A 4-3 loss on Tuesday night in St. Louis served as a 3rd consecutive loss for the Calgary Flames, and it was a disappointing night for the team.  They showed a lot of grit and determination throughout the night, and seemed to be improved from the 2 previous efforts, but the Flames fell flat in a third period when the game was still on the line.  That’s something we’re not used to seeing.

Curtis McElhinney got the start in net for the Flames, and while he wasn’t outstanding, the finger can’t be pointed at him for the loss.  With the game still close, he made some real big saves in the third period, and gave the team a chance to win.  The Flames showed a little more intensity and a little more emotion for most of this hockey game, and actually seemed to really move towards taking things over a couple of times.  But with the game tied 3-3 after two periods of play, they kind of let down in the final frame.

Head Coach Brent Sutter said “we let off the gas in the third period,” and that’s probably the best way to phrase it.  While they were outshot in every period of this game, they managed just 4 in the third period.  The Blues were able to put 10 on net in the 3rd period, and generally outplayed the Flames.  Calgary had been finding success working for scoring opportunities, but the final frame saw them far too easily pushed to the outside.  Even with a 6-on-4 powerplay late in the game, Calgary couldn’t find a way to get a shot from a quality scoring area.  Credit goes to the Blues, absolutely.  But Calgary needed to a better job of forcing the issue in the 3rd.

It’s one of those games that you like some of Calgary’s game, probably most of what you saw in the opening 2 periods.  But a couple of lapses in those 2 periods, and a 3rd period where the Flames were outplayed, and the Blues were able to find a way to win this hockey game.  I think we all would have liked to see Calgary force the issue physically a little more in this game.  There were times when this game was very physical, but the Blues did not show a whole lot of ability to cycle the puck.  When Calgary WAS playing physical, they were able to really impose their will and gain some success.

Really liked Phaneuf tonight…26:40 of ice time and it was solid from start to finish.  He was physically engaged, he was well positioned, and he was a high impact player.  Good to see Boyd crack the scoresheet with a goal, he was also very good in 9 minutes of ice time.  Another solid night on the blueline for Mark Giordano, while Eric Nystrom sparked things a couple of times with a good, physical shift.

Calgary is back at home on Thursday against LA.  Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.

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