Post-Game: Tkachuk powers Flames to overtime win in Philly

The Calgary Flames rolled into Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. They looked a bit sluggish and out of sorts for much of the first two periods. Then, as they tend to do, they flipped the switch in the third period, forced extra time and pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory.

Neither teamed looked great in the opening period, with tons of missed passes and general disarray throughout the period. The Flyers opened the scoring, though, as Travis Sanheim’s pass attempt to the slot careened off TJ Brodie’s skate and beat David Rittich high to make it 1-0.

The Flyers led the Flames in shots (13-11) and scoring chances (5-3) in the first period.

The Flyers carried play for much of the second period, but the Flames woke up midway through the period and started pressing. During a stretch of four-on-four play they tied things up. Off the rush, Sean Monahan teed the puck up for a Johnny Gaudreau one-timer to make it 1-1. (Gaudreau fell over due to the force of the shot.)

The Flyers maintained a 12-10 edge in shots and 10-8 edge in chances in the second.

The Flames pressed to take the lead in the early part of the third period, but a puck-handling gaffe gave the Flyers a lead. Rittich attempted to dump a loose puck into the neutral zone, but it went directly to Travis Konecny and he beat Rittich five-hole – way out of the crease – to give the home side a 2-1 lead.

But just when it looked like the Flames would lose in regulation, Matthew Tkachuk buried a Sam Bennett feed in the high slot to tie the game at 2-2.

Shots were 10-9 Flames, while scoring chances were 6-1 Flyers.

It was off to overtime! After a few changes back and forth, Tkachuk found Brodie on a two-on-two rush for a redirect past Carter Hart and a 3-2 overtime win.

The Flames were a bit off-kilter on this afternoon. Many passes didn’t quite hit their intended recipients and their power play really didn’t look terribly dangerous (for the same general reason). They just weren’t feeling it against the Flyers for much of the game.

Despite that, they managed to wake up in the third period and find a way to win against a team that’s found improbable ways to lose so far this season.

Tkachuk was really dialed-in in the third period and overtime and was a big factor in tilting this game in the Flames’ favour. Honourable mention to Timely Save David, or whatever his name is, for making several saves.

The Flyers looked like they would get a pretty big win until Tkachuk’s goal made it very clear that the game was headed to overtime – where the Flames have had a ton of success.

Gaudreau’s goal was his 350th NHL point (in his 355th regular season game).

Every single Flames skater had a shot on goal except for Garnet Hathaway and Noah Hanifin.

Gritty beat up Sportsnet’s Ryan Leslie to open the broadcast. He will be avenged.

The Flames (26-13-4) head to Chicago later today. They face the Blackhawks on Monday night at the United Center in the final game of this road trip.