NASHVILLE – On what was otherwise a pretty fruitful trip, Nikita Zadorov was soured by the fact his Calgary Flames ended it with a lemon.
“It was a pathetic effort by us, the first two periods for sure,” said the Flames defenceman following a 2-1 loss to Nashville his club essentially lost in the opening 15 minutes.
“We were a step behind, the energy wasn’t there, the commitment wasn’t there, we weren’t shooting, we were making bad plays and were giving up too many chances.”
Wow, a lot to unpack there, which is exactly what the Flames will do Tuesday morning when they get home from a five-game, 10-day roadie that landed them six of a possible ten points.
“We got more points than games played,” shrugged coach Darryl Sutter of his standard litmus test for lengthy journeys.
However, like most visitors who visit this Honky Tonk haven, they left Tennessee with regrets, given how close a win would have gotten them to roadie perfection.
“The game tonight was to make (the trip) not good, but great,” said Zadorov, who tied a career high with his seventh goal in the second period, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
“We didn’t get two points, so it’s just a good trip.”
It marked the first time in six outings the Flames didn’t snag at least a loser point – something they’ve been able to do in 17 of their last 22 games, making them the second-best NHL team since Dec 3.
Had a video review gone their way, things might have been different.
Four minutes into a final period in which the Flames started generating a few more chances, Tyler Toffoli appeared to tie the game 2-2 when he knocked a rebound in from the top of the crease with his left foot.
A lengthy review rightfully overturned the call, as there was a distinct kicking motion as he appeared to try kicking it up to his stick before being mobbed by Mattias Ekholm.
“I don’t like saying, ‘kicked in,’ because one night that’s a goal and then one night it’s not a goal,” said Sutter, who isn’t wrong.
“Obviously we’re saying it’s a goal and they’re happy it’s not, but it could be the other way.
“On the ice it was called a goal, so generally that kind of overrides.
“It’s not like Tyler was kicking.
“That’s the rule. Not that I agree with it.”
Sutter took greater offence to his team’s lax coverage on both first period goals, in which Jacob Markstrom was victimized by two bad bounces off defenders’ legs – one saw Zadorov redirect a wide Roman Josi shot into the net, the other left the puck dangling near the goal line for a scrambly tap-in as Mikael Backlund and Andrew Mangiapane battled defenders.
“Guys laying in the crease on both goals – our guys,” shrugged Sutter.
“Generally it’s the other way around.
“Both goals they scored, you’ve got to check.”
Credit the Predators who entered the game seven points behind Calgary and on the verge of dropping out of the wild card race.
They set the tone early and used the energy from a typically raucous Bridgestone Arena crowd to put the Flames on their heels from the outset.
Markstrom will once again take unfair heat from his legion of detractors, who will gloss over the fact the veteran netminder made several big saves early on and made a spectacular pad-stacker late in the second period to keep the Flames chances of tying it alive.
Neither goal was his fault.
“They’re home and we’re finishing the end of the trip,” said Sutter when asked if his team started poorly or the hosts simply willed their way to the early lead.
“There’s no magic to it.”
Magic was the last thing the Flames possessed, as Jusse Saros turned aside the few good chances the Flames had on an early third period 5-on-3 that was reduced by a man when Rasmus Andersson took a penalty Sutter wasn’t happy about.
“We had a breakaway, and a few chances after (the disallowed goal) that we could have buried,” shrugged Zadorov.
“We didn’t and we lost the game.”
“It’s not an excuse. It’s still not acceptable for our group.”
