Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/43d5506a-52a2-488c-b230-787ef2f39425.webp] Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images The Calgary Flames (30-24-11) are in must-win territory on a nightly basis, but dropped their second consecutive contest on Friday, losing to the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 [https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/cgy-vs-col/2025/03/14/2024021052/summary] at the Saddledome. Despite the loss, the Flames remain in the second wildcard spot [https://www.nhl.com/standings/2025-03-15/wildcard] but no longer have a game-in-hand over the Vancouver Canucks. Since Calgary doesn't play until Monday, they will spend the weekend scoreboard watching. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE In a crucial game, the Flames came out flat. Even though it was a quiet opening period for both teams, as they combined for nine shots, 7-2, the Avalanche struck first at 13:21. Meanwhile, Calgary didn't do much in the second, giving up the game's second goal at 5:55. Only in the dying minutes did the Flames get any momentum. They ended the period with many shots, which comprised the bulk of their eight. Still, ten shots through 40 minutes isn't part of the recipe for success. Once Blake Coleman made it 2-1 at 3:08, a costly miscommunication behind the net allowed the Avalanche to restore their two-goal lead. Jonathan Huberdeau's power-play goal made things interesting in the final four minutes, but a turnover led to an empty net goal and Colorado walked away with two points. FLAMES ARE NOT READY FOR TOP SEEDED PLAYOFF SERIES It's no secret that the Flames are the lowest scoring team in the NHL and their goals-per-game average also ranks at the bottom. Against the Avalanche on Friday, the Flames scored less than their 2.55 average [https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20242025&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&sort=goalsForPerGame&page=0&pageSize=50], which would make easy pickings in a playoff series. If the postseason started today, the Flames, as the second-seeded wildcard, would play the Vegas Golden Knights, the fourth-best team in the NHL. NHL Highlights | Avalanche vs. Flames - March 14, 2025 [https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Qzm9w10260/maxresdefault.jpg] NHL Highlights | Avalanche vs. Flames - March 14, 2025 Ryan Lindgren opened the scoring for the Colorado Avalanche, while Parker Kelly found the back of the net twice as the Avalanche roll against the Calgary Fla... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qzm9w10260&pp=ygUUZmxhbWVzIGFuZCBhdmFsYW5jaGU%3D] They score 3.35 goals a game and give up 2.70. Both numbers intimidate the Flames and their fan base because the team struggles to score. Ultimately, on Friday, the Flames showed they are not in the same position as the Western Conference top teams like the Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, or Golden Knights. Although they had moments where they controlled the pace of play, the outcome of this game was never in question. ONCE AGAIN, WOLF CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH Dustin Wolf finished his night with 24 saves on 27 shots, good enough for a .889 SV%, the lowest total in a game [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/w/wolfdu01/gamelog/2025]...since a loss to the Avalanche on Feb. 6, when he registered a .882 SV%. Any contending team wants to ride their top goalie every night to climb the standings and clinch a playoff spot in the Flames' case. However, Calgary hasn't done enough to support their young netminder, who just played his 40th game of the season for a career high. He may have played over 50 games in the AHL, but the NHL is a more competitive league and boasts some of the best players on the planet. At this point, Wolf has worked his way into the Calder Trophy conversation, and many feel he should be a Hart Trophy candidate, but he's a one-person show with little to no help. With everything on the line on Friday, Wolf did everything he could to keep his team in the game, but with not much going on at the other end of the ice, it's been a difficult stretch for the youngster who remains one of the league's top netminders.
