Like Ben Chiarot, forward Tyler Toffoli saw his 2021-2022 season come to an end in the second round of playoffs after being traded by the Montreal Canadiens during the campaign, which is admittedly a disappointment for him and his teammates. of the Calgary Flames.

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They lost their flag for the fourth straight time to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. A 5-4 loss in overtime spelled the end of play for head coach Darryl Sutter's men, who had started the Western Conference semifinals well with a 9-6 win. However, the 'two-headed monster' of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl has wreaked havoc, so the Flames will have to brood over their failure against foe Alberta all summer.

"It's all about disappointment, frustration and anger right now," forward Mikael Backlund told NHL.com. We had a great team, a good group of guys. I'm proud of all the players and I would go to war with them again. It didn't end the way you wanted."

The reasons for this dissatisfaction are obviously legitimate, especially since the Flames could have prolonged the series by being able to close the door. In season, a 2-0 lead like the one they forged in Game 5 might have been enough to win. However, goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom and his defense couldn't close the door at the right time.

“They just made the key plays in the key moments of the games and we didn't do it on our side, lamented the forward Blake Coleman. If you look at many of the games, we were neck and neck in the third period and we were unable to make the big play to put ourselves in control.

"At this point in the year, the margin for error is so small and it's part of the learning process of how to win tough games and become a really tough club to play against in important situations," he said. he added.

A "false goal" that makes people talk

The final minutes of the third period left a sour taste for Flames fans gathered at the Scotiabank Saddledome. They believed Coleman had given the team the lead with 5:57 to go when he deflected the puck with his left skate behind goaltender Mike Smith. Although he tried to stop it as he was falling and before it crossed the goal line, the attacker saw his goal disallowed, the officials considering intentional the skating kick directing the disc into the net .

“Well, it depends on what you consider deliberate skating,” Sutter told Sportsnet. If someone is on the ground and you raise your foot to hit them in the head, it is an intentional hit. If you slip your foot on the ground, it is not an intentional gesture.

"There was no intention, I just wanted to put myself in a good position," Coleman said. I pointed my foot forward, but my understanding is that you can redirect the disc as long as you don't kick it in. I was pushed and tried to keep my foot on the ice. […] I did not watch the video replay enough, except that at full speed, I thought I was in a fight.

"It's unfortunate, because it was a big part of the outcome of the game and influenced what happened next."