Flames bemoan blown lead vs. Kraken: 'It cannot happen to us'

The Calgary Flames were licking their wounds after they surrendered a third-period lead to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night.

"We're not a young group of players. We're definitely one of the oldest and (most) experienced teams in the league, and it's unacceptable for us," Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov told reporters after his side's 5-4 loss.

"It can happen to young teams, but it cannot happen to us. ... We made individual mental mistakes on the ice in crucial minutes, and it cost us the game."

The Flames held a 4-2 lead after forwards Tyler Toffoli and Trevor Lewis scored 17 seconds apart just under two minutes into the final frame.

However, Seattle then potted three unanswered goals in the span of 4:55, including a power-play goal and a shorthanded marker. Rookie Matty Beniers netted the eventual game-winner with over six minutes remaining to help the Kraken beat the Flames for the first time in franchise history.

Calgary center Nazem Kadri, whom Yanni Gourde stripped of the puck to tie the game, said the late lapse was "self-inflicted."

"At the end of the day, having a two-goal lead in the third period, you should be able to close it out," Kadri said.

He added: "It's a fast game out there - not every single time is going to go exactly the way you drew it up. You'd like to execute, but we're gonna clean that up and that's certainly something that we're capable of."

The Flames dictated play for the majority of the contest, owning 60.4% of the shot attempts, 64.3% of the scoring chances, and 67.8% of the expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Calgary also squandered a third-period lead in its previous game, allowing the Edmonton Oilers to score twice Saturday to erase a one-goal lead.

The Flames currently sit in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 5-3-0 record. They'll take on the Nashville Predators on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.