Flames Fall Short Against Leafs Despite Late Push: A Game of Missed Opportunities and Momentum Swings
The Calgary Flames hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night, but you wouldn’t have known it by the crowd noise. With a sea of blue sweaters in the stands and an early goal against, the Flames were on the back foot almost immediately-and they spent most of the game trying to claw their way back.
In the end, the comeback fell just short. Calgary dropped a 4-2 decision to the Leafs, a game that saw flashes of resilience from the home side but ultimately underscored the cost of early mistakes and missed chances.
A Rough Start That Set the Tone
It took just 35 seconds for the Flames to find themselves chasing. Calgary had early zone pressure, but a misread at the blue line proved costly.
Jonathan Huberdeau’s pass back to the point was picked off by John Tavares, who sprung William Nylander on a breakaway. Nylander made no mistake, going glove-side top corner on Dustin Wolf to make it 1-0 Toronto.
The Flames actually outshot the Leafs 7-3 in the opening frame and held the edge in high-danger chances at five-on-five, but the scoreboard told a different story. One turnover, one breakdown, and they were already playing from behind.
Leafs Stretch the Lead
Midway through the second, things got worse for Calgary. A puck battle behind their own net saw Nylander outmuscle Morgan Frost, and his effort set up Matias Macelli in front. Macelli roofed it past Wolf to double the Leafs’ lead.
Then came a stretch of four-on-four hockey, and Toronto capitalized on the extra space. Auston Matthews' initial shot was stopped, but the rebound chaos left the Flames scrambling.
Nylander corralled the puck and found Troy Stecher alone in front. Stecher buried it, and suddenly it was 3-0.
At that point, it felt like the game might be slipping away entirely. But credit to the Flames-they didn’t fold.
Kadri and Farabee Spark a Comeback
Just minutes after going down by three, Calgary pushed back. Joel Farabee carried the puck into the zone, pulled defenders toward him, and dropped a slick pass to Nazem Kadri, who ripped it over Joseph Woll to make it 3-1.
Later in the period, MacKenzie Weegar made a smart play at the blue line, feeding Kadri on the wall. Kadri fired a cross-ice pass to Farabee, who chipped it over Woll at the far post. Suddenly, it was 3-2 and the Saddledome had a pulse again.
The second period was much more balanced-Toronto edged the Flames in shots, but Calgary had the better quality looks, especially in high-danger areas. That momentum carried into the third.
A Third Period Push That Came Up Empty
The Flames came out buzzing in the final frame. They outshot Toronto 13-8 and had multiple chances to tie it up.
Adam Klapka nearly caught the Leafs off guard when a dump-in took a strange bounce off the boards and landed dangerously close to the net. Brandon Carlo and Woll were just able to scramble and keep it out.
Matt Coronato had a prime scoring chance as well, but Woll stood tall again. There were moments-two, maybe three-where the puck trickled just inches from crossing the line. But inches don’t show up on the scoreboard.
With Wolf pulled for the extra attacker late, the Flames threw everything they had at the Leafs’ net. But the tying goal never came. Instead, Bobby McMann sealed it with an empty-netter to make it 4-2.
Why Calgary Came Up Short
This one came down to two things: early puck management and missed opportunities. The Flames were sloppy in the first half of the game, especially with their passing. They struggled to connect on key plays, and that fed right into Toronto’s transition game.
But once they settled in, they looked like a different team. They moved the puck with purpose, created space, and generated real scoring chances. The comeback effort was there-it just came a bit too late.
And while the Flames didn’t get the result they wanted, there’s something to be said for the way they responded after going down 3-0. They made it a game. They didn’t quit.
Standouts of the Night
Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee were the heartbeat of the Flames’ offense. Kadri had a goal and an assist, and Farabee returned the favor with a goal and a helper of his own. Their chemistry was evident, and they were inches away from adding more.
Turning Point
Toronto’s third goal was the backbreaker. The Flames had just started to find their legs, but that quick-strike sequence during four-on-four play-highlighted by crisp passing and a defensive breakdown-put them in a hole that proved too deep.
Around the Rink
Before puck drop, the Flames held a moment of silence in memory of three members of the Southern Alberta Mustangs who tragically passed away in a car accident on their way to practice. A somber but meaningful tribute that reminded everyone of the bigger picture.
Defenseman Zayne Parekh returned to NHL action for the first time since Nov. 7, logging minutes in a high-tempo game that saw plenty of rush chances both ways.
What’s Next
The Flames (22-27-6) have one more game before the Olympic break, and it’s a big one. They’ll host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night in the latest installment of the Battle of Alberta. Emotions will be high, and if Monday’s late push is any indication, Calgary should come into that one with something to prove.
Plenty to build on. Plenty to clean up. But if the second half of this game showed us anything, it’s that the fight is still very much alive in this Flames team.