The Calgary Flames, a team that has been turning heads with their early-season success, faced their first real test on Thursday as they suffered their first regulation loss of the season at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Flames fell behind early, finding themselves in a 3-0 hole within the first 22 minutes of the game. Despite a strong push in the third period to mount a comeback, they ultimately fell short, losing 4-2.
“We were just a little flat for the first 25 minutes of the game, 30 minutes of the game,” Flames forward Blake Coleman lamented after the game. “We gave a good team a few power-play opportunities and they cashed in. But I thought the response was good. We were never out of the game. We came back and made it a one-goal game with a chance to tie it late.”
It was a learning experience for the Flames, who have shown resilience in previous games by erasing deficits and coming out on top. Just earlier in the week, they managed to overcome two one-goal deficits in a thrilling shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. And let’s not forget their season opener, where they stormed back from down 3-0 and 4-1 to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat against the Vancouver Canucks in overtime.
Despite the loss, Flames goaltender Dan Vladar remains confident in the team’s abilities. “We know what we have in this locker room,” Vladar asserted. “We have a bunch of really good leaders here and we are all really good friends, like one big family. We have no doubt in ourselves. We know we are good. We just have to play like the last 30 minutes.”
Looking ahead, the Flames will have a chance to bounce back quickly as they face the red-hot Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. The Jets are a formidable opponent, boasting an undefeated record of 7-0-0. It will be a true test for the Flames to see if they can shake off the loss and get back to their winning ways. Stay tuned as this exciting Flames team continues their journey through the ups and downs of the NHL season.