Shootouts have rarely been a Calgary Flames strong suit but they have much better odds when they engage in the time-breaker format on the road.
Not on Wednesday in Vancouver.
After coming from behind for a second straight game, the Flames were outscored 2-1 in the shootout that went five players deep on each side and lost the game 3-2.
The one point gained was the Flames first of the season after a pair of regulation losses at home.
Since the NHL incorporated shootouts in 2005, the Flames have won 26 times, 20 of them on the road.
The Canucks fifth shooter, Zack Kassian, scored the decisive tally with a nifty backhand on Miikka Kiprusoff. It spoiled Kiprusoff’s best outing of the young campaign.
Right after Curtis Glencross, the Flames’ last shooter, lost control of the puck and couldn’t make the play on Cory Schneider he wanted.
Alex Tanguay, who had a goal in the second period to commence a Calgary rally from a 2-0 deficit, had the lone Flames shootout tally.
Mikael Backlund potted the Flames other goal at 16:03 of the second period, which in the end netted them the single point.
The Flames are now into the easiest portion of the condensed schedule. They have one game in the next seven days. That’s Sunday at home against Edmonton.
