The Flames erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits and snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Saturday.
MUCH-NEEDED WIN
The Flames went from red-hot to ice-cold in a hurry over the past month. What made their six-game losing skid even more difficult to digest was the fact that the Flames had a one or two goal lead in all six games. On Saturday, the Flames flipped the script. With their team trailing the Blackhawks 2-0, Matt Stajan and Johnny Gaudreau scored to tie it up.
Just when it looked like the Flames were going to take over, less than two minutes later, Anthony Duclair pick-pocketed T.J. Brodie, went in on a breakaway and gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 lead. To their credit, the Flames, who didn’t do a very good job dealing with adversity during their losing streak, stuck with it.
Glen Gulutzan’s group dominated the third period, tying the game just before the 10-minute mark on a goal by Michael Frolik. The Flames probably should have won the game in regulation, but the Blackhawks, thanks in large part to the play of Calgary-native Jeff Glass, made 35 saves to send the game to overtime. Just 51 seconds into three-on-three, Sean Monahan’s goal snapped the Flames’ skid. The Flames showed some mental toughness in the comeback win on Saturday night.
MR. OVERTIME
Sean Monahan has a knack for scoring big goals. For the 10th time in five NHL seasons, Monahan was the overtime hero. He took a drop pass from T.J. Brodie, stepped into the slot and wired one by Jeff Glass on the blocker side. It was vintage Monahan. With his team-leading 24th of the season, Monahan extended his team record for most-career overtime goals and moved into a tie with the Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin for most OT-winners since the start of the 2013-2014 season. The Flames’ sniper also became the youngest player in league history to tally 10 times in OT.
With a lengthy losing streak and the game tied in overtime, the Flames needed someone to step-up. As he has done so many times early in his career, Monahan was the man. Big goal. Big win.
SMITH BOUNCES BACK
In his 43rd start of the season, Mike Smith probably gave up more bad goals than he did in his first 42 starts combined. After surrendering three soft goals in Thursday’s 7-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Smith was solid on Saturday. Truth be told, I thought Smith looked a little shaky on his first few touches, before settling in and stopping 25 of 28 shots.
Smith was beaten by a perfectly placed slapshot from point-blank range by Nick Schmaltz on the 1-0 goal and had no chance to get across his crease on an incredible pass by Patrick Kane to Vinnie Hinostroza on the 2-0 goal. Anthony Duclair had a breakaway from the Flames blueline on the 3-2 goal. While Smith probably wasn’t at his absolute best versus the Blackhawks, he was one goal better than the guy at the other end of the ice.
As he has done in almost every single one of his 44 starts this season, Smith gave his team a chance to pick up two points.
RETRO NIGHT!
While the 35-year-old Scotiabank Saddledome doesn’t have the bells and whistles of modern NHL buildings, led by Geordie Macleod and Steve Edgar, the Flames’ game presentation staff does a really good job of putting on a show for fans inside the “C of Red”.
One of the games I always circle on my calendar is Retro Night. From the hilarious promotional video featuring Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk to the old-school graphics and videos on the scoreboard to the 1980’s music on the playlist, the Flames did an awesome job.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After wrapping-up a three-game home stand, next up for the Flames is a six-game, 11-day road trip. The team will fly from Calgary to Chicago for a rematch against the Blackhawks on Tuesday. Following that game, it’s off to New Jersey, where they’ll dance with the Devils on Thursday. The Flames will take on the New York Rangers on Friday and New York Islanders on Sunday to finish up the week.
Next week, they are headed to Boston, where they’ll take on the Bruins on Tuesday, followed by a game in Nashville next Thursday. Currently sitting one point out of third place in the Pacific Division and just outside the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, the Flames need to build on their 13-5-5 record away from home. If they play at least .500 hockey, they’ll likely return home either in a playoff position or no further back than they already are. If they struggle, they’ll probably be chasing a large pack of good teams that will be tough to catch.
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