The Calgary Flames played a relatively solid in last night’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, aside from their showing in the faceoff dot.
The Flames had an abysmal evening on draws, starting out 0-11 in the first period. Things didn’t get a lot better from there, as they wound up winning just 16-50 on the night for a lousy 32% total.
“In the second when the game got away from us, we didn’t win enough faceoffs. They kept possession, we couldn’t control the game. They slowly took over more and more, I thought,” said Mikael Backlund, whose 42% success rate in the dot was shockingly the best among all Flames centremen. ”
Head coach Ryan Huska admitted that his group needs to be better on draws going forward, but was also quick to mention they may not have played quite as big of an impact on the final score as many believe.
“You look at the first period, we were 0-11, but yet that was our best period,” Huska said. “Faceoffs aren’t all on the centremen. There’s people around them that have to make sure they’re willing to help out, but it is an area we have to get better in. We got away with it in the first period, but if you’re not starting with the puck ever you’re chasing the whole time.”
The first period was an absolutely dominant one by the Flames, though it wasn’t until the second were they were rewarded. Matt Coronato got things started with what is already his eighth goal of the season.
🔥FLAMES GOAL🔥
Matt Coronato scores a beauty!
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/HSkHnsMVzH
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) December 18, 2024
“I think [Blake Coleman] made a great play and I had a lot of time in the slot. Him and Backs did a great job on the forecheck there,” Coronato explained.
An even bigger goal came later that frame, as Ryan Lomberg buried his first of the season and first ever in a Flames uniform to give his team what was then a 3-1 lead. The recent Stanley Cup champion admitted afterward that it was a bit of a relief to find the back of the net.
“I thought for awhile there it wasn’t going to happen, so obviously nice to see it go in the net,” Lomberg said. “Would’ve been a lot more enjoyable had we got the two points.”
Ryan Lomberg scores his first goal for the @NHLFlames!pic.twitter.com/uX68hK8vxb
— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) December 18, 2024
A lousy third period that saw the Bruins score two goals to send things to overtime resulted in the Flames picking up just a single point, albeit a big one as they were able to surpass the Colorado Avalanche for a playoff spot. They’ll hope for better results on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators.