The Calgary Flames fell to 0–5–0 for the first time in franchise history after losing 4–2 to the Anaheim Ducks at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.
Ryan Poehling broke a 2–2 tie with a short-handed goal at 5:35 of the third period. He slid the puck under Dustin Wolf’s pad, then crashed into the net and needed help leaving the ice.
Anaheim had already lost Cutter Gauthier to an upper-body injury after five first-period shifts. Coach Joel Quenneville said both forwards would be evaluated after the team returned home, NHL.com reported.
Poehling also contributed an assist. Jackson LaCombe, Frank Vatrano and Nikita Nesterenko scored Anaheim’s other goals, while Ville Husso made 27 saves in his first start of the season.
The Ducks improved to 4–1–0 and won their first three road games to open a season for the first time, according to the Canadian Press recap.
Morgan Frost and Aydar Suniev scored for Calgary. Suniev’s goal was his first in the NHL, and Matt Coronato finished with two assists. Wolf stopped 24 shots.
The loss left Calgary as the league’s only team without a point. The Flames had stretches of improved play and reached the third period level, but Poehling’s short-handed goal again left them chasing the game.
Calgary’s challenge now is to turn those stretches into a complete result. Anaheim left with the win and a separate concern over the availability of two important forwards.
Watch the official recap and scoring clips. Follow TSP’s NHL section.
