At what point does a bus become just a big can?
When the wheels fall off.
The 2022-23 iteration of the Calgary Flames has been in a wobble starting at their first seven-game losing streak from October 29 to November 10. Emerging from that stretch with a 3-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets on November 12, we began to see a team that was no longer improving.
From the first period of that Jets game, they have consistently clawed their way along at a .550 points percentage — good for 17th in the NHL from that point on. Much like their points percentage, their goals for and against have remained perilously close. 184 to 180.
Last night was no help in that category — but it may be important to the aforementioned metaphor.
Perhaps that 8-2 beat down was the night that the bus officially turned into just a big yellow can.
Further Gossip
Feel free to read Elliotte Friedman’s speculation on Nazem Kadri’s actions after the Saturday game in yesterday ‘s piece linked at the bottom. Former Fan 960 morning show host Dean “Boomer” Molberg had this to say today on the Barnburner podcast.
“But this goes beyond that (Elliotte's report). What I'm hearing is that there's some players that have basically said "I'm not coming back if this guy is behind the bench. I'm f*****g done"
Big if true.
With only Milan Lucic, Nick Ritchie, Troy Stetcher, Trevor Lewis and Michael Stone able to simply walk out of the organization via free agency this summer — what happens if push comes to shove on those sentiments?
Would Nazem Kadri or any other player insist on being traded? Would they not report to camp? This all leads to some intriguing drama provided that what Molberg is hearing is true. He’s never been one to stir the pot for the sake of stirring the pot.
The Loss
Surely most tuned out after the three-shot, four-goal deficit at the twenty-minute mark. To those morbidly curious enough to keep going last night: congratulations. That was easily the biggest tire fire of the season.
Nazem Kadri, who flew the zone on the third goal and left Gabe Vilardi alone in the middle to take the pass and tap in the Kings’ third goal in 13 minutes, looked like he was playing on autopilot beyond the first intermission.
The freshly-signed 32-year-old is playing arguably the worst hockey of his career. Last night marked his tenth game where he posted a -2 rating on the night.
Chris Tanev stuck up for his goalie in the mid-third, but upon giving an initial shove, his face went distant. There was no way he was fighting for his team last night.
Nikita Zadorov brought the sole Ray of sunshine on the night. Kadri stuck up for himself and resultingly got mobbed by Kings players. Quinton Byfield gave him a cheap shot from behind. Zadorov took exception and dropped the 20-year-old center with a blindside crosscheck.
The question here is, do you hope that tonight was a clear breaking point? Do we want the wheels off the bus or do we hope that this loss is a rallying point similar to the 9-1 loss on October 25, 2018?
That season featured a 5-5-0 start from the Calgary Flames. I’m not sure if it’s been said in this space before, but a .500 points percentage is kind of a downer. Late October featured an away game in Pittsburg. The Penguins lit up the Flames that night.
Born out of the ashes of that loss was a new team. The Flames put up the second-best record, 45-20-7, over the rest of the season. Trailing only the Lightning in points percentage.
Wonder if Bill Peters would be interested in a return.
The Ducks
The best way to rebound is to get back on the horse. Calgary gets an opportunity to do so tonight against the 29th-place Anaheim Ducks.
While the 8-2 shellacking was a miserable night, you could make a case that the 3-1 loss to the Ducks on March 10 was the worst game of the season. Fans willing to brave the blizzard and pay good money to see the Flames that Friday night were rewarded with a completely deflated effort from the home team.
You can hope that we’ll see a better effort tonight, or at least cruising a bad team on talent alone. Based on the dramatic reports swirling we’re likely in for an uninspired game.
At this point maybe just watch for the soap opera value.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Nothing confirmed yet. Update at warmups.
Mangiapane Lindholm Toffoli
Huberdeau Backlund Coleman
Pelletier Kadri Dube
Ritchie Ruzicka Lewis
Weegar-Andersson
Hanifin-Tanev
Zadorov-Stecher
Vladar
Markstrom
Anaheim Ducks Projected Lineup
Courtesy of dailyfaceoff.com
McGinn – Zegras – Strome
Jones – McTavish – Terry
Vatrano – Lundestrom – Silfverberg
Comtois – Grant – Megna
Fowler – Harrington
Benoit – Shattenkirk
Beaulieu – White
Gibson
Dostal
Game time is 8:00 pm MST. Sportsnet West in Canada and Bally Sports West in the States.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Stats via naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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