In Tempe, Calgary’s Jonathan Huberdeau scored at 14:59 of the third period to tie the game with the Coyotes, 3-3, and force extra time for the Flames.
On a night when the Flames could have used two points, they picked up a single in a4-3 loss to the Coyotes in extra time.
Travis Boyd scored the game-winner for Arizona at 3:10 of the extra session.
Calgary trails the Winnipeg Jets by five points, the Jets lost in Carolina on Tuesday in regulation.
The Flames dropped 30-24-14.
“To be quite honest, if you play a complete game, you shouldn’t have that many overtime games,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “That’s one part of it. The next part is then you need guys to make a difference.”
Connor Ingram made 42 saves in the Arizona win.
The Coyotes improved to 25-32-11, and are 4-1-2 since the trade deadline.
The extra point would have been a lift for the Flames.
Huberdeau said, “If we’d won even half of those [14] games, we’d be in the playoffs right now.”
Clayton Keller hit for a double in the win, his second was a shorthanded strike in the third period for a 3-2 lead for Arizona.
“It was an irresponsible goal on their power play for the `shortie’ goal,” Sutter said.
Calgary’s Mikael Backlund, and Keller scored in the first period for a 1-1 tie after 20.Keller
“When things are going good, you want to keep doing what’s working,” Keller said. “You don’t want to get crazy and start doing things [you] don’t normally do, When I stick with what’s working, I’m successful.”
Keller has 31 goals this campaign.
“He’s found his game. … He’s really playing hard on both sides of the puck and he’s a complete player,” Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. “I’m happy for him now, he has some milestones and some recognition around the industry.”
In the second stanza, the two teams traded markers again. Arizona grabbed a 2-1 lead on a strike by Matias Maccelli.
“The boys are playing hard right now, playing with desperation and playing for each other,” Tourigny said. “We know we’re missing big pieces … so you can enjoy the fact you have excuses, or you can show character and double down, and that’s what our guys are doing.”
Calgary replied to tie it, 2-2 on a marker from Walker Duehr.
Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves in the loss.
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