The Calgary Flames are not in a good spot. Their losing streak has extended to four games with the latest coming at the hands of the 29th-place Columbus Blue Jackets. In Johnny Gaudreau‘s return to the Saddledome, the Flames fell 5–2 for their fourth consecutive regulation loss, all on home ice.
If a movie can be titled A Million Ways to Die in the West, then January 25, 2024, could be known as “A Million Ways to Lose in the NHL” for the Flames.
Okay, not quite a million, but three (possibly four) is pretty close, and arguably just as painful really. Here’s just how brutal this day has been for Calgary.
The Flames lost roster players due to waiver claims
The Flames placed Adam Ruzicka and Nick DeSimone on waivers and after the 12 p.m. deadline passed, it turned out that Calgary would lose both players as they were claimed by other teams. Ruzicka was claimed by the Arizona Coyotes while DeSimone was claimed by the New Jersey Devils.
Suddenly, the organisation’s depth got thinned right out. Losing two players in one waiver day is tough for any team to handle—while the risk is always there, losing one player to waivers is already hard. It’s not common to have two players claimed in one day. Yet, that’s exactly what happened to the Flames.
The Flames lost players due to injury
Then in their game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Flames were dealt some tough injury problems. In the second period, A.J. Greer fell awkwardly into the boards and hurt his ankle. The extent of his injury isn’t known yet but at first glance, it does not look promising. More details will be shared about Greer’s injury soon enough, but in the meantime, the hope is that he has a speedy recovery.
On top of that, Blake Coleman also missed a few shifts in the second period as he headed down the tunnel twice. However, he did return in the third so hopefully whatever he was dealing with is minor and he won’t miss time.
That said, it wasn’t all losses on the roster front, as the Flames welcomed Oliver Kylington back to the lineup after nearly two years.
The Flames may be losing Huberdeau to suspension
Midway through the third period against the third period, Jonathan Huberdeau made a not-so-smart hit on Jack Roslovic. A five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct was assessed and after a review, the call was withheld. Roslovic was bleeding from the hit while Huberdeau’s instant reaction and body language suggested it was entirely accidental.
Regardless of intent, it was a bad hit made in a boneheaded way that will definitely merit further review from the league. Huberdeau doesn’t have any suspension history in the NHL, as his last suspension was back when he was a Florida Panthers prospect playing in the QMJHL. We’ll see what the league deems about the play and whether it’s a fine or suspension for Huberdeau.
A little more on the boarding penalty later.
The Flames lost against the Blue Jackets
The final nail in the coffin for the Flames was losing the game to the Blue Jackets. As mentioned, the Blue Jackets are 29th in the league. They’re last in the Metropolitan and are the only team in the NHL with zero players with 30 points or more. Gaudreau leads the team with 29 points. Somehow this Columbus team got the better of Calgary.
The first two goals by Columbus both stemmed from Markstrom leaving his net to play the puck. Both goals were ugly, ugly goals to give up and had Markstrom stayed in his net, they likely would not have happened.
The third goal against was shorthanded, making it the second instance in as many games that the Flames’ power play gave up a shorthanded goal.
Then, the Blue Jackets’ fourth goal came on the five-minute power play that ensued from the Huberdeau hit. The two-goal deficit late in the third made any chance of a comeback increasingly difficult. For the Flames, it’d turn out that the game-winning goal was in fact the shorthanded goal, as the Blue Jackets added an empty-netter and the Flames didn’t score again.
The Flames gave Columbus their first regulation win since December 19, or a worse way to look at it, since 2023.
Playoff chances rapidly diminishing
The Flames are now below .500 again, and things are looking bleak. The optimists say things can’t possibly get worse for Calgary. The pessimists may know better though.
