Flames' Giordano: 5-1 loss to Canucks is 'unacceptable'

The Vancouver Canucks went into Calgary on Wednesday and dominated the Flames in the clubs' season opener. Consider it payback for Vancouver's playoff loss to Calgary in the spring.

The night began with a fight - two seconds in - between Micheal Ferland and Derek Dorsett. Clearly there's no love lost between the teams.

It was all Canucks, especially through the first two periods, and Vancouver held a 26-14 shots advantage after 40 minutes - and a 3-1 advantage where it matters.

Brandon Sutter scored his first goal as a Canuck, Daniel Sedin had a goal and two assists, while brother Henrik found the twine, as well. It was 5-1 Canucks in the end, and Flames captain Mark Giordano wasn't happy about it.

"That was probably as bad as we can get out there," Giordano said. "We've got to get back to playing our system. We can't play like that. That is unacceptable."

Giordano finished minus-3 on the night in slightly more than 21 minutes of ice time.

Vancouver controlled the play, pushing the tempo, while Calgary sat back.

"We played a game that is totally out of character for us and we got what we deserved," said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. "They kicked our butt."

Flames defenseman Kris Russell wasn't proud of Calgary's effort.

"They out-executed us, outworked us," Russell told Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun. "Truthfully, they embarrassed us in our home-opener."

Russell said the Flames' effort didn't match the level of play the Flames established during last spring's playoff run.

“We (have to) realize it was a bit of a joke the way we came out. If we want to be anywhere near the team we were last year, we can’t even be coming close to the effort we put in tonight. We were built on hard work. We were built on a committee effort."

The teams meet again Saturday in Vancouver.