Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Instant Reaction: Flames come up short against Utah
Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) guards his net against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!

The Calgary Flames worked hard on Tuesday night against the Utah Hockey Club. They hustled. They battled. They just didn’t have enough speed or offensive flair to out-score their mistakes on the second half of a back-to-back.

The Flames’ playoff chances took another big hit by way of a 3-1 road loss to Utah.

The rundown

Puck possession was fairly back and forth in the opening period of hockey, but Utah seemed to get more good looks – and higher quality looks – in the first 20. But the Flames did a pretty capable job of hanging in there and not making too many mistakes.

Well, until late in the period.

At 17:46 in the first, Utah finally broke through. They managed to get puck possession in the Flames’ zone and stranded their fourth line and third pairing in their own zone and started cycling. Finally, Alex Kerfoot threw a pass from the corner towards the slot area for Kevin Stenlund. Stenlund blasted a one-timer past Dustin Wolf to give the Hockey Club a 1-0 lead.

First period shots were 12-12. Via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 12-5 Utah (high-danger chances 6-1 Utah).

The second period saw quality possession dominated by Utah, but featured a few wild momentum swings.

The Flames had a good chance 97 seconds in, as Mikael Backlund threw the puck on net and it looked like it beat Karel Vejmelka. Play continued until the play was whistled down on a high stick, and then the shot was reviewed.

The puck was ruled to have not fully crossed the goal line, so it was not a goal.

On the very next play, the Flames turned the puck over in the neutral zone and Sean Durzi sent Barrett Hayton in on Wolf alone, and Hayton’s backhander beat the Flames’ netminder to make it 2-0 Utah.

But later in the period, the Flames got one back. Morgan Frost chased down an errant puck in the Utah zone. He didn’t grab the puck, but he and Yegor Sharangovich pressured Utah into a turnover up the wall. Rasmus Andersson fired a shot from the point that beat Vejmelka to cut the Utah lead to 2-1.

Second period shots were 10-9 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 13-7 Utah (high-dangers chances were 7-0 Utah).

The Flames pressed throughout the third period. They had a lot of looks. But Vejmelka was sharp in Utah’s net, and the Flames could not translate zone time and dangerous chances into goals.

With Wolf on the bench for the extra attacker, Clayton Keller scored on the empty Flames net to ice this one as a 3-1 Utah victory.

Third period shots were 11-7 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 10-3 Flames (high-dangers chances were 5-0 Flames).

Why the Flames lost

Bless ’em, but the Flames looked slow against Utah. That’s not meant as a knock against the Flames. They were on the second half of a back-to-back after a heck of a game against Colorado on Monday night, and they were playing a young, fast, rested Utah team. And Utah used those young, rested legs to make life tough for the Flames.

Red Warrior

We’ll give this to Dustin Wolf. He had to be busy and sharp in the first two periods, and he did what he could to keep this game close. Unfortunately, he got very little run support.

Turning point

The momentum in this game swung hard between the Backlund non-goal and the second Utah goal. The Flames didn’t have enough to claw their way back.

This and that

The Flames have yet to win a game in Utah or against Utah.

Up next

The Flames (35-27-12) are headed home. They host the Anaheim Ducks at the Saddledome on Thursday night.

This article first appeared on Flamesnation and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Boston Bruins Forward Chooses to Walk Away From the NHL, Signs Multi-Year Deal Overseas
NHL

Boston Bruins Forward Chooses to Walk Away From the NHL, Signs Multi-Year Deal Overseas

Jakub Lauko has flashed great potential as an NHLer, but now, the former third-round pick and current Boston Bruin is headed home after signing a new deal overseas. Back in 2018, the Boston Bruins used a third round pick on Czech forward Jakub Lauko, and after some promising seasons with the Providence Bruins in the AHL, it appeared as though they had a solid forward of the future on their hands. Since arriving in the NHL however, the 6-foot-1 centre has tallied just 11 goals and 28 points in 139 games played, and after putting up just 5 points in 18 games a season ago, many wondered if he indeed had a future in the National Hockey League. Now, that question has officially been answered, as the 25-year old has signed a deal overseas with HC Dynamite Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga, suggesting that he'll be heading home in 2025/26. While he was never a prolific scorer, Lauko was always seen as a very dynamic bottom-six player at the NHL level, but unfortunately he just hasn't been able to develop and consistently produce at the next level, and it's clear that he has disappointed in the league so far. At 25-years of age, there's plenty of time for Lauko to turn things around and find his way back to the NHL at some stage, but with the opportunity to play on the biggest stage back in his home country in a league that continues to grow in quality and popularity, he may want to spend the rest of his career there, but for now, he's got a great opportunity to do either one.

Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message to Retiring CBS Broadcaster on Sunday
Golf

Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message to Retiring CBS Broadcaster on Sunday

At Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, Sunday’s final round of the 2025 Wyndham Championship closed out the PGA Tour’s regular season. It also marked the end of an era for one of golf’s most revered broadcasters. For the last time, Ian Baker-Finch manned the hole-announcing microphone for CBS Sports, capping 30 years in the booth following a playing career that peaked with his victory at the 1991 Open Championship. Before the day was over, Tiger Woods took to X to salute "Finchy." "Congrats Finchy for 30 incredible years behind the microphone. You brought insight into things that the viewing audience could understand and relate to. From all of us—thanks for the memories." The message joined tributes from Jack Nicklaus, Jason Day, Adam Scott and others, underscoring Baker-Finch’s standing among champions past and present. Ian Baker-Finch: From Major Champion to Broadcast Mainstay Baker-Finch turned pro in 1979, winning 17 professional tournaments worldwide. His lone major title came at Royal Birkdale in 1991, where he secured the Open Championship by five strokes. After retiring in the mid-1990s, Baker-Finch transitioned smoothly into broadcasting. He cut his teeth as an analyst on Australian television before joining ESPN and ABC in 1998. In 2007, he became CBS Sports’ dedicated hole announcer, a role he held through 2025, calling golf’s defining moments with a blend of technical acumen and warm delivery. Over 19 seasons with CBS, he covered five Masters and contributed to countless PGA Tour telecasts. Throughout Woods’ five green-jacket haul (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), Baker-Finch was a trusted on-course voice that helped demystify championship golf for television audiences. As a player, Baker-Finch remains one of only seven Australian men to win a major championship and is one of a select few to dominate links golf on British soil. As a broadcaster, Baker-Finch’s voice guided generations of fans through golf’s signature moments, shaping how millions understand the game’s subtleties. When the G.O.A.T. of professional golf uses his platform to honor your contribution to the sport, it signals a broadcast career worth remembering.

DK Metcalf makes huge claim about Steelers defense
NFL

DK Metcalf makes huge claim about Steelers defense

D.K. Metcalf has faced plenty of steep competition through his first six NFL seasons, both during games and practice, but the star wide receiver has noticed something different in his first training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During an interview with Ian Rapoport and Steve Smith of NFL Network on Sunday, Metcalf discussed some of his first impressions of the Steelers. He spoke about how challenging it has been to go up against cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay every day. When asked how the practice competition compares to what he saw with the Seattle Seahawks, Metcalf made a bold claim about his new teammates. "You don't want my opinion, because I think they're the best defense I've ever seen," Metcalf said. "There's some dogs everywhere on the field, and I tip my hat to them because they come to work every day and we don't have any choice but to get better." There is no question that the Steelers should have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL on paper. While they sent five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in the Ramsey trade, their cornerback trio of Ramsey, Porter and Slay is as talented as any in the league. The Steelers allowed 20.4 points per game last year, which ranked eighth in the NFL. Their pass defense surrendered 228 yards per game, which only ranked 25th. If Metcalf's assessment is accurate, Pittsburgh should show great improvement against the pass in 2025.

Familiar face gets attention in Packers training camp: ‘I always wanted to be back’
NFL

Familiar face gets attention in Packers training camp: ‘I always wanted to be back’

The Green Bay Packers have decisions to make soon, with the 53-man roster cut deadline on the horizon. Among those hoping to make it to Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season on the team’s main roster is tight end John FitzPatrick, who reunited with the Packers after signing a one-year contract worth $1.5M in April. Green Bay initially signed him to the active roster in 2024 following a practice squad stint with the Atlanta Falcons. He played nine games for the Packers in the 2024 NFL campaign, but did not produce significantly on the field, having also seen just 32% of offensive snaps. He had a catch on a single target for two receiving yards last season. TE loving his Green Bay Packers comeback Competing for a spot behind Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, the 25-year-old FitzPatrick had his moments on the field on Friday with a sliding catch from a Malik Willis pass before scoring a touchdown. FitzPatrick is not hiding his true feelings about being back with Green Bay, as he continues to prove himself to the team. “I always wanted to be back here,” FitzPatrick said, per Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers’ official website. “I really love it here. I love the people here. When the opportunity presented itself, it was really a no-brainer. It was nice just being able to go through the whole offseason program. The OTAs and the lifting, all the meetings and practices, I think has just helped me a ton.” FitzPatrick entered the pros in 2022, when the Falcons took him off the board in the sixth round (213th overall) of the NFL draft.