Post-Game: Flames make capital gains in Ottawa

The Calgary Flames came into their final Eastern Conference road trip of the season desperately needing points to stay afloat in the Western Conference playoff race. They capped off their trip on Friday night with a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators, giving them five of a possible six points on their three game trip.

It was a game they had to have, and they played with enough desperation to get a solid win.

For the second consecutive outing, this was a game the Flames never trailed in. Sam Bennett opened the scoring in the first period, collecting a rebound off a Micheal Ferland shot and jamming it in on his second attempt to make it 1-0. (Sean Monahan was shoved into the goalie by a Senators defender, so the goal counted.) The Flames didn’t score again in the first, but they held a hefty lead in shots (14-9) and scoring chances (13-5).

The Senators pressed a bit in the second period and made a game of it, but neither team really buried their chances. Shots were 10-9 Flames and chances were 12-11 Flames.

What was mostly a sleepy game got good in the third period.

Matt Stajan put the Flames up 2-0 off a really nice redirection of a really nice pass from Ottawa Senators great Curtis Lazar from the side boards. But the lead was cut to 2-1 after Dougie Hamilton hauled down Jean-Gabriel Pageau on a breakaway and he scored on the ensuing penalty shot. The Senators pulled their goaltender but couldn’t get another one and the Flames captured a crucial two points. Shots were 12-12, scoring chances were 11-4 Flames.

The Senators are a fairly talented bunch, but the Flames played a really solid road game. They got an early lead and never trailed, and because they didn’t get in penalty trouble they didn’t give Ottawa a chance to get the crowd into it.

It wasn’t quite the drubbing they laid on Buffalo, but Ottawa’s better than Buffalo. And the Flames are at the tail end of a road trip. They got a bit loosey-goosey late in the game, but this was basically the type of game (and result) they needed.

Y’know what? Brett Kulak was really good tonight. He led the Flames in puck possession and began the plays that led to both Flames goals. Honorable mention to Rittich, who made 29 saves and had his second straight strong outing after being quite shaky since Mike Smith got injured.

Stajan’s goal, the eventual game-winner, gave the Flames a bit of breathing room and ensured a weird bounce (or a penalty shot) wouldn’t tie things up.

The Flames now have 78 points with 13 games remaining. They need 18 points over their remaining schedule – the equivalent of a 9-4-0 record – to hit the 96 point mark that’ll probably be the playoff cut-off.

The Flames (34-25-10) fly home tonight. They practice tomorrow and prepare to host the New York Islanders on Sunday evening.