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Although most fans would rather avoid the conversation, the Calgary Flames have now dropped 5 consecutive games and are now down to 9th in the West and 5th in the Pacific standings.

And while the group has failed to convert during their previous 5 games played, all is not bleak.

As we often witnessed last year, despite the fact that the Flames are starting to lose a few more games than they are winning, their play is still quite strong and their chances are still there. In fact, over their last 10 losses, 6 of those were by one goal. Seem familiar?

Fact of the matter continues to be that this Calgary Flames team is playing some great defensive hockey, and a strong team game. Where their games have differed has been their ability to simply convert on their chances which, as we saw last night, they are seemingly struggling with just a little bit. Had Johnny Gaudreau perhaps finished on one of his several plays, the game would have likely ended much differently. But I don’t really have much to complain about over these past five losses to be perfectly honest.

Their stats, to me, still indicate that they have been in just about every game that they’ve lost. While a few games their effort may have lacked a little, I feel that the recipe from which they were rewarded with much success early on this year, is still prevalent.

Looking at last night, for instance, the Flames kept the shot totals close throughout each period (save for maybe the third), they outmatched the Hawks in hits (24-10), they gave away only 5 pucks, blocked 26 compared 8 shots, and were penalized twice compared to three times for Chicago.

All in all, they played well and the Flames don’t have much to hang their heads about. I can guarantee that this isn’t sitting well with coach Bob Hartley who continues to focus on the main point that there are never reasons for excuses, but I don’t expect this losing streak to go on for much longer.

“I don’t think we can say we’ve played bad during this road-trip. At the same time, we’ve lost every game. It’s not good enough,” said Russell. “You can’t go on those lulls and expect to be a playoff team. We have to change this right away.”

“We talk about character, we talk about pride since Day 1 of training camp,” said Hartley. “Character and pride, it’s nice when things go good. When things go bad, that’s where we’re going to see. There’s no doubt in my mind we have plenty of character. We’re going to find a way.”

“If you don’t get the bounces and things don’t go your way, I think you just have to work even harder,” Hiller said. “I was never a guy who believes in luck or whatever. I always think you kind of have to work hard, and then you get lucky.”

“When we won all those games, we were just working a little harder. We were giving up one chance less and, right now, those chances we give up are costing us.”

“Good efforts don’t win in this league,” Russell added. “You’ve gotta have the effort. You’ve gotta have the execution. You’ve gotta win the second and third battles and you’ve gotta get second and third opportunities at their net, and we didn’t do that (Sunday).

“Going back home, we have to turn this thing around.”

I don’t know about you, but to me this sounds like a team who knows what they need to do to get back to tipping the scales in their favour. As mentioned, they’ve been in most games played so far this year and it’s just a matter of getting pucks on net and capitalizing on opportunities.

The Flames will take to the ice against the New York Rangers tomorrow night and they will need to get a win or a strong/close game. A six game losing streak could really cause this group to spiral given their overall experience, but with the leadership which we have seen from that dressing room, I have a feeling that they can and will battle through adversity.

Thanks for reading!

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