CALGARY — Called out on national TV and all but counted out as playoff contenders just six games in, the Calgary Flames and their fans needed something to cheer about.
They got it shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday when the Blue Jays†win prompted the best Game 7 Saddledome celebration since Johnny Gaudreauâ€s overtime magic against Dallas.
However, an hour after fans returned their gaze to the floundering Flames, the reality of their sordid start hit home once again.
“When you get a wounded dog, you get one of two things — itâ€s either going to bite you, or they are going to put their tail between their legs,†said Jets coach Scott Arniel, setting up their matchup with the 1-5 Flames.
“And I donâ€t think theyâ€ll do the tail part.â€
But despite mustering plenty of the fight and fortitude that prolonged their unlikely playoff hopes to 81 games last season, they fell short in heartbreaking fashion, allowing a late third-period goal to fall 2-1.Â
For those keeping track at home, that’s six straight losses for the Flames.
After spending the morning defending the culture and work ethic that came under attack by Kevin Bieksa after Saturdayâ€s shellacking in Vegas, the Flames made good on their pledge to step up their compete.
But as has been the case in the last six outings, their will was beaten by skill.
Despite putting forth their best and most complete effort of the season, it still wasnâ€t good enough.
“It hurts,†said Dustin Wolf of a loss that came despite his heroics and his teamâ€s tenacity.
“We have to play a gritty game each and every night. We don’t have all the skill that a lot of these teams do. We have the grit, we have the grind, and that’s the character and identity we have to play to. We can’t try to stray from it.â€
On Tuesday, they stayed true to their brand, mucking their way to a 1-0 lead midway through the second period of a low-event game that saw Rasmus Andersson cap off fourth-line frothiness with a point blast that ended with a trademark Death Stare he aimed at a rinkside Jets fan.
That swagger was muted by a Jonathan Toews power-play goal early in the third, and obliterated with a Mark Scheifele two-on-one conversion just past Wolfâ€s outstretched pad with five minutes left.
It spoiled a 26-save effort by Wolf that sure felt like it would have been enough last year.
“I thought we looked really good tonight, besides, obviously, the result,†said Kadri, whose team did indeed play up to its capabilities, despite having to try killing five power plays.
“We’re not huge fans of moral victories, or anything like that, but I mean, they go post-in, we go post-out. It’s the difference in the game.â€
One shift after Scheifeleâ€s dagger, Sam Honzek beat Connor Hellebuyck with a shot off the iron.
Seven games in, the Flames have just ten goals, prompting plenty of heartbreak for lads like Joel Farabee, Matt Coronato, Jonathan Huberdeau and others who are struggling to convert.
At 1-6, the last place Flames sit dead last in offence and goal differential, prompting early hope from Team Tank that the Flames will finally beef up for a draft lottery that happens to include Gavin McKenna.
Rasmus Andersson seemed particularly irked by Bieksaâ€s criticism of Yegor Sharangovich and the team culture, saying after the game, “I guess he knows best when he sits on a panel.â€
He was then asked how to walk the line between urgency and panic.
“It’s a fine line, if I’m honest with you,†said Andersson, the only Flames defenceman to score this year.
“Obviously, panic is never good, but you know, the desperation is pretty high right now.â€
Sharangovich was a healthy scratch Monday, with Ryan Huska explaining that he was part of the 50 per cent of his players whose effort was subpar Saturday — a rarity on a roster known for its pugnacity.
“He needs to be competitive, he needs to shoot the puck a lot and he needs to make sure heâ€s working on his game a lot in practice because thatâ€s typically where a player builds his confidence and where he allows himself to feel good going into games,†said Huska of Sharangovich, whose compete level has long been challenged even though he scored 31 and 17 goals his last two seasons.
“Play the guys that care,†said Bieksa of the Belarusian, who is in the first year of a five-year deal paying him $5.75 million annually.
“If youâ€re going to get an effort like that from a guy, get rid of him, you know what I mean? Youâ€re disgracing the NHL with an effort like that.â€
The problem is, his innate ability to finish is exactly what the Flames need most right now.
Well, that, and a bunch of wins.
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