Matthew Tkachuk's reactions to Flames' disastrous Game 6 is every Calgary fan

Jackie Spiegel

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Matthew Tkachuk's reactions to Flames' disastrous Game 6 is every Calgary fan image

The Flames jumped out to a three-goal lead in a do-or-die Game 6 against the Stars on Thursday night, but then the wheels came off. After allowing six(!) unanswered goals to fall behind by three, they got a chance to get one back on the power play but could not get a puck past Dallas netminder Anton Khudobin.

Sportsnet's cameras caught Flames injured star Matthew Tkachuk perched in a suite, and he was none too pleased by his teammates' inability to bury one. He was shown tossing his hat and walking away from the ice in disgust.

MORE: Tkachuk injury leads to him missing Games 3-6

When the Stars' Denis Gurianov scored his fourth goal of the night in the third period, Tkachuk's reaction summed up things perfectly for Flames fans.

The Flames' 7-3 loss in Game 6 marked another disappointing end to a Calgary season; the team again failed to advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. It marked the sixth time in seven postseason appearances they lost in the first round since going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2003.

Tkachuk didn't play in the series after suffering an injury in the third period of Game 2 when he was sandwiched by the Stars' Jamie Benn and Jamie Oleksiak. The exact injury has not been disclosed, although Sportsnet's panel suggested during Sunday's Game 4 that it was a concussion.

Calgary's assistant captain was considered a game-time decision for the remainder of the series. Earlier Thursday, interim Flames coach Geoff Ward said Tkachuk was "an option" for Game 6, adding, "We'll see what he's like at game time." He was not in the lineup when everything was on the line, however. If Calgary could have pushed the series to a Game 7, then Tkachuk being at the arena Thursday (if his injury was, in fact, a concussion) was a good sign that he may have been able to suit up.

Jackie Spiegel