The Calgary Flames’ rough opening to the season rolled on Thursday night, and this time the Vegas Golden Knights made sure there was no escape hatch. Calgary fell 6-2 and slipped to 1-6-0, a result shaped by an early punch from Vegas, a pair of special-teams swings, and a third period that got away fast.
Vegas needed just 25 seconds to land the first blow. Brett Howden carried the puck into the Flames zone and beat Dustin Wolf over the shoulder, instantly putting Calgary on the back foot.
The Flames did manage to answer in the second period, and it came while they were shorthanded. At 10:15, Jake Middleton scored his first goal as a Flame, finishing a setup from Joel Farabee in the slot with a wrist shot that got past Carter Hart and pulled Calgary within one.
Any hope of building on that moment disappeared almost immediately. Just 48 seconds later, Braeden Bowman converted a quick passing sequence on the power play to push Vegas back in front by two.
The Golden Knights then stretched the game open early in the third. At 1:06, Eichel found Mark Stone with a cross-seam pass, and Stone redirected the puck in from the side of the net. Later in the period, Stone struck again at 12:10, this time on a backhand to finish the natural hat-trick with Eichel helping on the third goal of the night for the Vegas captain.
Matt Coronato added a late power-play goal for Calgary, but the damage was already done.
The Flames’ biggest problem was timing. They gave up the opening goal right away, then surrendered another quick response after Middleton’s short-handed marker. Those swings kept Calgary from settling in and made it tough to generate any real momentum.
Special teams also tilted the night toward Vegas. Calgary got goals on the penalty kill and the power play, but the Golden Knights were more decisive with their chances, answering the Flames’ best moments instead of letting them breathe.
Middleton’s goal was one of the few bright spots for Calgary. It was his first since joining the club, and it also marked his first career shorthanded goal. With the Flames looking for offense wherever they can find it, getting production from a defenseman brought in for his physical presence and experience was at least something to take from another tough night.
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