CALGARY — Ryan Huska wasn’t interested in shielding his young defenceman by making excuses or downplaying the impact of Zayne Parekh’s late mistake.
In a game Huska said was lost because of penalties, it was a too-many-men call in the final minute of overtime that ended the Flames’ four-game winning streak.
As the puck moved into the Ducks' offensive zone, Parekh jumped over the boards a handful of Mississippis before Zach Whitecloud reached the Flames bench.
The whistle blew quickly, and there was no argument from the bench, as everyone, including the 19-year-old, knew he’d made a mistake.
The Ducks made him pay with a power-play goal with one second left.
“Whether you're a young guy, old guy, the referees made the right call there,” said a curt Huska, following a 3-2 loss.
“It’s a bad change.”
Asked if it was something he needed to talk to the team's top prospect about, Huska shrugged.
“No, that’s talked about a lot,” he said.
“We were just warned. Both teams were just warned right before.”
The Flames didn’t see fit to trot the youngster out after the game to fall on his sword, as he most certainly would have.
He’s a smart young man who understands, in the grand scheme of things, that moments like these are all part of the growing pains a first-year player is bound to endure.
He’s had his share of 'em this year, as part of a rookie season in which the club has only recently started to play him on a regular basis, playing regular minutes.
Progress is being made, but moments like these can be put in the two steps forward, one step back category.
This one was a mental lapse, as perhaps the excitement of joining the play in overtime got the better of a player who is hellbent on trying to prove he can be an offensive difference-maker at this level.
After Mikael Granlund completed his hat trick with one tick left on the clock, Parekh spent a prolonged period of time in the penalty box, essentially licking his wounds.
You can bet that once he reached the dressing room he was met with a steady stream of veterans trying to console him with a tap or quick word of support.
The whole idea of icing a team with as many youngsters as the Flames have comes with an understanding that rookie mistakes will be made.
This one cost them a point, which, ironically, will be appreciated by Flames fans who’ve been cringing throughout the team’s season-high five-game point streak.
The Flames now sit fourth-last, moving one point ahead of Chicago.
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Two nights after Parekh scored his first of the season to send the game to overtime, he spent most of Thursday night against Anaheim absorbing hit after hit in a punishing, 17-minute outing that saw him get one shot on net, while blocking four shots.
As far as encouraging signs, for the second game in a row, there he was, out on the ice in overtime, being trusted as part of a trio that included Matthew Coronato and Matvei Gridin, who scored earlier on.
Three future pillars, being given significant responsibilities they wouldn’t have had if the team were still in a playoff race.
Given how his night ended, the optics of sitting him Saturday against Vancouver as part of load management would set the internet on fire.
We’ll see if it comes to that.
With 10 games remaining, there’s no debate he needs to keep playing, building confidence, shouldering heavier loads, and learning to bounce back from nights like these.
