Post-Game: Flames keep streaking against the Wild

The Calgary Flames have played some good hockey lately. They haven’t been perfect, but there’s been more good than bad in their game lately. They played two really strong periods of hockey – for the most part – on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild, then held on for dear life as one of the National Hockey League’s best home teams pressed hard in the third period.

Despite blowing a 2-0 third period lead, the Flames captured two crucial points by way of a 3-2 overtime victory in Minnesota to keep their winning streak going.

The opening period was pretty even, but the Flames opened the scoring off a nice passing sequence involving the top line that ended off with Micheal Ferland scoring to make it 1-0. (Go to the front of the net, kids, good things happen.)

Shots were 8-7 Wild, scoring chances were 6-3 Flames.

The Flames were really good in the second, and probably should’ve gotten rewarded more often. They did double their lead off a nice set of individual efforts. Johnny Gaudreau held in a puck as the Wild attempted to clear it around the glass, then shuffled a pass over to Ferland, who set up Sean Monahan for a nice wrister to make it 2-0.

Shots were 13-10 Flames, scoring chances were 8-6 Flames.

Down 2-0 to a conference opponent at home, the Wild were very good in the third period and began to bear down on their chances. Seven minutes in, the Flames couldn’t collect a puck rimmed around the end-boards by Ryan Suter. The puck squirted out to Mikael Granlund, who beat a partially-screened Mike Smith over the shoulder to make it 2-1. A little while later, Jared Spurgeon wandered in from the right point and beat a partially-screened Smith just inside the far post to make it 2-2. Minnesota had a few power plays later in the period, but the Flames’ penalty kill really stepped up and kept the game tied. Shots were 13-5 Wild, scoring chances were 4-3 Wild.

So it was off to overtime. With T.J. Brodie in the penalty box for jousting with Matt Dumba, Dougie Hamilton actually got 3-on-3 ice time. And it paid off! Gaudreau chased down an errant Mark Giordano pass, then found Hamilton in the slot for a wrister that beat Stalock to end this one by a 3-2 score.

Shots were 2-2 in overtime.

They were quite good over the first 40 minutes at even strength. They were quite good at killing penalties throughout the game, and especially in the third period. They were in a position where special teams could make or break their game; they eked into overtime because their penalty kill was sharp.

It wasn’t a complete game, but enough parts of their game were good at key times to make this work.

Gaudreau had three assists, including setting up the game winner, so let’s go with him. And stick-tap to Smith, who made 33 saves and was very sharp when he wasn’t screened.

Gotta go with the Hamilton goal, as Little Brother Dougie got his second game-winner in as many games. (Clearly Freddie was the problem.)

The Flames are now on a four-game winning streak, their longest of the year.

The Flames now have 48 points with 40 games remaining. They need 47 points over their remaining schedule – the equivalent of a 23-16-1 record to hit the 95 point mark that’ll probably be the playoff cut-off.

The Flames (22-16-4) are off to Florida, where they play the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and the less-hot Florida Panthers on Friday.