Chippy Flames Continue To Show Competitive Spirit

They didn't beat the league's best on Tuesday, but the Calgary Flames hung with the Washington Capitals all the way to the end in an entertaining, physical and emotional contest.

It wasn't until Caps breakout sniper Aliaksei Protas netted an insurance goal to make it 3-1 on a shorthanded breakaway with less than two and a half minutes remaining that the Flames admitted defeat.

It was another example of a Flames team that rarely goes down easily despite the fact few had any inkling they could be this competitive during a season tagged as transitional following significant turnover and a youth movement. And there were plenty of fun and exciting moments before that dagger was delivered — one being the plucky sparring between Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Capitals winger Tom Wilson.

They were both in the penalty box having a war of words while that final goal was scored. They clashed as time was winding down after Andersson mocked Wilson for his actions following a crosscheck from Flames teammate Adam Klapka that Rasmus believe was heavily embellished. Wilson was enraged frequently during the evening.

“It’s emotions, right? I know he gets triggered by certain stuff,” Andersson told reporters after the game. "I think that’s one part of the game that I enjoy, to chirp a little bit and get under their skin. It’s just the way it went today. Today it was Wilson, and next game it’ll be someone else probably."

Related: Why The Calgary Flames Are Unlikely To Trade Top Defenseman

Veterans like Andersson — who some have debated as a trade deadline asset — and Nazem Kadri have commanded and demanded accountability and engagement from their Flames teammates, and there has been an internal fire within locker-room all season. The Flames have played with that proverbial chip on their shoulder — knowing people expect them to fail and taking real pleasure in their victories and the notion they're proving people wrong.

Andersson is frequently in the fabric of any Flames game and head coach Ryan Huska has no problem with the antics he saw from one of his leaders on the night.

"I feel like when Ras is right on the line and plays the game with edge, he’s a really good player.” Huska said. “He was right in the thick of things in Minnesota, he was right in the thick of things in Winnipeg, and he was the same way tonight.