Instant Reaction: Flames battle hard, but fall short against Ducks

The Calgary Flames suffered a 4-2 defeat to the Anaheim Ducks at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday, extending their season-opening losing streak to five games. Jackson LaCombe opened the scoring on a power play before Morgan Frost equalized for Calgary. The Ducks reclaimed the lead late in the first period, but Aydar Suniev netted his first career NHL goal in the second period to level the score at 2-2.

The decisive turning point came in the third period when Anaheim's Ryan Poehling scored a short-handed goal on a breakaway rush, before crashing hard into the net. Nikita Nesterenko added a late insurance goal past goaltender Dustin Wolf to secure Anaheim's victory. The writer notes special teams execution was the primary difference, with the Ducks outscoring Calgary 2-0 in special-teams situations.