Loss to Winnipeg the final blow as Flames fall 5-2 and out of playoff contention
Loss to Winnipeg the final blow as Flames fall 5-2 and out of playoff contention
It’s over. Official. The Calgary Flames will not be going to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
This is not really news. As Flames head coach Ryan Huska told reporters after a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. The flames have been “walking a tightrope for a while.”
But now there are no excuses for what they do going forward. The final seven games will be a critical test for those trying to make an impression that lasts through the summer and into next season’s training camp.
And not just the kids.
How will veterans like Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau shoulder the responsibility of showing all the young players surrounding them that accepting losses remains unacceptable.
Forget the noise from the outside about how great it is that the Flames could potentially pick in the top five at this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. Anything less than training camp effort will be tough for the coaching staff and management team to stomach from a group that has plenty of potential, but a long road to get there.
“Our expectation for what our guys bring to the table will not change,” Huska told reporters in Winnipeg post-game.
“We’ve been walking a tightrope for a while here now. I think the most important message we’ve had for them, and will continue to have for them (is) it’s always about how you play. It’s always about leaving the rink when you’re done making sure you put your best effort forward — because that’s what people remember at the end of the day, including your teammates.”
MacKenzie Weeger, who has been that leader by example during a strong stretch recently, gave the Flames a nice start and an early 1-0 lead with his 19th goal of the season during an early powerplay. But penalty trouble allowed the Jets to counter later in the period, with Gabriel Vilardi scoring the first of three just past the halfway mark.
Nikolaj Ehlers padded the lead less than two minutes later, but the Flames got another goal from the blueline when Daniil Miromanov scored the equalizer halfway through the second period.
The Jets, though, netted the next three against Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, who faced 45 shots on the night.
Former Flame Tyler Toffoli scored the winner to snap his slump, and Vilardi finished off his hat-trick in the third period.
Finished off the Flames; even though the playoffs have been a longshot for a while.”
“It sucks. Everybody wants to chase the Cup — that’s what it’s all about,” Weegar said.
“We’re going to build a great culture here … and we’ll bring that into next year.”
