3 Takeaways From Flames' Vegas Defeat: It's Time to Panic... Sort Of
Okay, Flames fans, let's face it. The loss to the Vegas Golden Knights hurt. It really did. Especially after that amazing comeback win against the Blues. But before we start throwing tomatoes at Darryl Sutter's car (kidding, kinda), let's take a look at some key takeaways from the game.
1. The Power Play Still Needs Work
Yeah, yeah, I know, this feels like a broken record. But seriously, the Flames' power play was a total dud against the Knights. They couldn't get anything going, and it's becoming a serious issue. We're not talking about a few bad games here. This has been a problem all season. We need to see some real improvement from this unit if they want to make a deep playoff run.
2. The Defense Needs to Tighten Up
Let's be honest, the Flames defense had a bit of a nightmare against Vegas. It was like they were sleepwalking out there! They gave up way too many chances, and those guys in Vegas took full advantage. This needs to change. The Flames need to get back to their defensive roots. They're known for being tough and reliable, but they didn't look like themselves in that game.
3. Markstrom Needs Some Support
Speaking of the defense, poor Markstrom had to face a ton of shots, and it's tough to blame him for the loss. While he's always a rock, he can't be expected to win every game single-handedly. The guys in front of him need to do a better job of protecting him.
The Bottom Line: The Flames have some things to figure out if they want to be a true contender. The power play needs to wake up, the defense needs to tighten up, and they need to provide more support for Markstrom. It's time for this team to show us their true potential, because the playoffs are just around the corner!