Last night, the Blue Jackets faced the misfortune of taking on the Calgary Flames on a night where they would be revved up and emotional. Nazem Kadri was playing in career game #1000, for a team who was challenged last year after playing poorly as Mikael Backlund achieved the same feat.
The Flames came to center ice ready to play last night. And, another slow start by the guys in Union Blue led to a massive win for the NHL's last place team.
For the second straight game, I wondered to myself: did someone tell the Blue Jackets the puck had dropped? Only this time, unlike the game against the Islanders on Sunday night; they weren't propped up by ridiculous goaltending.
The Flames scored the first goal of the game just 56 seconds in, with Morgan Frost deflecting a long shot from Jonathan Huberdeau past Jet Greaves.
Just for fun, they doubled down and scored again just 36 second after that, this time on a Blake Coleman shot through traffic. These two goals, in the game's first 1:32, were all the offense that would be required to beat the Blue Jackets on Wednesday night.
Kirill Marchenko did get the Blue Jackets on the board at the 6:57 mark of the first, with a shorthanded breakaway goal. But all in all, the crowd at the Saddledome was electric, and they were never really in this game during the first period.
I would like to say that they played a better second period, but it seemed like everything they did last night was out of desperation. Those desperation plays came back to bite them twice in the second.
Nazem Kadri scored 7:47 into the period on a 2-on-1 rush with winger Miles Wood being the lone player on defense. Defenseman Dante Fabbro circled the Flames net, then threw a pass to the other defenseman pinching in (Zach Werenski), which was picked off and sent the other way.
NAZ IS HIM 😤 pic.twitter.com/ywM9S1FUra
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) November 6, 2025
The Flames scored again just 37 seconds later. Another defenseman pinching in. Another turnover. Another odd-man rush. You get the picture. Adam Klapka beat Greaves clean with a far-side wrist shot, effectively silencing any hopes of a Blue Jackets comeback.
The Jackets did pepper Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf with 22 shots in the third period, but at that point it was too little, too late. Calgary was able to shut it down and protect their comfortable three goal lead, then chipped in an empty netter from Backlund to seal it.
Chasing the game doesn't work for this team's system.
This is the biggest takeaway for me. The Blue Jackets are a big, heavy team that wants to play above the puck and filter shots through traffic. When they are on their game, it's hard to get up the ice against them.
This strategy of keeping an extra forward high, is exactly why they have such good 5 on 5 metrics so far this season. Last night, I thought they played too desperate, with guys jumping too far into the offensive zone.
As a result, they gave up some odd-man rushes the other way, and the Flames made them pay twice because of their aggression. Ultimately, this is what blew the game wide open.
Sean Monahan injury looms large.
Top line center Sean Monahan was injured in the second period, after being checked into the glass by Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. He did play several shifts after the hit, but eventually left the game with an undisclosed injury.
Post-game, head coach Dean Evason said he was still being evaluated and there was no update. Hopefully it's nothing serious, because even with their added center depth, this team needs him in its top-six.
The Jackets are off until Saturday, when they will face the Canucks in Vancouver. We'll watch for any updates between now and then.
Hopefully, they can figure out how to start on time for that one. If not, we're in for a long Western Canada road trip.