Capitals Edge Flames 3-1 Despite Strong Effort from Calgary
Friday night at the Saddledome saw the Calgary Flames drop a 3-1 decision to the Washington Capitals, but the score doesn’t tell the full story. While the result stings, this was one of Calgary’s better offensive performances in recent memory - and it still wasn’t enough. That’s what happens when you run into a goaltender like Logan Thompson, who put on a clinic between the pipes and stole the show.
Flames Start Fast, But Can’t Finish
Calgary came out with purpose. They opened the scoring on the power play and kept the pressure on with an aggressive forecheck that hemmed Washington in for stretches.
The Flames were buzzing around the crease, creating chaos and second-chance opportunities, but Thompson stood tall. Despite generating quality looks, Calgary couldn’t find a way to beat him again.
Momentum tilted late in the second period as the Flames pushed for a go-ahead goal, but an early penalty in the third flipped the script. The Capitals capitalized, taking the lead and never looking back. A late empty-netter by Alex Ovechkin sealed the deal.
Defensive Structure Still a Work in Progress
The Flames continue to play a high-risk, high-reward style - and that means they’re giving up chances almost as fast as they create them. Devin Cooley was once again a stabilizing force in net, turning aside a number of high-danger looks and keeping the game within reach. He faced 3.13 expected goals at 5-on-5 and only allowed two, one of which came on a second-chance effort he had no real shot at stopping.
The Flames’ goaltending tandem of Cooley and Dustin Wolf has been one of the bright spots this season. If the team can find more consistency up front, the wins will follow. There’s confidence in the crease - now it’s about building around it.
Kevin Bahl Stepping Into a Bigger Role
One of the standout performances came from defenseman Kevin Bahl, who’s beginning to look more and more like a legitimate top-four option. He was involved in 10 of the Flames’ 13 high-danger chances at even strength and showed off his mobility by jumping into the rush and creating offense from the back end. His pairing with Zach Whitecloud has been tasked with heavy minutes, and they’re holding their own - not dominant, but certainly not overwhelmed.
Bahl’s skating and instincts are starting to shine, and if this continues, he could be a long-term solution on the blue line.
Klapka’s Edge on Display - For Better or Worse
Adam Klapka led the team in Corsi with a 63.44% share, but his night ended early after he took a 10-minute misconduct for jabbing Tom Wilson from the bench. It was a needless penalty, and the officials were right to toss him.
That said, Klapka’s physical presence and fearlessness are part of what makes him intriguing. He’s got size, edge, and flashes of offensive upside - but turning those flashes into consistent production remains the next step.
At this point in his career, he’s likely a bottom-six forward who can chip in occasionally, but there’s still a sense he has more to give. Whether that potential ever fully materializes is the big question.
Kadri Shows Signs of Life
Nazem Kadri showed some spark in this one, getting more involved offensively than he has in recent games. He nearly caught a lucky bounce a couple of times and looked more engaged overall. Yes, the increased activity came with a few turnovers - but that’s been a team-wide issue, not just a Kadri problem.
There’s been talk about whether this dip in form is age-related, but with the entire roster struggling to generate consistent offense, it’s hard to pin it on any one player. When the whole team is stuck in neutral, the questions start to shift toward coaching.
The Flames once looked like a group that competed hard every shift. That edge has dulled, and the lack of scoring is making it harder to justify the grinding, defense-first approach.
Cooley Continues to Impress
Devin Cooley was once again excellent. He’s been a rock this season, and Friday was no different.
Despite facing a steady stream of quality chances, he gave the Flames a chance to win - and that’s all you can ask for. His ability to make the first save and control rebounds is a huge asset for a team that often gives up second looks.
With Cooley locked in for two more seasons after this one, and Wolf waiting in the wings, Calgary’s goaltending future looks secure. If the skaters can start converting on their chances, the Flames could turn a corner in a hurry.
Final Thoughts
This was a game that showed glimpses of what Calgary can be - a team that creates pressure, gets into dangerous areas, and has the goaltending to back it up. But glimpses don’t win games. Until the Flames find a way to finish more of the chances they’re generating, nights like this will keep ending in frustration.
Three Stars 1.
Devin Cooley - Kept the Flames in it with another standout performance. 2.
Kevin Bahl - Active at both ends, involved in most of the team’s best chances. 3.
Morgan Frost - Quietly effective, helping drive the Capitals’ attack.
The effort was there. The execution? Still a work in progress.