Flames Takeaways: Discipline derails otherwise solid effort vs. Jets

Eight minor penalties — one for each of the consecutive losses the Calgary Flames have piled up.

“Thatâ€s the difference,†said Flames winger Blake Coleman after a 5-3 loss in Winnipeg Friday, during which the Flames allowed two power-play goals and an empty-netter.Â

“Youâ€re not going to win games, youâ€re not going to get out of a rut like weâ€re in, youâ€re just beating yourself at that point.â€

Insisting his club is finally starting to like its five-on-five play, the carelessness that led to a good chunk of the squadâ€s sins put the Flames on their heels in a game they led early, only to give up two of four goals in the second period while out-manned.

“And theyâ€re not physical penalties, theyâ€re stick penalties,†said Coleman, whose third finish through Eric Comrieâ€s legs made it a one-goal game for the final ten minutes.

“Theyâ€re penalties that are avoidable; you can work hard to avoid it, and we just arenâ€t doing it. Itâ€s disappointing because itâ€s been talked about, and we know itâ€s been an issue, but itâ€s just not getting through.â€

Pausing, the most eloquent member of the Flames offered up a simple, “Weâ€re running out of words right now.â€

Weâ€ll do the same, so readers can get back to their Blue Jays parties:

Nazem Kadri had his best outing of the season, drawing his first of two penalties just 19 seconds into the game.

The second penalty he drew, five minutes in, led to his first goal of the season, a one-timer on the power play set up brilliantly by the passing of Zayne Parekh and Morgan Frost.

Kadri had a career-high 35 goals last season and will definitely be needed to help lead the way if the Flames are to improve on their league-worst scoring rate.

With an eye on trying to speed up the puck movement on the power play, Parekh was promoted to the top unit Friday.

It worked, well, early on at least.

Five minutes in, his assist on the Kadri goal marked his first in the NHL.

“He did a good job up there tonight,†said Ryan Huska of the 19-year-old defenceman.

 â€œThe puck movement up top was noticeably different from him tonight, so it was a lot quicker moving side-to-side, and I think thatâ€s what opened up that chance for Naz on his goal.â€

Ultimately, the power play let the Flames down, as it finished 1 for 6.Â

Mikael Backlund may have had his best outing of the season, scoring a beauty, setting up Colemanâ€s third-period tally, hitting the crossbar, and finishing plus-two with four shots.

The teamâ€s chief penalty killer was also busy doing his best to limit a potent Jets†power play to two goals in eight chances.

Special teams have been a huge issue for the Flames throughout the teamâ€s horrific start, with the power play sitting 29th in the league at 13.2 per cent, and the penalty kill now 22nd at 74.4 per cent.

Adam Klapkaâ€s team-leading third fight of the season came early in the first period when the six-foot-eight, 235-pound winger found a dance partner in Logan Stanley, who stood just one inch shorter and five pounds lighter.

Heavyweights by stature, if not reputation, the two exchanged just a few punches before an off-balanced Klapka was thrown to the ice.

Klapka hits everything that moves. Heâ€s got some hands, but most importantly, heâ€s got some jam, willing to do whatever it takes to make an impact in a lineup with too many passengers many nights.

The Flames host the Rangers Sunday night before jetting off for a four-game eastern swing through Toronto, Ottawa, Nashville and Philadelphia.

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