Post Game: Lie Back and Think of Engelland

The Flames lost in a shootout tonight and Deryk Engelland scored a goal. Then another. I am not kidding. Beloved Flames Nation, I would kiss your loved ones and make peace with your God because I can pretty much guarantee that the end is nigh.

It is hard to be too upset about this loss, even though losing the point is certainly tough, especially in conjunction with the overtime loss to Columbus on this same home-stand. The Flames fought back and earned a point and I suppose that is still a positive, though it seems as though no one in the west will ever lose again. Did I mention that Deryk Engelland scored?!

Come read all about it after the jump!

After a scoreless first period, the Flames began this game by going down two goals in the second thanks to goals from Ales Hemsky and Jamie Benn. It looked as though the Flames would be in tough to come back as the Stars were swarming Ramo and generally looking dangerous. However, because it is futile to assume that the Flames can’t come back, the Flames scored twice in 1:05. 

The first from trusty Johnny Hockey (a beauty by the way) and the second from Deryk Engelland. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, HERE IS PROOF:

 

Well, I’ll be damned. There it is. Engelland’s first as a Flame comes with only eight games remaining in the season but who cares, it happened before the sun burned out so I suppose I owe someone some money. 

After tying the game once, the Flames went down 3-2 on a heartbreaking goal (again) by Ales Hemsky with less than 20 seconds left to go in the second and it certainly looked as though the Flames were cooked. 

BUT FEAR NOT! DERYK ENGELLAND WAS JUST WAITING UNTIL HIS TEAM NEEDED IT MOST! Deryk “Dangly Chinstrap” Engelland tied the game again mid-way through the third for his second goal as a Flame. He may get 20 this year.

After the Flames tied it up, both teams had some very tense moments in their own zone and game just barely squeaked into overtime. The Flames had to kill off a penalty with 2:36 to go in the third as Joe Colborne decided that moment an ideal opportunity to establish a physical presence and took a boarding penalty. 

The game went to a shootout, which suck, and Tyler Seguin scored the only goal to win it for the Stars. Poo. Flames lose 4-3 and finish the homestand 2-1-2. 

Hudreaunahan played very well again tonight, and deserve some special credit for this unbelievably cute picture:

Ramo also played very well in this game and was able to keep the Flames in this even though the Flames ran around in their own zone essentially the entire game but he cannot win this cherished award. It’s Engelland. He scored two huge goals and was a plus 2, though I know we are all supposed to hate that stat. Let’s all just appreciate this night for what it was: the hockey equivalent of a double solar eclipse during a palindrome year.

While missing out on two points from Columbus and Dallas isn’t great, the loser points are enough to keep the Flames in a playoff position momentarily, though that can change with the Kings next game. The Flames will likely need the Kings to, uh, not win every single game they play until the end of the season but I cannot guarantee that won’t happen. As of right now, the standings look like this:

The Flames hit the road for their next five games, beginning with a four-point affair against the Wild on Friday. Hang on to your butts people.