It was every bit the back-and-forth, defensive masterclass we've come to expect.
Unfortunately for the Flames, they were one goal short.
John Klingberg broke a 1-1 tie only 1:12 into the third period and the Dallas Stars hung on to edge the Flames 2-1 to take a 3-2 series lead.
Mikael Backlund scored Calgary's lone tally, while Jamie Benn supplied the other for Dallas. Cam Talbot had another stellar night in goal, turning aside 30 of the 32 shots he faced. Anthon Khudobin stopped 28 for the Stars.
"We can't change anything up until this point," said Milan Lucic. "All we can control is what's ahead of us.
"All our focus, all our energy has to go into what we need to do to give ourselves a chance to win on Thursday night. We can't overthink the result, either. If we're sitting in our hotel rooms or change room before we go out there thinking, 'We've got to win, we've got to win, we've got to win,' that's when you don't leave it out there.
"It's about the process and thinking about doing the things you need to do to get the win, and that's when you come out on top."
The Flames got off to a slow start, but despite being out-shot 14-7 in the opening frame (and 26-14 overall after 40 minutes), they found themselves in a 1-1 game thanks to Backlund's clutch, first-period tally.
They pushed hard in the third, dictated the pace and out-shot their opponents 15-5 after Klingberg's go-ahead marker, but with the Stars backing off and setting up in a defensive posture, manufacturing shots and quality chances from the inside proved to be difficult.
"I think we can do a little bit of a better job of getting to the inside and finding those second and third opportunities," Lucic said. "Right now, frustration is a waste of emotion. We've got to focus on what we have to do to get the win on Thursday."
This is the first time in these playoffs the Flames have lost back-to-back games.
Could the weight of moment be partly to blame?
If so, it - like all the other experiences that playoff hockey offers - was a teachable moment for these Flames, and it showed with how they responded after a less-than-stellar opening stanza.
"The start," interim head coach Geoff Ward said of what the difference was in the game. "It's the first time we've been in a 2-2 situation going into Game 5 and knowing the winner has the upper hand. So, I thought our guys were a little nervous in the first. It's really the first time I've seen our team with a case of the nerves. But, I thought we did a good job re-grouping and got stronger as the game went along, and I thought our third period was our best one.
"So, we've got something to build on going into Game 6."
