Flames Visual Recap 9: Calgary's win streak snapped by Nashville, but point streak extends to eight games

The Calgary Flames continued their homestand, looking to extend their win streak to seven games. The Nashville Predators came to the Saddledome for the first time since February 6, 2020. With most games in recent memory between the Flames and Predators being filled with goals and on-ice flair, things were lined up for a memorable game.

First period

The Flames had a lot of streaks on the line heading into the game beyond their win streak. Jacob Markstrom had a shutout streak, the Flames had a streak of scoring the first goal of game, as well as playing an extended amount of time without even so much as trailing.

The Flames were making strong case of extending it all in the first, with excellent pressure to open the game—something that’s been a trend as of late for Calgary. Unfortunately, it all came to an end when the Predators scored first to snap it all.

Luke Kunin got his first goal of the season off of a tipped puck from a point shot. It all happened within a matter of seconds off of a faceoff that Nashville won in the Flames’ zone.

Just over a minute later, the Flames were on the power play and Matthew Tkachuk was in the crease to knock the puck in to tie the game. The Flaemes controlled most of the first period, with several breakaway chances too, but Juuse Saros was good in net, and in face the Predators came away with another goal before the period concluded.

The puck took a weird bounce off the boards and went right to Filip Forsberg. There’s a very short list of opposing players that the Flames wouldn’t want the puck to go to off of a weird bounce and Forsberg is on it. He made no mistake getting a shot off with his unorthodox release, and the Flames trailed after twenty minutes for the first time since their season opener.

Brett Ritchie was injured in his fight with Mark Borowiecki seven minutes into the game and did not return.

Second period

The second period was more or less even between the two teams, but it was another period that saw the Flames with bursts of momentum, especially on their power play. However, they were unable to pull the game into a tie and went into the second intermission still down one goal.

Third period

Finally, the Flames got the game tied up at 2 goals apiece thanks to a brilliant goal from Oliver Kylington. As the Flames’ power play expired, they still had control of the pick in the offensive zone. With the second unit making a change, Chris Tanev and Kylington entered the zone to keep the puck in play. A quick tap pass from Tanev to Kylington gave him all the time in the world to skate the puck in and get a perfectly placed shot to go bar down and past Saros.

Kylington’s goal all but solidifies his permanent spot on the roster and the Swedish defenceman couldn’t have shown up for the Flames at a better time.

The Flames continued to press in the third period, but the game ultimately required extra time to solve. However, going to over time extended Calgary’s point streak to eight games, making their season opener the only game they walked away from without at least one point so far.

Overtime

The Flames opened overtime with a couple of chances, but on a missed interference call that should have went against the Predators, they instead skated into the Flames’ zone with control and on a two-on-one, Mikael Granlund connected with Matt Duchene, whose shot ended the game.

The Flames fall to the Predators 3–2 in overtime, and now have a 6–1–2 record to start their season.

Check out the data visualisations from the game below!