Flames fall short against Avalanche

The Calgary Flames missed a great opportunity to make a big move in the playoff race on Thursday.

The Flames lost 4-2 to the visiting Colorado Avalanche in a game featuring the two teams in the Western Conference wild-card spots at the start of the night.

Colorado now is seven points ahead of Calgary, though the Flames have two games in hand.

Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen and the newly acquired Martin Necas scored second-period goals for Colorado after Jonathan Huberdeau opened the scoring for the Flames early in the first.

Necas added a second goal in the third period. Rasmus Andersson cut the deficit to 4-2 late in he third.

The Flames play their final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday against the visiting Seattle Kraken.