Andrei KuzmenkoB次元官网网址檚 troubles continued on Saturday as he went from the press box to the penalty box.

A healthy scratch in seven of CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 previous eight games, Kuzmenko finally drew back into the FlamesB次元官网网址� lineup only to take two costly penalties in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators.

B次元官网网址淭wo offensive zone penalties,B次元官网网址� bluntly noted coach Ryan Huska post-game.

The first for slashing at 4:21 of the second period resulted in Ryan OB次元官网网址橰eillyB次元官网网址檚 power-play goal and first of three goals on the night.

The second for playing with a broken stick at 10:04 of the second, again led to an OB次元官网网址橰eilly power-play goal to make it 2-0.

B次元官网网址淭wo penalties and two power-play goals. Not good. My mistakes,B次元官网网址� said Kuzmenko.

On the second that resulted in what turned out to be the winning goal, KuzmenkoB次元官网网址檚 stick snapped as he went to tee up a shot from inside the blue line. As the puck trickled forward, he chased after it and kicked it up to Mikael Backlund, who was open in the slot. But he didnB次元官网网址檛 drop the broken half of his stick.

B次元官网网址淪tupid moment, right?B次元官网网址� said Kuzmenko.

Magnifying the 28-year-oldB次元官网网址檚 mistakes was CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 inability to kill off either penalty, which has been a chronic problem of late. The Flames rank 30th on the PK and have given up power-play goals in each of their last six games.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 parts of it where you feel like itB次元官网网址檚 coming, but when thereB次元官网网址檚 a breakdown now, itB次元官网网址檚 ending up in the net, and we do go through stretches like that. You just feel like the stretches for our team in that situation have been much too long this year,B次元官网网址� said Huska.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to find a way to have a clean sheet with your penalty kill. No matter what power play youB次元官网网址檙e playing against, you have to find a way to get the job done.B次元官网网址�

SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 two power-play goals against came on only two chances, leaving Calgary a woeful 9-for-16 on the kill over that span.

B次元官网网址淲e gotta figure it out,B次元官网网址� said Backlund. B次元官网网址淚f you want to make the playoffs, thatB次元官网网址檚 something thatB次元官网网址檚 gonna have to be a lot better for us.B次元官网网址�

Calgary remains one point back of Vancouver for the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference with a pack of teams right behind them.

Kuzmenko was part of the return package when Calgary traded Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks last January.

In 29 games with the Flames last season, Kuzmenko scored 14 goals. Nearly an identical clip to the 39-goals he notched as a rookie the previous season.

Entering the final year of his contract, Kuzmenko was viewed this year as a key part of the FlamesB次元官网网址� offence.

But he has struggled all season with only one goal in 30 games B次元官网网址� that goal coming back on Oct. 15 in the clubB次元官网网址檚 fourth game. His last two appearances have come on the fourth line.

Having not registered a shot on goal over his last five games, he did break that skid Saturday and while only one shot reached the goalie, he did have eight shot attempts.

B次元官网网址淎 positive thing for him is he had a lot of shot attempts tonight, and thatB次元官网网址檚 something weB次元官网网址檝e been asking of him,B次元官网网址� acknowledged Huska.

B次元官网网址淚 understand thatB次元官网网址檚 a lot of chances from 10 minutes, itB次元官网网址檚 very good, but it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter if you donB次元官网网址檛 score,B次元官网网址� lamented Kuzmenko.

Calgary returns to action on Tuesday when the Flames open a two-game road trip in Anaheim. It remains to be seen if Kuzmenko will get a chance to redeem himself or if heB次元官网网址檒l end up back in the press box.

B次元官网网址淎 difficult moment, but stay positive,B次元官网网址� said Kuzmenko.B次元官网网址� Keep working. Every day. Gym, bike, letB次元官网网址檚 go, letB次元官网网址檚 go. Keep going.B次元官网网址�