Coming off a bounce back win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Calgary Flames looked to enter the all-star break on a winning note as they took on the Ottawa Senators yesterday afternoon. The Senators got off to an early start with Brady Tkachuk scoring the opening goal off a broken play. Unfortunately for the Flames, the Senators were the only group that seemed able to put pucks in. Despite leading in shots the entire game, the Flames dropped the contest 5-2. They enter the all-star break in third place in the Pacific Division, but just one point out both first place and the second wild card. Things are tight.

Statistical Breakdown

5v5 SVA CF% SCF% HDCF% xGF% 69.8 69.0 53.7 68.7 30.2 31.0 46.3 31.3

Team Stats

5v5 Player Stats

Calgary Flames

Ottawa Senators

No Senators skaters were above the 50% CF mark; in fact the team leader was Connor Brown with 36.4% CF.

Vladislav Namestnikov led the Senators with 71.4% HDCF.

Scott Sabourin was on the ice for zero CF, SCF, HDCF, and xGF in the game.

Stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick

Thoughts on the Game

Coming into this game, the Senators had lost nine straight games. They’re one of the worst teams in the NHL, have a great shot to pick number one overall in the 2020 draft, and were starting their third string goalie. This is a game the Flames should have won, and though they did play decently well, they got blown out 5-2 on a night that saw the Oilers, Canucks, and Golden Knights all pick up points.

This isn’t the type of game you can afford to drop when the Pacific is as tight as it is, and it’s a major disappointment they couldn’t come home with two points. Still, they did play well in the game and outchanced the Senators. David Rittich probably could have made a few more saves, but at the end of the day, this was a game won by Marcus Hogberg in the Ottawa crease, and that happens.

Hopefully the Flames can all get some much needed rest over the next couple weeks and come back ready to dominate the second half of the season. I’m very excited to see all three Flames all-stars take part in the festivities next weekend, especially Matthew Tkachuk in his hometown of St. Louis and Rittich to be as entertaining as ever. Hockey is supposed to be fun; let’s see some them have some fun.

Kudos to Jankowski for scoring a goal. Welcome to the NHL, kid.

The Gaud, the Bad, and the Ugly

Good: The Flames weren’t outplayed in this one. They played a decent game but needed more finish. At least they showed up.

Bad: The fact that the Canucks and Oilers won last night, and the Golden Knights picked up a point.

Ugly: Almost every game these days are must wins, and to lose to a team on a nine game losing streak is simply unacceptable.

Next Game

Opponent: St. Louis Blues

Record: 30-11-8

Standings: 1st in the Central

Season Series: 0-1-0

Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images