Not the way the Calgary Flames wanted their win streak to end

The Calgary Flames, after getting dismantled 7-1 by the Canucks, fell one win short of setting a franchise record for successive victories.  

It’s certainly not the way Darryl Sutter wanted his team’s 10-game winning streak to come to an end. Everything about last night’s encounter in Vancouver stunk to high heaven. Penalty trouble cost the away team dearly in the second period, as the Canucks scored three with the man advantage to put the game out of reach.

The Flames created some good opportunities when the game was still scoreless, but were unable to beat a hot Thatcher Demko, who made 29 saves on the night. Jacob Markström was pulled after the Canucks scored their third, but backup Daniel Vladař didn’t fare much better.

Of course the wheels had to fall off against one of our most bitter rivals in their building. The old adage all good things come to an end hit home with the Flames’ six-goal loss. Calgary tied a franchise record of 10 straight wins in a tight 3-1 victory over Winnipeg on Monday and there was high hopes they’d complete the job last night in Vancouver.

That wasn’t the case. It was the first road game since Calgary won in Arizona on Feb. 2. There was a lot of firsts in last night’s forgettable performance. It was the first time Calgary trailed since going down to Dallas on Feb. 1. It was the first time they conceded more than three goals since losing 5-1 in St. Louis on Jan. 27. It was the first time Markstrom was pulled since being withdrawn in Dallas on Feb. 1.

You get the point. While it’s a game the Flames will want to wipe from their memory banks, they’ll need to learn from the disheartening experience in order for it not to happen again.

The Flames are back on home ice against the Wild on Saturday. Everyone expects a bounce-back performance, no one more so than Sutter, who was unimpressed with his team’s lack of discipline and defensive frailties in last night’s lopsided loss.