Things were supposed to start better for a new-look Calgary Flames. A new GM in Brad Treliving, new faces such as Jonas Hiller, Mason Raymond, Devon Setoguchi, and of course rookie Johnny Gaudreau, known as "Johnny Hockey", had the Saddledome crowd excited for the visit of Vancouver. However it was not to be for the Flames as the Canucks ran out 4-2 winners.
Flames began the match in dreamland as Kevin Bieksa was sent off for interference before Chris Higgins was also two minutes for delay of game, giving the Flames a lengthy 5-on-3 powerplay within the first 6 minutes. However they could not capitalize, seeing many pucks go through Canucks' goaltender Ryan Miller's crease and out the other side without causing any harm.
With just over eight minutes gone, Paul Byron took a hooking call that sent out Vancouver's top powerplay unit, with Alexandre Burrows redirecting a Dan Hamhuis shot to make it 1-0 to the visitors. It was so nearly 2-0 just before the period closed out, but Jonas Hiller made a spectacular glove during a 4 on 4 play to keep the Flames in the game at the first intermission.
After Zack Kassian's late penalty call, and the missed chances on a 5-on-3, the Flames began the second period going 0-3 on the powerplay. Despite Canucks' excellent penalty kill defense, the game was soon tied at one each when Paul Byron made the most of a 2-on-1 break following good work by Joe Colborne, firing home for the Flames' first goal of the season.
The hosts were level for just one minute and 8 seconds.
Mikael Backlund, who finished with a -3 on the night, could not clear the zone, allowing Kassian to net his first of the season and make it 2-1 to the Canucks. Sensing blood, the Canucks then made it 3-1 after a massive hit by Flames LW Lance Bouma on newly-acquired Canucks RW Radim Vrbata sent the Czech towards the Flames goal, knocking the puck in with what looked like an immediate high stick. The referees waved the goal off, but after a lengthy review, the goal was counted as going off the body of Vrbata's stick and not the shaft.
Refusing to let their visitors settle despite their two quick goals, the Flames made it 3-2 when Sean Monahan, who was a gametime decision, passing off to Jiri Hudler who fired it past Miller's glove side to make it 3-2 heading into the second intermission.
Flames pressured the Canucks from the beginning of the final period, firing in shot after shot, but they could not find a way past the stubborn Vancouver defense. Debutant Gaudreau logged some quality minutes, but his only shot of the game came on a break down the right side when he pulled up around a defenseman, however Miller was equal to his top corner attempt.
Flames hustled and harried to try find a way through, resorting to pull their goalie with two minutes left, but Henrik Sedin's impressive empty net goal sealed the win for the Canucks.