'Jacob was the reason why this game was close': Takeaways from the Calgary Flames' 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers

A season-best four-game winning streak was there for the taking for the Calgary Flames.

Instead of taking advantage against a struggling Philadelphia Flyers squad, the Flames (17-17-5) gassed a pair of leads en route to Saturday's 3-2 loss in the City of Brotherly Love.

Thanks to goals by Jonathan Huberdeau — his second in three games — and MacKenzie Weegar — his career-best ninth of the season — the Flames held a 2-1 lead past the midway point.

But a late-second-period power-play goal by Philadelphia’s Sean Couturier and early third-period short-handed tally from Travis Konecny wasted the effort, and yet another strong game from goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

"The first period I thought we got off to a good start and then in the second and third period, Jacob (Markstrom) was the reason why this game was close," coach Ryan Huska told the media in Philadelphia.

Now, the takeaways from the loss that precedes a Sunday afternoon clash with the Chicago Blackhawks, who will be without rookie sensation Connor Bedard:

Markstrom gave a chance to win

Even Markstrom’s biggest detractors must applaud his efforts in this one. He stopped 22 shots in the second period alone — equal to the amount Carter Hart made the whole game — and the Flames went into the third period tied.

But his 39 saves were not enough and the Flames blew a first-rate outing.

"That game, I think, could've gotten a little out of hand if he wasn't there for us (today)," Weegar said. "The whole time that he's come back, he's been outstanding for us and we was definitely our best player."

In seven games since returning from that broken finger, Markstrom has surrendered only 14 goals and stopped 201 of 215 shots — a .935 save percentage.

Not-so-special teams

It is hard to be too critical of Calgary’s penalty kill, which went 5-for-6, and was victimized for the first time in seven games, although the Flyers generated all kinds of scoring chances. If anything can be criticized in that area, it was the lack of discipline (although the officiating left plenty to be desired).

The Putrid Power Play™ was another story. Not only were the Flames blanked on three opportunities, mustering only one shot and surrendering a dagger-in-the-heart short-handed goal.

It’s bad enough when the power play fails to generate offence, but even worse when it loses momentum, which was the case far too often. Again.

Shock and awe-what-the-what?

A first-time naming to the all-star game and first NHL fight within a couple of days for Elias Lindholm.

No way that was on anybody’s bingo card before this road trip kicked off.

Ch-ch-ch-changes?

With the free-falling Blackhawks up next, and coming off a loss, it will be curious to see what moves Huska makes. The obvious change is for Dan Vladar to take the net, but it will be no surprise if switching up some skaters comes with more off-the-radar ideas.

With the Blackhawks decimated by injuries and icing a glorified AHL roster, it makes sense for defenceman Yan Kuznetsov to suit up for his NHL debut — which would make him Calgary’s third player from the 2020 draft to skate in an NHL game (Connor Zary and Ilya Solovyov).

At forward, it would be worth putting Walker Duehr back into the lineup and taking out the struggling Dillon Dube. Or, maybe even Martin Pospisil and putting Dube in his place alongside Connor Zary and Nazem Kadri.

Huska may make as few moves as possible to try preventing his team from looking past the bottom-feeding Blackhawks, but this is a golden opportunity for some tinkering.