Post-Game: Flames beat Chicago in review-filled game

The Calgary Flames have had some challenges with the Chicago Blackhawks in recent years. But this season they’ve managed to bring out the best of the Flames at times. On New Year’s Eve, the Flames played a strong game and got a big win. On Saturday night, the Flames played another solid game and scraped together a big come-from-behind win. And on Tuesday night in Chicago, the Flames recovered from a flat start and managed to hold onto a late lead to capture two huge points in a game that involved many goals facing video review.

They beat the Blackhawks 3-2 at the United Center to sweep their season series.

The Flames seemed back on their heels for much of the first period, playing a very reactive game early on – aside from some nice shifts from the top two lines here and there. The Blackhawks struck first on the power play. With Micheal Ferland in the box, the Flames couldn’t clear the zone and Alex Debrincat’s shot from the top of the circles eluded a screened Mike Smith to make it 1-0. The Flames got a gift late in the period, with a pair of overlapping Blackhawks penalties that gave them 1:40 of uninterrupted five-on-three time. They generated one shot. Shots were 11-6 Blackhawks, while scoring chances were 7-7.

The Flames evened things up early in the second period. After a Chicago turnover, Sean Monahan drove up the ice and threw the puck to the front of the net for a charging Dougie Hamilton. The puck careened off Hamilton’s skate and in to make it 1-1.

Ryan Hartman scored off a goal-mouth scramble soon after the Flames’ equalizer, but it was eventually overturned. The officials had to review if the puck was kicked in, judging that there was no distinct kicking motion. Then Glen Gulutzan used his coach’s challenge due to goalie interference – Hartman booted Smith in the crotch on the scramble – and the goal was overturned.

Shots 12-6 Chicago, chances 9-6 Chicago

The game seemed destined for overtime – as many Flames games have been this season – but fate intervened in the form of Michael Stone. The Flames were back on their heels for a lengthy pressure shift from Chicago, but pushed back and went on an offensive rush. The puck was cycled to the point and Stone’s point shot eluded Jeff Glass with Johnny Gaudreau pressuring out front. It was reviewed for a high stick, but the replay seemed to show the puck glance off Glass’ blocker or stick and hit the net to make it 2-1.

Monahan added an empty-netter to make it 3-1 with just under two minutes left.

Patrick Kane scored a late one to make it 3-2, but that’s as close as Chicago got. Shots were 13-11 Blackhawks and chances were 7-3 Blackhawks.

Despite some rough special teams play and not exactly blowing the doors off at even strength, the Flames managed to get some strong goaltending from Mike Smith (again) and got some key goals from their key players to eke out a win. It wasn’t a picturesque game by any stretch, and the reviews killed the flow of the game quite a bit, but it was (as they say) good enough for two points.

Let’s go with a joint award to the entire first line, as Ferland, Monahan and Gaudreau were strong all evening. It was the type of game where the top six, the top pairing and the team’s goaltender had to be the difference-makers, and they were.

Stone’s goal was the right goal at the right time.

The Flames now have 62 points with 29 games remaining. They need 33 points over their remaining schedule – the equivalent of a 16-12-1 record to hit the 95 point mark that’ll probably be the playoff cut-off.

The Flames (27-18-8) travel to scenic Newark tonight. They practice tomorrow and then face the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.