But they didn't give up.
They kept diggin' and kept battlin' and scored two late third-period goals in a span of 1:18 for a dramatic rally, but fell short in a 5-3 loss.
The defeat came two days after they were beaten 5-2 by the Canucks at home.
And just like in the loss to Vancouver, they fell behind early.
And just like the loss to Vancouver, they also struggled to score despite generating quality chances.
The Flames talked at length about what they deemed a poor start after the first loss Sunday.
They found themselves down 3-0 by time 10:52 had ticked off the clock in the first period.
Fast forward to Tuesday night.
A similar script played out.
Olli Maatta's point shot at 4:14 found it's way under David Rittich's arm to put the visitors ahead 1-0 on their fifth shot.
On the next possession, Rittich was tested again, making a great save on Dominik Kubalink right on the doorstep in tight.
Just 1:21 seconds later though - with Derek Ryan in the box for a holding penalty - Chicago converted on the powerplay, Alex DeBrincat smacking a one-timer in the slot from down on one knee to make it two-zip.
Patrick Kane - who collected assists on both tallies - scored to make it 3-0 at the 12:44 mark, taking a pass as he skated into the Calgary zone and then cut across the middle with a long-distance wrister that found net short-side.
The Flames had their fair share of chances in the first, the best coming with just under five minutes to play when Ryan passed across to Johnny Gaudreau on a 2-on-1 with a seemingly wide-open net, but Lehner making a larcenous diving paddle save on the shot to drop jaws across the arena.
Andrew Mangiapane got the next great chance for the homeside, sprung on a breakaway in the second period and trying to go five-hole, but Lehner snapped the pads together to deny him.
Later, while the teams were skating 4-on-4, Travis Hamonic walked in with a wicked wrister that didn't find the mark and on the ensuing Blackhawks rush, Dylan Strome put one past Rittich at 9:41.
The Flames kept coming, especially in the final six minutes of the frame:
Finally their hard work was rewarded, as Sam Bennett scored with just six seconds left in the second period.
Noah Hanifin pinched to create a turnover and keep the puck in the Chicago zone, with Ryan eventually grabbing it and spinning behind the net to buy time, before putting a short pass out to Bennett who jammed it home.
