how the Flames got to this point.

First period

Ryan Getzlaf had a bad giveaway in his own zone which went right to Curtis Lazar, but he couldn’t find the back of the net. The Calgary Flames were already outshooting the Ducks 6-1 3:15 into the game. Which means they will lose 7-0. –> FYI, I wrote that in real time and turns out I wasn’t far off.

We got to see some 4on4 action because Johnny GOONdreau got into it with Brandon Montour. Nothing resulted from that, but Montour took another penalty later in the period so the Flames went on the powerplay. A goal post from Dougie Hamilton later and we have Andrew Cogliano (a player who my dad HATES) go the other way and score shorthanded. Because of course, he did.

This period ended 1-0 for the Ducks and the Flames outshooting the Ducks 11-5 and getting a majority of the shot attempts. Let’s go to the second period.

Second period

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames came into this period with energy and a vengeance. They were all over the Ducks for the first five minutes so, in perfect Flames fashion, they take a penalty. They limited the Ducks to just one shot on their PP and came right back out with energy when they went back to even-strength.

But energy and shot attempts mean nothing when you don’t score. A little less than halfway through the period, Ondrej Kase snuck the puck past Mike Smith to make it 2-0 Ducks. That was the Ducks’ third shot on goal in the period.

Late in the period, the puck bounced off a linesman and right to the Ducks. With a slapshot from Hampus Lindholm, that’s now a 3-0 lead over the Flames. The Flames outshot the Ducks 12-6 this period.

Third period

The Calgary Flames switched goaltenders to start the third so David Rittich was now between the pipes (as he should have been to start the game). If I’m being totally though, I somewhat stopped paying attention this period. I got caught up after finding that clip from the Mighty Ducks (in the Tweet above) and I kept watching it.

Johnny Gaudreau had somewhat of a breakaway. Which he tried going five-hole (again). So of course, he didn’t score.

Late in the game, Francois Beauchemin made it 4-0 for the Ducks because of course he did. The Flames outshot, outcorsi’d, and basically outplayed the Ducks. But they also outgiveaway’d (that’s a word, ok). It’s the same old story: the Flames outplay their opponents but lose big time.

Next: The case for trading prospects

I know the Flames were done for like a week ago, but there was still always this slightest bit of chance. With this loss tonight, even if they won every game from here on out, they’ll only finish with 94 points. There’s a 99% chance they’re not making the playoffs.

Sorry folks.