Post-Game: Flames chase Wings, manage to win

The Calgary Flames weren’t great on Friday night against the Detroit Red Wings. They didn’t get their first lead until late in the third period and they were chasing for much of the game. But they got three goals from their second power play unit and managed to eke out a 6-4 victory over Detroit.

The Flames opened the game with some jump, but got in penalty trouble due to some careless play with their sticks. They took successive three minors in the last seven minutes of the period, including giving the Red Wings 56 seconds of five-on-three time. Anthony Mantha’s wrist shot from the faceoff dot 21 seconds into that five-on-three hit Mike Smith and trickled over the line to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead.

Shots were 10-9 Flames, chances were 5-4 Flames.

The Flames started well in the second and a strong shift from the fourth line drew a penalty. The top power play unit couldn’t get organized, but the second power play cashed in. A Rasmus Andersson point shot was blocked out front of net and caused a bit of chaos that gave the Flames some chance to make quick passes. Sam Bennett buried a nice James Neal feed to tie the game at 1-1.

But the Red Wings retook the lead off a nice bit of cycling after they hemmed in the Flames in their own zone. Dylan Larkin’s wrister beat Smith short-side to make it 2-1.

The Flames answered back, though, as Johnny Gaudreau deftly threw a puck towards the crease and Sean Monahan redirected it over Jimmy Howard’s shoulder to make it a 2-2 hockey game.

Shots were 14-12 Flames and scoring chances 11-6 Red Wings in the second period.

The Red Wings re-took the lead early in the third period off the rush. Mike Green pinched and skated towards the Flames net, going forward to backhand and chipping a shot that beat Smith to make it 3-2 for Detroit. TJ Brodie didn’t look great defensively on the goal.

The Flames tied the game on another second unit power play goal. This time, Andersson’s point shot was deflected by Neal past Howard to make it 3-3.

But the Red Wings re-took the lead (again), as Gustav Nyquist held onto the puck on an aborted breakaway… but he drew Smith and the defenders over to him, leaving Dylan Larkin wide open for a pass and he deposited the puck into the wide-open net to give the visitors a 4-3 edge.

But as has become the custom, the Flames managed to tie the game while shorthanded. Mark Giordano’s shot off the rush was partially deflected by Larkin, causing a knuckleball shot that beat Howard to make it a 4-4 game.

After a brief period of four-on-four play, the Flames got another power play and the second unit got their third goal. This time, Bennett got a pass from Derek Ryan and drove the net, beating Howard top-corner to make it 5-4 Flames – giving them their first lead of the night.

Brodie added an empty-netter to make it a 6-4 final for the home side.

Shots were 14-11 Red Wings and chances 11-3 Red Wings in the third period.

It’s oft-repeated that to win games, your best players have to be your best players. The Flames’ top defensive pairing was on the ice for three of Detroit’s four goals (and both in the penalty box for the other goal). That’s not great. When the team’s best pairing is that iffy defensively, it’s going to be a long night.

But despite all that, their special teams units managed to score four goals (three on the power play and one short-handed) and it made up for a lot of the team’s other deficiencies.

Bennett had a pair of goals, so let’s give him the nod.

But also tip your collective hats to Andersson, who was very effective on the second power play unit, and Ryan, who drew two penalties and set up both the game-tying and game-winning goals.

The Flames were chasing for this entire game. But then they scored two goals in 123 seconds – one short-handed, one on the power play – and managed to finally grab a lead. As we’ve seen this season, this is a dangerous team offensively when they have confidence. They found their confidence late, and that was the difference-maker.

Gaudreau’s assist extended his points streak to 10 games, tying a career high. The last time he went on a run, he had 19 points over 10 games from Oct. 27-Nov. 20, 2017.

The Flames are now 24-1-3 when entering the third period leading or tied.

The Flames (31-13-5) fly to Edmonton tonight. They face the Oilers tomorrow night in the latest installment of the Battle of Alberta.