It won’t be remembered as vividly as the most iconic “It Was In” moment in Calgary Flames history.
A disallowed goal against the Utah Hockey Club (34-29-12) on Tuesday night could significantly impact the Flames (35-27-12). While it might not be as memorable as the controversial goal by Martin Gelinas in Game 6 of the 2004 Stanley Cup final, which many believe cost the Flames the championship, this situation could still hurt their chances in the wild-card race—especially after the St. Louis Blues defeated the Detroit Red Wings in overtime that same night.
The Flames ended up losing 3-1, with one of Utah’s goals being an empty-netter. Would the outcome have been different if Mikael Backlund’s potential goal had been allowed? At least one replay from Sportsnet seemed to show the puck crossing the red line, but it’s difficult to confirm that definitively.
At the time of the disallowed goal, Utah was leading 1-0, and just 32 seconds later, Barrett Hayton scored to make it 2-0 following a turnover by Rasmus Andersson.
The Flames weren’t questioned about the controversial decision after the game, but it was undeniably a key moment that could significantly hinder their playoff aspirations. If the Flames had managed to tie the game when the puck seemed to cross the line, it’s hard to say how the remainder of the match could have unfolded. They did score once before the end of the second period, but were unable to find the crucial goal in the third period to potentially force overtime.
Unless, of course, one could argue that they did find that essential goal.
The Flames are six points behind the Minnesota Wild, who currently hold the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. With just eight games remaining in the regular season, every point is crucial.
So, it’s no surprise that Flames fans might have felt a sense of déjà vu on Tuesday night, once again muttering, “It was in,” as they headed to bed.
Three Takeaways from Tuesday’s Game
A Bit of Good News
Despite the frustrating night, there was at least one bright spot.
During the first intermission, Flames GM Craig Conroy appeared on Sportsnet and provided an encouraging update on winger Connor Zary, who suffered a knee injury last week against the Dallas Stars.
Zary is officially listed as week-to-week, but initial fears of a more serious injury have eased. There’s even a chance he could return before the season ends.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back at some point this season,” Conroy said during the broadcast.
Of course, the Flames won’t rush him back, and if the team is eliminated from playoff contention by the time he’s ready, they may opt to keep him out. Still, the possibility of his return is a positive development.
Close Isn’t Enough
The Flames dominated the latter half of Tuesday’s game, but at this stage in the season, effort alone isn’t enough.
Early in the year, losses can be learning experiences. But with their playoff chances slipping away, near-misses don’t cut it anymore.
Winger Joel Farabee summed up the frustration when asked if there was anything to build on from the game.
“I mean, yeah, I guess, but not really,” Farabee told reporters. “It’s the time of year where you’ve got to find a way. You can’t really feel good about it, there’s no time to be giving up wins.”
The Flames deserve credit for fighting hard to tie the game, but Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka stood tall, making 32 saves on 33 shots.
Falling Short
Defenseman Rasmus Andersson echoed the disappointment, saying the team felt they had done enough to earn at least a point.
“This one sucks, I thought we played good enough to at least get out of here 2-2, but we just couldn’t get that tying goal,” Andersson said.
Focus Shifts to Minnesota
The Flames picked up three points from their three-game road trip through Edmonton, Colorado, and Utah—respectable in most situations.
However, with the St. Louis Blues securing their 10th straight win on Tuesday, overtaking them in the standings now seems unrealistic for Calgary.
The Blues’ victory moved them ahead of the Minnesota Wild, who now hold the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. If the Flames are going to make a push for the playoffs, their target has to be Minnesota.
Catching the Wild won’t be easy, as they remain six points ahead. But with a game in hand and a crucial head-to-head matchup on April 11, the Flames still have a shot—especially with several winnable games left on their schedule.
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