So close yet so far for the struggling Flames

A loss, the sixth straight for the Calgary Flames, but at least you can call it a step forward.

With Connor Zary dragging them into the fight in his NHL debut, the Flames actually could say they may have deserved better than Wednesday night’s 4-3 home loss to the Dallas Stars.

For the first time amidst their swoon, the Flames had just as much right to victory, and have the 2020 first-round draft pick to thank for it.

Zary, who scored to open the scoring, was proof of what can be achieved when a player actually wants the game on his stick and the confidence to make a play with the puck, something far too many of the Flames have lost during this losing skid.

Zary was pushing the puck up ice, which helped struggling linemate Nazem Kadri to also show more determination. Zary was wiling to shoot, which he did six times. Kadri also managed six shots and MacKenzie Weegar fired eight. Zary also drew a late third-period penalty to give the hosts a jolt of hope.

All told, the Flames were the dominant team in the third period, outshooting a very good Dallas team 22-5 in the third period, but couldn’t overcome the two-goal deficit on a night the fans witnessed a team somewhat playing to its potential and backed them instead of booing them off the ice.

The Flames still hurt themselves, and it proved costly. Jamie Benn’s final-minute goal that tied the game 1-1 was the result of a lazy line change and slow backchecking that left goalie Jacob Markstrom stuck in no-man’s land.

The Dallas goals by Jason Robertson and Evgenii Dadonov were a byproduct of the defenders backing into their zone. As for Mason Marchment’s eventual game winner with 11.9 seconds remaining in the second period that made it a 4-2 game, well that simply shouldn’t happen.

A loss is a loss, and the Flames are well aware the impact this early season swoon is having.

But, for the first time in a couple of weeks, the Flames can actually have reason for optimism, which is a far cry from what has been the norm.