Flames Lose Road Trip Finale as Pelletier Suffers Injury

The Calgary Flames wrapped up their four-game road trip with a disappointing 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The game featured a goaltending duel between the Flames’ Jacob Markstrom and the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin.

Unfortunately for the Flames, the loss was compounded by an injury to left-winger Jakob Pelletier, who left the game with an upper-body injury after a hard hit from Rangers captain Jacob Trouba early in the matchup. Pelletier had just returned from a previous shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for the first part of the season.

There is concern about the severity of Pelletier’s injury, as he was seen favoring his left shoulder, the same one that required surgery earlier in the season. His absence would be a blow to the team, as he has been a fan favorite in his short NHL career.

Flames’ alternate captain Rasmus Andersson expressed the team’s sentiment, saying, “It’s brutal. We all love that kid. He’s a great guy and brings so much energy to our room. It sucks. Hopefully, he’ll be alright.” Veteran winger Blake Coleman echoed the sentiment, calling Pelletier a great kid and expressing hope that the injury is not serious.

Prior to the game, the Flames were celebrating Jacob Markstrom being named the NHL’s first star of the week. Markstrom continued his stellar play against the Rangers, making 29 saves in the losing effort. However, it was Shesterkin’s 30-save shutout that sealed the win for the home team.

Markstrom’s standout performances have been a key factor for the Flames, with a .945 save percentage in the games following the all-star break. Despite his impressive play, the Flames were unable to capitalize on the road trip finale.

The Flames now return home with a 25-23-5 record, looking to regroup as they prepare to face the San Jose Sharks in their next game at the Saddledome. Captain Mikael Backlund acknowledged the need to pick up their game at home after a mixed performance on the road.