'It's brutal': Flames eliminated from playoff contention with loss to Predators

Tommy Novak netted the winner in the shootout as the Nashville Predators prevailed 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Monday, eliminating the hosts from playoff contention.

Calgary head coach Darryl Sutter went with grinder Nick Ritchie over Tyler Toffoli - the team's leading scorer - and 17-goal producer Andrew Mangiapane earlier in the shootout. Ritchie didn't score on his attempt.

"Not much difference, if you do the percentages or odds," Sutter said of the impact of that decision, according to TSN's Salim Nadim Valji. "You're going on practices, you're going on guys that have scored against (Predators goaltender Juuse Saros). That's not the point. It really had no bearing on the game. The difference is those great chances in overtime."

The Flames were expected to contend for the Pacific Division title this season.

Despite losing Johnny Gaudreau in free agency and being forced to trade Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in late July, Calgary managed to acquire Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar in the Tkachuk deal, along with prospect Cole Schwindt.

But instead of vying for the Pacific crown, the Flames struggled to find consistency in 2022-23. Calgary sits fifth in the division at 37-27-17.

For defenseman Rasmus Andersson, the reality of Calgary's situation hadn't yet sunk in after Monday's defeat.

"I think coming home tonight and waking up tomorrow, you're gonna realize what an opportunity we missed," he told reporters postgame. "Now, we can hardly believe it. It's painful. … We're out and it sucks for sure."

He added: "It's brutal, it's brutal. Honestly, it's just brutal."

Veteran forward Mikael Backlund echoed his teammate's sentiments.

"It's an empty feeling, we pushed for a long time," he said. "It's a long season, we fought all the way to the end. It's just an empty, hard feeling."

The Flames didn't often get blown out during this campaign, but they were incredibly unsuccessful in close games.

"We felt like we were in almost every game this year," Andersson said. "We just didn't manage to get that goal when we needed a goal. … If you take half the OT losses we've lost this year, shootout (losses), we're in by a few points."

Calgary will play its season finale at home Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks.