"A disappointing end to a game that promised much more"
That was a tough finish to what had been a fun game. Despite highlight-reel efforts from Nazem Kadri and a pair of impressive goals by Jonathan Huberdeau, the Flames managed only a single point, falling to the Vancouver Canucks in a shootout.
Let’s break it down. Dustin Wolf had another strong outing in goal, stopping 28 of 31 shots for a .903 save percentage and turning aside two in the shootout. The Flames controlled play early, looking dominant in the first period and continuing that form into the second. They generated plenty of shots and sustained pressure while keeping the Canucks largely to low-danger chances. Unfortunately, a fortunate bounce and a powerplay goal left the Flames trailing 2-1, despite their strong performance.
On the penalty kill, the Flames sprang to life. Kevin Rooney found himself with the puck on the wing and delivered a perfect cross-crease pass to Huberdeau, who buried it for a shorthanded goal. Minutes later, Huberdeau scored again, this time on a bizarre play where the puck ended up lodged in the net’s roof, leaving players and fans momentarily confused before the goal was confirmed.
The third period, however, was a different story. The Flames struggled to create chances, spent too much time pinned in their own zone, and allowed the Canucks to equalize late. It was a frustrating finish to regulation.
Overtime was cautious and uneventful, with both teams focused on possession rather than offensive creativity. A moment of potential end-to-end excitement was quickly stifled by Quinn Hughes’ poised puck control. Only two shots were recorded during OT, underscoring how quiet the period was.
In the shootout, the Flames managed one goal, but Conor Garland’s winner for Vancouver sealed their fate. Wolf made a couple of solid stops, and Canucks goaltender Juuse Saros stood tall when it counted.
The game’s three stars were Quinn Hughes, who recorded an assist; Jonathan Huberdeau, with two goals; and Nazem Kadri, who had a goal and an assist. Despite some standout individual performances, it was a disappointing end to a game that promised much more.
Tune in Friday as the Flames play host to the Colorado Avalanche in what’s certainly going to be a tall challenge for them.