At the conclusion of the first period, when the Calgary Flames skated off the ice, the jeers began.

Just a little bit.

Many people wouldn’t be pleased with what they saw. In the first 20 minutes, the Flames only managed three shots. They nearly got away with a draw. However, on the Nashville Predators’ 13th shot of the period, former Flames first-round pick Mark Janikowski, who had just been brought up from the minors, broke in and roofed a rebound.

In the second, the jeers became a little louder.

Without a doubt, the Flames discussed improving their mid-frame start in the dressing room. Filip Forsberg, though, had the Predators up by two before a third of the Saddledome spectators returned to their seats from the beer lines. Roman Josi’s blast from the point two and a half minutes later, with Flames winger Dillon Dube serving a misconduct, increased the deficit to three goals.

Despite a strong third period, the Calgary Flames were defeated 4-1 for the evening because the deficit was too wide to close. They now stand at 5-4-0 on the year after suffering their third consecutive home loss.

Before a three-game road trip the following week, they have one more home game against the (once-friendly) New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Fair enough, not all of the boo souds were in fact boos. Every time Milan Lucic touched the puck that night, which appeared to be frequently, the devoted Milan Lucic fan club yelled out “Loooooch.”

With no offence intended for the big man, but if he is the offensive standout, your possession strategy may need some work. (However, late in the second period, he did ring a one-timer off the crossbar, and his vigour undoubtedly kept hope alive.)

The Calgary Flames received three minor penalties before the Predators’ first, prompting some jeers for the men in stripes. Additionally, there was a flagrant trip on Jonathan Huberdeau for which Nazem Kadri complained to the referees.

However, the Flames performed terribly for 40 minutes in the end. worse than I’ve recently saw them perform. The defence was undoubtedly affected by Chris Tanev’s absence due to injury, but the tenacious rearguard was not to blame for the lack of offence.