The Flames snapped a losing skid and beat the Blackhawks; however, it's clear this team needs major change
Thanks to Jacob Markstrom, the Calgary Flames enter their extended break ahead of NHL All-Star weekend on a positive note.
Well, a better description might be a less-negative note.
With a 1-0 shutout win over the lowly Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, the Flames snapped a four-game losing skid at the Saddledome and finished their six-game home stand with a 2-4-0 record. They certainly didn’t convince anyone they should be considered playoff contenders, but at least they remembered what it’s like to win before they split for mini vacations and some rest ahead of the final stretch of what’s been an extremely disappointing season.
If not for Markstrom, things would have been much different. Among his 32 saves for his second shutout of the season were several breakaways and golden opportunities for a Blackhawks team missing rookie star Connor Bedard.
The Flames goaltender and a rare powerplay goal allowed them to outlast the Blackhawks and save themselves the horrible fate of losing to them twice in a span of a couple of weeks.
It helped the Flames limp back to a .500 record.
They’d have to play far above that pace to have a crack at a wildcard position in the Western Conference. Given their abysmal performance over the span of the past week, it seems obvious Calgary Flames GM will be fielding serious offers over the break with Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin all playing on expiring contracts. This team is not a contender, and others will be clamouring for the services of any of the three to help put them over the top in the race for the Stanley Cup.
It was Lindholm who scored the winning goal on the man advantage, getting a fortunate bounce on a blocked Yegor Sharangovich shot for his ninth of the season. A rarity for Lindholm and for the Flames on the powerplay this season.
At 22-22-5, the Flames will have a full week off before hitting the ice again to practice in Boston next Monday ahead of their Tuesday night game against the Bruins.
It will kick off a four-game road trip. They’ll be hoping for more success on the road than they had at home during what was described as a direction defining six-game stand at the Saddledome.
Perhaps not internally, but certainly by those hoping for more clarity both on what this team has the potential to accomplish this year and what management might do ahead of the NHL trade deadline in a few weeks.