Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. *breath* Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

That was one of the craziest games you’ll ever see, that’s for damn sure.

Detroit may have only had 8:43 of power play time, but nearly half of that was spent at 5-on-3, including pretty much the entire last eight minutes of the first period. No coincidence, then, that Detroit outshot Calgary 28-4 in the first period. Penalty minutes at the end of one were 27-4, and Calgary, at one point, had Cory Sarich, Adrian Aucoin, Dion Phaneuf and Jim Vandermeer in the box AT THE SAME TIME!

But there might not have been anything more fun to watch this entire that Detroits total, utter meltdown late in the third period. The Flames trailed 4-2 with under 3:30 to go but scored three goals in 1:12 to tie it, and I nearly went into shock.

Detroit was 3 of 7 on the power play, had outshot Calgary 28-4 in one period, and the Flames seemed powerless to stop them. But then in the third period, I dunno what happened. It was like a switch went off and Calgary became this unstoppable megaforce (and admittedly three goals in a period is a big ask against anyone BUT Detroit’s hideously bad goaltenders).

That the Flames ended up winning in a shootout is, to me, almost more amazing than coming back at all. That was honestly an insanely weird game. You won’t find a weirder one this year, that’s for sure.

And by the way, how’s that for a statement? Detroit going up two goals is a scary proposition for sure, but the Flames shut them down completely in the third period, outshooting the Wings 17-2 in the third. When they entered the period, Detroit led 39-13.

That game was a deliriously awesome roller coaster.

Jamie Lundmark — He’s an NHLer now. This game confirms it. He shouldn’t spend another day on the farm with the way he’s contributed over the past few games. He straight up took over the third period and, really, drove the comeback. It’s a shame his sick wraparound didn’t stand up as the game-winner, but even when everyone gets back healthy, he’ll have a shot at scoring many game-winners to come.

Olli Jokinen — Another two goals (and that’s five in five since coming aboard). He has been very, very good offensively. Oh yeah, and this picture shows just how much he wants to shed his reputation of “lazy team-killer” and actually win hockey games.

Resiliency — To be able to come back in a game like that, more physically than mentally, is incredible. The PK guys must have been seriously gassed.

Miikka Kiprusoff — He was ridiculous. R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S. Even with Tomas Holmstrom’s worthless ass in his face all night, Kipper made 40 saves, 20(!) of which were on the power play. He may not be the reason they won, but he was definitely the reason they hung around at all. It should’ve been 6-1 at the end of the first period.

Craig Conroy and Robyn Regehr — Connie had another point and finished plus-2, but that’s not what’s important here.

Officiating — Can’t be too upset since it ended up not mattering, but wow. The calls against Dion Phaneuf especially were deplorable. His five-minute major for boarding shouldn’t have been a penalty at all, considering Phaneuf didn’t touch Cleary as he lost an edge and folded up his legs against the endboards. And the trip was skate-to-skate contact as he attempted to get a poke in on the puck carrier. I understand that that’s the letter of the law but it wasn’t in the spirit of it, and, with the crap that was let go last night, certainly not the flow of the game. But on that note…

Penalties — Waaaaaaaaaaay too many against a team like Detroit. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

Broken/dropped sticks — Cost the Flames two goals at least and, if not for Detroit’s ineptitude on the power play, should have cost them more. Boooooo equipment manager.

There were a couple things to touch on here, probably, but whatever. I don’t care everything’s great!