Calgary's playoff hopes take a big hit with a 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday
Milan Lucic on Thursday morning discussed his theory with how to handle the pressure of a key contest and come out strong.
“You look forward to the big game,” the Calgary Flames forward said. “You look forward to the big moment. You have fun with it, embrace the challenges it’s going to bring to you, and that’s where we are right now. We have a lot of challenges and adversity but we have to embrace those and look forward to them.”
So much for embracing the opportunity when the puck dropped hours later.
The Flames trailed 2-0 for the third time in four outings — all losses — thanks to first-period goals by Jonathan Marchessault and Michael Amadio en route to their 3-2 loss to the Western Conference-leading Vegas Golden Knights.
A sluggish start resulted in another huge blow to their flickering playoff hopes.
“Effort was there in spurts,” said Lucic, whose tally late in the opening frame made it a 2-1 affair. “We’re a team that relies on all four lines and all six defensemen to have success and I don’t think we had that for a full 60 minutes.”
Whatever is keeping the Flames from exploding out of the gates all too often in the biggest of moments is up for debate. Is it a lack of preparation? Is it fear of making a mistake? Fatigue? Concentrating on the mountain to climb to make the playoffs instead of just the game?
That will be a huge discussion when the club digs through the pyre after the season unless they find a way to make a miracle run to the playoffs.
The Flames are now six points out of a playoff position with nine games remaining.
Here are five more thoughts after the buzzer.
Kadri finally lights the lamp: Embattled center Nazem Kadri snapped his 16-game drought with a third-period goal that gave the Flames a glimmer of hope. Kadri had a couple of glaring defensive miscues but was much more noticeable than many of his recent games, firing seven shots on net and another four blocked.
“I thought he was really good last game, too,” coach Darry Sutter said. “There’s ebbs and flows. These guys aren’t perfect. I thought the line was really good in Anaheim.”
No third-period comeback: When trailing after two periods, the Flames are now 0-18-3, the league’s only team without a victory from that spot.
The Flames may not be an offensive juggernaut, but it is hard to believe they can not muster even one comeback. The bottom-of-the-barrel Columbus Blue Jackets have won five games when trailing after 40 minutes.
“It was there a lot last year and for whatever reason it hasn’t been there once this year. That’s another frustrating stat to look at,” Lucic said.
More ugly stats: The Flames have now lost an NHL record 22 games in which they have outshot their opponent by 10 or more shots. They are also 15-12-15 in one-goal games, and it would appear those trends have gained momentum, much like a team that rattles off all kinds of comebacks.
“Except for the L.A. game, we’re in every game and have a chance to win, so that makes it even more frustrating that we lose,” defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. “It feels like we’re always losing by that one goal or two with an empty netter. I don’t know how many games I’ve played back in my head.”
Was there a penalty on the winning goal?: Nicolas Roy stripped the puck from Andersson and converted a pass from Phil Kessel to make it a 3-1 game early in the third period. Andersson voiced his displeasure immediately as well as after the game, but stopped short of teeing off on the officials.
“I feel I had a step on the guy and he pulls my left arm kinda away from my stick, so I can’t make a play, and they turn around and score,” said Andersson, who watched the replay three times after the game. “I personally thought it was a penalty, but I don’t know if the referee didn’t see it or didn’t think it was a penalty. It it happens. It’s part of the game and we’re all human beings, mistakes can happen, or if he didn’t see it or didn’t think it was a penalty. … If I should criticize anyone, it should be myself.”
The biggest missed opportunity: MacKenzie Weegar had a glorious chance to tie the game in the final minute, but couldn’t find the mark.
“I saw the net and I missed my shot,” Weegar said. “If there’s one chance I can get back all year, it would be that one.”