Before the Flames hit the ice for Monday’s game in Dallas, Flames coach Bob Hartley assessed what he felt was important for his club to end a six-game road losing streak.
“Score the first goal,” was the response from the first year Calgary bench boss.
He didn’t get the first goal. Or the second. Or the third. Not even a penalty shot save by goalie Joey MacDonald and a fight involving captain Jarome Iginla could ignite the Flames in the first period against the Stars.
Still, in the end, they made a game of it before bowing 4-3 to the Stars sustaining a seventh consecutive road loss and again failing to build a three-game win streak for the first time this season.
Dallas was eager to get off to a strong start after losing 8-1 at home in its previous game to Chicago and the Star vaulted into a 3-0 lead with even strength goals from Erik Cole, Eric Nystrom and Louie Eriksson. Meantime, the Flames managed just five shots in the opening period to the dismay of Hartley.
The power play got Calgary back in the game in the second when Jiri Hudler and Jay Bouwmeester capitalized with the man advantage. Hudler’s first goal came just after teammate Matt Stajan was rocked with a blind hit from Cody Eakin, who received a minor penalty for interference but Hartley felt the centre should have been assessed a major penalty, “that’s one of the dirtiest hits I’ve ever seen. Those hits can end careers.”
Dennis Wideman and Lee Stempniak led a charge to go after Eakin. The goal was the best response but Hartley like the way teammates stuck up for Stajan, who fortunately wasn’t injured.
The teams traded goals in the third period with Eriksson notching a second goal for the Stars before Alex Tanguay drew the Flames back to within one goal with 4:46 left.
The Flames pressed hard at the end but couldn’t find the tying goal including great pressure after pulling the goalie for an extra skater with 1:38 remaining.
Hartley was at a loss afterwards to explain why his charges have difficulty putting together three solid periods, especially when they are away from home.
“We have to learn how to play defense, plain and simple. If you can’t play in your own zone its pretty tough to win games. That’s where championship teams start the building blocks from. We gave them four goals. Totally unacceptable”, vented Hartley
He’s got two more days to find the answer as the road swing continues on Thursday in Nashville before ending in Columbus on Friday. It’s generally felt the teams need to get four of a possible six points from this trip to stay in the playoff race in the Western Conference. Monday presented a chance to climb to within two points of eighth place but the loss keeps Calgary four points in arrears.