SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 20: Mikael Backlund #11 of the Calgary Flames skates away from Kevin Labanc #62 of the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on December 20, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Strike one: the Flames were playing in the second game of a back-to-back. Calgary has played in six such situations this year. They have collected six of a possible 12 points, two being of the loser variety. They have had one convincing win in such scenarios. Back-to-backs are not typically a team's friend.
Strike two: they were playing a back-to-back game against an obviously superior opponent.