The Calgary Flames' desperate push for playoff positioning took a painful hit on Tuesday night, as a late third-period breakdown led to a 5-3 road loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
A Costly Mistake in the Final Minutes
With the game knotted at 3-3 and just over 90 seconds remaining in regulation, the Flames' opportunity to secure at least a critical point evaporated in a moment of chaos. Defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, under intense pressure from three Blue Jackets forecheckers in his own zone, was unable to clear the puck. The subsequent turnover resulted in the game-winning goal for Columbus, effectively sealing the Flames' fate before an empty-netter finalized the score.
While the sequence will haunt Weegar, Flames head coach Ryan Huska emphasized the collective failure. "When you get to the point where it’s 3-3 late in the game like that on the road, you have to find a way to get a point," Huska told reporters post-game. "At the end of the day, that’s what this one comes down to." The team was left to rue a missed outlet pass that left Weegar isolated, turning a potential overtime point into a devastating regulation loss.
Andersson Provides a Spark Amidst Defeat
In a losing effort, defenceman Rasmus Andersson stood out as the Flames' most impactful player. After a listless first period that saw Columbus take a 2-0 lead, Andersson ignited his team early in the second period by dropping the gloves with Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner. The fight served as a tangible momentum shift.
Andersson then translated that energy onto the scoresheet, netting his ninth goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2. His offensive contribution from the blue line has been notable, putting him just two goals shy of his career high with 37 games still remaining on the schedule. "We at least have gotta get one point there," a frustrated Andersson said afterward. "Unfortunate play, but yeah, we battled. We battled and we came up short. We’ve got to find ways to win."
Playoff Hopes Dim After Road Trip Struggles
The loss marks another setback in a crucial five-game road trip for Calgary. Their record on the journey now sits at 1-3-0, with only a Thursday night contest in Chicago remaining. The failure to force overtime in Columbus could have significant standings implications, potentially leaving the Flames seven points out of a playoff spot by Wednesday morning.
Facing a Blue Jackets squad with a record of 20-19-7, the game represented a prime opportunity for the Flames (19-23-4) to gain ground. Instead, the late collapse underscored their ongoing struggles to close out tight games. As the season progresses past the midway point, each missed point amplifies the difficulty of their climb back into the Western Conference wild-card race. The immediate task is to salvage the road trip with a victory against the Blackhawks, but the memory of a costly 94-second lapse in Columbus will linger.
