Red Wings 4, Flames 3: Too Little, Too Late for Calgary
The night began with frustration but ended with a furious charge. Still, the Calgary Flames fell just short in a 4–3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary trailed 4–0 heading into the third period. The team was flat, disconnected, and searching for something to spark them.
Those who live in Calgary know all about chinooks. They are warm, fast-moving winds that sweep down from the Rockies, quickly melting snow and turning winter days suddenly springlike. And the third period for the Flames arrived like a Chinook. It was a different weather system entirely. Joel Farabee, Matt Coronato, and MacKenzie Weegar all scored in a spirited push that turned a quiet building into a hopeful one. But in the NHL, starting from four goals behind is a mountain most teams don’t climb.
Detroit got two goals and an assist from Alex DeBrincat, plus strong support from Dylan Larkin and Axel Sandin-Pellikka. For long stretches, the Flames looked like they were chasing ghosts. Yet as head coach Ryan Huska pointed out afterward, Calgary still found some “good” in the effort, even if the mistakes early on proved too costly.
Key Point One: The Calgary Comeback That Almost Was.
Joel Farabee’s penalty-shot goal changed the tone of the game instantly. His first NHL penalty-shot goal woke up the crowd and the bench. Matt Coronato and MacKenzie Weegar added quick strikes, giving Calgary some belief with plenty of clock left. The surge showed what this group can be when they’re skating downhill—fast, assertive, and confident.
Key Point Two: The Flames’ Slow Starts Continue to Haunt Them.
The Flames gave up two avoidable goals in the first period—one off the rush and another from poor defensive-zone coverage. Add two more in the second, and suddenly the team was staring at a four-goal deficit. Calgary’s pattern of tentative openings keeps putting them behind the eight-ball, and even strong third periods can’t always save them.
Key Point Three: Nazem Kadri Drives the Flames’ Push.
Nazem Kadri had two assists and arguably set the emotional tone for the comeback. His work on the Coronato goal was textbook—hard forecheck, good touch, and awareness. Kadri continues to be the heartbeat of this team on nights when things look bleak.
Final Thoughts from the Flames’ Perspective
There’s no shame in pushing back; there’s pride in it, actually. But Calgary can’t afford to spend so much of its energy digging out of holes. The effort in the third period showed character. The first 40 minutes showed why they’re still outside the playoff picture.
Still, the team isn’t without positives. Young players like Matt Coronato keep finding moments, MacKenzie Weegar looks determined every shift, and Joel Farabee’s confidence should only grow from here. If the Flames can bottle their third-period urgency and pour it into a full sixty minutes, these close calls may start turning into wins again.