CALGARY — Don’t try telling an Albertan there’s good to come out their team losing the provincial rivalry.

But plenty of what transpired at the Saddledome Saturday in Calgary’s 4-2 loss to the Oilers falls into the category of exactly what Flames fans should be looking for as the team plays out the string:

First, they lost.

The Flames now sit 25th overall, putting just seven teams ahead of them in the draft lottery with six games remaining.

The Kraken are four points up on the Flames, leaving Calgary a comfortable distance behind.

It would take quite the faceplant to dip below Ottawa or Montreal, who are three points behind Calgary, but given the fact the Flames have now lost eight of their last nine, anything is possible.

Second, they played well.

No one in the dressing room was happy with the result, but the effort was there in a game the Flames battled back from a 2-0 deficit to tie it early in the third with their second power play goal.

Alas, as most games have ended of late for the redesigned Flames, the Oilers........

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