Flames Visual Recap 49: Calgary embarrassed on home ice against Blackhawks

The Calgary Flames had a relatively easy strength of schedule heading towards the NHL’s All-Star Game. First, they faced off against the then 32nd place Columbus Blue Jackets and needed overtime to win, and then they faced off against the new 32nd place Chicago Blackhawks. Well, Calgary did as Calgary does and completely botched the game.

Just so we're all clear, the #Flames played two consecutive games against the NHL's 32nd place team, and after each game, those teams went from 32nd to 31st.
— The Win Column (@wincolumnCGY) January 27, 2023

The Blackhawks went with goalie Jaxson Stauber, who has precisely one game of NHL experience. The Flames opted to start Jacob Markstrom in hopes of him regaining his form against a relatively weak opponent. Combine those two and Calgary just forged a recipe for disaster.

The Blackhawks scored first but thankfully the Flames promptly responded and the game was tied 1–1 after twenty minutes of play. In the second, the visitors scored three unanswered goals—some off of total defensive breakdowns by the Flames, and all of a sudden what should have been a very securable two points now required at least a four goal comeback in the final period.

Spoiler alert: That did not happen. The Blackhawks added and empty netter and leave the Saddledome by handing the Flames a 5–1 defeat. The Flames are somehow 0–1–1 against Chicago. Welp.

Charts from the game are below.

Game events

Goals

Goals	Assists	Time	Score
Walker Duehr	MacKenzie Weegar	16:18 \| 1st	CBJ 0 – 1 CGY
Nazem Kadri	Nikita Zadorov, Andrew Mangiapane	01:32 \| 2nd	CBJ 0 – 2 CGY
Kirill Marchenko (PPG)	Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine	09:04 \| 2nd	CBJ 1 – 2 CGY
Patrik Laine (PPG)	Johnny Gaudreau, Adam Boqvist	09:53 \| 2nd	CBJ 2 – 2 CGY
Andrew Mangiapane	Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman	16:17 \| 2nd	CBJ 2 – 3 CGY
Boone Jenner	Patrik Laine, Erik Gudbranson	04:34 \| 3rd	CBJ 3 – 3 CGY
Dillon Dube	Andrew Mangiapane	02:25 \| OT	CBJ 3 – 4 CGY