Flames Fall To Rangers

Calgary presses hard but lose 3-1

By Ty Pilson

@typilson CalgaryFlames.com

October 25, 2023

They had the chances, they just couldn't find the twine often enough.

Blake Coleman scored early in the first period but the visiting New York Rangers tallied three in the second period - two on the powerplay and one while 4-on-4 - en route to a 3-1 victory at the Scotiabank Saddledome Tuesday night.

Coleman led the team with the four shots in the contest, three more great looks that were denied, as Calgary fell to 2-4-1 on the season.

The Flames outshot the Blueshirts 25-20 and had a decided 13-4 advantage in high-danger scoring chances, and 23-13 in scoring chances, but Igor Shesterkin - the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner - stoned them time and time again.

The homeside ended the night with a dominating 65.8% Corsi rating.

It was the first game back home for the Flames after a season-long 10-day, five-game road trip. They juggled the lines, with three of the four trios getting a new look. (See The Lineup below).

Jacob Markstrom got the start for Calgary, making 17 saves.

Adam Ruzicka left the game in the first period after a dangerous hit from behind into the boards and didn't return to the contest.

The Flames struck quick, as mentioned, just 15 ticks into the opening stanza.

The tally came courtesy of the only line not juggled around to start the contest.

Mikael Backlund took the puck behind the net and feed it out to a wide-open Coleman in the slot, the winger snapping one home clean for his second of the campaign. Andrew Mangiapane got the other helper.

Coleman strikes just 15 seconds into the first period

The homeside came in waves after that with some great looks: Coleman tipping a shot from in tight that was stopped, Nazem Kadri toe-dragging Braden Schneider but putting his backhand high over the net, then No. 91 holding the puck on a 2-on-1 with Walker Duehr but unable to beat Shesterkin with his on-the-fly wrister.

Markstrom was stellar when called upon in the period, including a save on a tip in the bluepaint by Jacob Trouba after a long cross-ice-feed-on-a-rope from Artemi Panarin.

His best stop came late in the period, when he kicked out his right pad to get a toe on a cross-ice redirect from Mika Zibanejad.

Markstrom snuffs out a glorious chance from Zibanejad

The Rangers tied it up on a powerplay at 7:38 of the second periord, Alexis Lafreniere tipping a point shot from Erik Gustafsson as the young Ranger skated backwards across the high slot.

Coleman came close to putting Calgary back ahead but Shesterkin stopped his initial offering and then absloutely robbed him on the rebound when he got a pad out.

New York went ahead with 5:51 to go on another powerplay, Panarin slinging a pass down to Chris Kreider who, while parked beside the pipe, tipped the puck up high shortside past Markstrom from an incredibly tight angle.

The visitors added a third at 16:50, a shot by K'Andre Miller trickling through Markstrom's pads and Filip Chytil right there to poke the puck across the line behind him.

Calgary pressed hard in the third period and dominated play - among the opportunities, Backlund having two good shots and then later, Shesterkin lunging across his crease into the splits to get a piece of Jonathan Huberdeau's one-timer.