'Rightfully so, we get booed today': Calgary Flames doggone awful at Harvey the Hound's birthday bash

Flames lose their third straight — and sixth of seven at home — with the trade rumours growing louder and louder

The Calgary Flames insist the deafening decibel level of trade speculation surrounding them is a non-factor in their struggles, which continued with Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings.

Goalie Jacob Markstrom, who was pulled after surrendering four goals by the 6:41 mark of the second period, shot down that theory, saying, “Everyone here is a professional paid to play hockey. That’s all you can do. We’ve been doing it all year. It’s been you guys talking about it all year, but we just gotta play.”

Blake Coleman reiterated that sentiment: “Every team in the league’s got trade talk right now one way or the other — that’s what this time of year brings about. You’ve got to be a big boy and push that noise out, and just play our game.”

Whether all the speculation about Markstrom and the bevy of pending unrestricted free-agent defencemen, namely Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and even Oliver Kylington, with other names bandied about, the Flames have sunk their playoff hopes with a three-game losing skid, and blanked in two of those setbacks.

Whatever the myriad issues are — and it's hard to imagine the trade talk having at least some impact — the Flames (25-25-5) are already nearing life-support territory, sitting five points out of a playoff position with 27 games remaining.

The speculation and rumours will not dissipate between now the March 8 trade deadline.

Now, three more thoughts after the disappointing result while the franchise tried to celebrate Harvey the Hound’s 40th birthday.

EMOTIONAL MARKSTROM

Markstrom would never be compared to the cool-as-a-cucumber Miikka Kiprusoff, but his reactions were a little more visible than usual spotted this season. He slapped away the puck after goals and slammed his stick on the boards as he went to the bench while replaced by Dan Vladar, a hook made in the hopes of changing the flow, not at all due to Markstrom’s play.

Understandable reactions, especially from an ultra-competitive person. He had not fully cooled down, either, when talking to the media post-game. Asked whether the goals were a case of not seeing the puck well, Markstrom refused to hide his anger.

“I saw all four pucks go in. It’s frustrating,” he said. “You want to be there for the guys and the fans that paid money to come watch us play.”

DOME WOES

Remember that all-important homestand to end the pre-all-star break portion of the schedule? You may not want to, but the Flames have not changed their fortunes from that under-water stretch. Calgary has just one win in its last seven home games and boasts a 12-13-1 mark overall.

“Ideally in this league, your home record’s generally better than your road record but it’s not the case for us right now,” Coleman said. “Rightfully so, we get booed today.”

ROLLER-COASTER RIDE

A four-game winning streak followed by a four-game losing skid, followed by another four-game winning streak which led into another three-game slide. When the Flames reached the midway point of the season, they had a .500 record. They’re back to that mark of mediocrity.

“Consistency’s important, within the game, from game to game, practices, all that stuff,” coach Ryan Huska said. “That’s one area we haven’t found, and ridden that wave a little bit too much.”