Canucks fall to the Flames for their fourth straight loss
Posted February 19, 2016 8:43 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY, AB (NEWS 1130) – Adam Cracknell and Jake Virtanen scored for Vancouver in the first period, but the Flames scored four unanswered goals to beat the Canucks 5-2 at the Saddledome. The loss was the fourth in a row for Vancouver, with all four having a 5-2 score.
The Canucks were coming off of a winless three-game homestand that saw them lose to Toronto, Minnesota and Anaheim. Prior to that, Vancouver won back-to-back road games in Colorado and Arizona.
Calgary opened the scoring on its first shot of the game, as Joe Colborne took a drop pass from Mikael Backlund and beat Jacob Markstrom with a quick shot just under two minutes in.
Vancouver got back on level terms with Cracknell’s fourth goal of the season. Jannik Hansen drew the defensemen in deep, and Cracknell jumped on the loose puck before firing a shot through Jonas Hiller.
The Canucks took their only lead of the game with 4:13 to play in the first period. Jake Virtanen stole the puck from Dougie Hamilton and then walked in front and beat Hiller high to the glove side. It was the fourth goal of Virtanen’s rookie season.
The momentum shifted early in the second period, as Backlund scored off a feed from Colborne, giving each player a pair of points on the night. The Flames added two more goals in the second period, with Michael Frolik and Marc Giordano getting credited for shots that went off Canucks’ players and in.
Calgary put the game away 3:01 into the third period. Josh Jooris went hard to the front of the net and tipped a Lance Bouma pass over Markstrom’s shoulder to make it 5-2.
Markstrom lost his second straight start to drop his record to 9-7-4. He made 28 saves in the defeat.
The Canucks return home to host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
