The 2020-21 season comes to a close today as the Flames wrap up a four-game set with the Vancouver Canucks.
The two teams were in action yesterday, with the Flames dropping a 4-2 decision at Rogers Arena. Andrew Mangiapane and Matthew Tkachuk scored late, as the Flames rallied with 22, third-period shots, but they were unable to draw even.
Vancouver's leading goal-getter, Brock Boeser, iced the two-goal triumph with a 150-ft. backhand into the yawning cage.
Mangiapane is now only two off the team lead in goals - nabbing No. 17 of the season on Tuesday to tie a career high in that category.
Most impressively, 14 of them have come at even-strength - topping all Calgary skaters and putting him three clear of Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm.
Adam Ruzicka picked up his first NHL point with an assist on the play.
But the big story of the day came from the blue paint, where goaltender Louis Domingue officially made his Flames debut and doing so, made his first appearance in an NHL game since March 1, 2020.
"It felt very good, very special," said Domingue, who stopped 20 of the 23 pucks he faced. Sometimes you go through things in your career and in my case, I (thought) I might not play another NHL game. (I feel) pretty privileged to do so tonight."
The 29-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Flames back on Oct. 10. He says it was a challenging year, with all but three nights toiling on the taxi squad. But he kept his head down, worked hard, and made sure that he got that tap on the shoulder, he would be ready.
"It would be a mistake to let your emotions, your frustration (get the better of you) and start to get impatient with the situation," he said. "If you do that, you're guaranteed not to have success if you do get a chance.
"Whether you like it or not, it's in the back of my mind it might be my last game. I don't know what next year is going to look like for me. I'm just glad I got to play.
"As the game went on, I definitely felt more comfortable, felt more like I belonged. It's been a few months since I've been in the NHL, so first period, second period, you still have to get your rhythm back and I felt comfortable at the end. To be quite honest, the way the season went playing only one game, I saw progression in my game."
Given the back-to-back situation, Jacob Markstrom is likely to get the start in goal today. If so, the 31-year-old workhorse will pass Blues netminder Jordan Binnington for the second-most games played this year with 42.
Markstrom has really been dialled in down the stretch and is looking to improve on his 21-19-2 record, his .904 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average.
