Post-Game: Flames find their swagger against the Ducks

The Calgary Flames came into Friday night’s game with the Anaheim Ducks in a position to make their playoff lives much easier with a win. Well, mission accomplished: the Flames got better as the game went along en route to a decisive 6-1 victory.

The Flames were fighting the puck in all three zones early in the first period, and their turnovers ended up coming home to roost… in their net. A loose puck wasn’t corralled in their zone, and it trickled to Andy Welinski at the point for a mean slapshot that beat Mike Smith through traffic to make it 1-0 Ducks.

The home side had a power play but couldn’t bury their chances. Max Jones was sprung on a breakaway just after the Ducks penalty expired but Smith made a big pad save. Play went the other way and Ryan Miller stopped Johnny Gaudreau’s scoring chance, but James Neal knocked the puck loose with a hit on Hampus Lindholm, allowing Sean Monahan to feed Mark Giordano for a wrist shot that beat Miller to tie the game at 1-1.

Shots were 10-8 Ducks and scoring chances 9-7 Ducks in the first period.

The Flames woke up early in the second period and took over the game for much of the period. A few shifts in, Rasmus Andersson corked a slap shot on net. Miller made the save, but booted the puck right out into the slot for Monahan, who chipped it past Miller to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.

Midway through the period Austin Czarnik drew a penalty. On the ensuing advantage, his slap shot from the off wing rebounded out into the slot for Monahan (again), who bonked in the rebound (which deflected off Neal) to give the Flames a 3-1 edge. The goal was credited to Neal, then Monahan, then Neal. Let’s say Neal got it, ‘kay?

Shots were 18-9 Flames and chances 13-6 Flames in the second period.

The Flames buzzed around more to open the third period. About midway through, they were rewarded, as Derek Ryan tipped a TJ Brodie point shot past Miller to give the Flames a 4-1 lead.

Garnet Hathaway and Monahan added late goals to make it 6-1 Flames and ice this one.

To be blunt? They were better than the Ducks in virtually every area of the ice, aside from a stretch early in the first period where they were unable to clear their own end.

Let’s go with Monahan, who had four points to end his slump.

The third goal was huge for the Flames, as they finally got a power play goal and were rewarded once again for going to the net – something they hardly did in previous games.

This game was the annual Retro Night game, complete with retro jerseys, retro graphics and several members of the 1989 Stanley Cup team being in attendance. (They also had dueling pianos during the intermissions, which is something they should try doing more often because it was very entertaining.)

The Flames (48-23-7) are headed on the road. They visit the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night in a game that could actually be meaningless depending on if the Sharks lose to Vegas on Saturday.