Darryl Sutter calls out Johnny Gaudreau after Game 3.

The Calgary Flames are coming off another strong regular season campaign and this time they are hoping that their regular season success will translate to additional success in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Flames got off to a strong start in their opening round series against the Dallas Stars, taking the first 2 games of the series, but after faltering in Game 3 some of the team's top stars have been put on the spot.

The Flames lost a hard fought Game 3 by a score of 4 - 2 on Saturday night, but there was a moment late in the third period where Flames star forward Johnny Gaudreau was gifted a terrific scoring chance when he found himself alone against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger. It was Flames forward Tyler Toffoli that would spring Gaudreau on the breakaway and it came with just 3 minutes and 34 seconds remaining on the game clock, putting the puck on Gaudreau's stick for a chance to tie the game with the Flames down by a goal at that point in the game.

Unfortunately as has often been the case in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Gaudreau would fail to deliver for the Flames and was instead shut down by Jake Oettinger who had a very good night for the Stars, stopping 49 of the 41 shots he faced for a .951 save percentage. Gaudreau on the other hand has no goals and 2 assists, one of which came on the power play, over the Flames first 3 playoff games and he currently boasts a plus minus rating of -2 in the series.

The failed scoring attempt was enough for head coach Darryl Sutter, who following the game challenged Gaudreau by saying that he is the kind of player that is expected to make those shots count. 

"Hard fought. Close games. We had a breakaway with, what, two or three minutes left? Those guys have to put it away. That’s their job," said Sutter following Game 3.

Although Sutter did not specifically name Gaudreau the message was clear, the Calgary Flames need players like Gaudreau to step up in moments like this.