Flames find the positive in loss to Oilers
The odds are no longer in their favour.
Despite winning the first game of the first Battle of Alberta playoff series in 31 years against the rival Edmonton Oilers, the Calgary Flames find themselves on the brink of elimination three games later.
The Flames nearly evened the series on Tuesday when they came back from a 3-0 deficit — tying the game on a bizarre 132-foot short-handed shot from their own zone by Rasmus Andersson with 9:04 left in the third that somehow completely fooled Oilers goalie Mike Smith.
But Edmonton stormed back with the second goals of the game by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evander Kane to win the game 5-3 and take a 3-1 stranglehold on the second-round series.
Despite the loss, the Flames are taking some solace in how they battled back to make a game of it.
"I like how we played," said Flames head coach Darryl Sutter. "I know we’re in a hole, but it’s like saying we had to win on the road, now we have to win at home.
"We hung around tonight and we’re not going to go away easy and if they thought they were going to beat us easy, that wasn’t the case."
When it comes to Calgary’s chances to bounce back from a 3-1 deficit, the numbers are not kind.
Calgary is 0-9 when trailing a series 3-1, while in the history of the NHL teams are 296-31 in that sticky situation.
Don't tell that to the Flames players, though.
"There's a reason why we play seven (games)," said Calgary forward Mikael Backlund. "That quote has been said a lot this playoffs, but that’s the truth. We know we played well today. I think the game could have gone either way.
"We know we’re really strong at home and we have to start that one game at home and we know we are strong at home."
Flames defenceman Andersson said he sees no reason his team can't rattle off three wins in a row just like the Oilers have and still win this series.
"We believe in our group," he said. "Every single person in our locker room believes in it. There's no reason why we can't win three in a row, but it all starts with the next game. We've got to win that one and we've got to take care of home ice. It starts with one and we take it from there."
Meanwhile, the Oilers are 14-1 in series where they capture victories in three of the first four games.
Game 5 takes place on Thursday in Calgary.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2022
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It’s a dream come true': Holt, Liberal cabinet sworn-in to office
Susan Holt, the province's first female premier, and 18 cabinet ministers took the oath of office in the chamber of the legislative assembly.
Alberta Premier Smith gets 91 per cent support in leadership review
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith received a dominating 91.5 per cent vote of support from her United Conservative Party members in a scheduled leadership review vote on Saturday.
Live from New York: Harris making surprise 'Saturday Night Live' appearance with election looming
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris has made an unannounced trip to New York to appear on an episode of 'Saturday Night Live,' briefly stepping away from the battleground states she’s been campaigning in with just three days to go before the election.
Multiple RTDNA wins for CTV News, including 2 for W5
CTV News won four national news awards and a local news award from RTDNA Canada, the organization announced Saturday night at a gala event in Toronto.
2 people charged in Toronto incident that left police horse and officer injured were out on bail, police say
The driver of a pickup truck who allegedly struck a police horse and rammed several cruisers on Queen Street West on Friday afternoon was out on bail at the time of the incident, Toronto police say.
Here's what you can buy for $729,000 in 8 Ottawa neighbourhoods
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you can buy for the average Ottawa home price of $729,000 in eight Ottawa neighbourhoods.
Calgary police issue warning after receiving over 150 calls relating to personal fireworks
Calgary police issued a media statement Saturday reminding residents about the rules regarding personal fireworks after receiving over 150 complaints.
Florida's convicted killer clown released from prison for the murder of her husband's then-wife
A woman who pleaded guilty to dressing as a clown and in 1990 murdering the wife of a man she later married was released from prison on Saturday.
Vancouver quietly proclaimed Chip Wilson Day as billionaire installed sign calling B.C. NDP 'communist'
On the same day Chip Wilson erected a controversial sign at his Vancouver mansion, the city was quietly honouring the billionaire and his wife.