Post-Game Wrap-Up: The streak ends with a brunch win for Flames

For the first time in a few weeks, the Calgary Flames have won a game. Despite trailing twice in this game, and never holding a lead, the Flames rallied back to force extra time. They beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in a shootout to end their losing skid at six games.

The first period was fairly blah, punctuated by eight off-sides being whistled down and a general lack of flow. Neither team scored. Shots were 8-8, but the Flyers led in scoring chances 6-5.

The Flyers dominated the second period from a possession standpoint. At the end of the period, they finally managed to cash in. A few nice passes and some dodgy Flames defensive play left Travis Sanheim all alone near the slot. His shot was mostly stopped by David Rittich, but the puck trickled through his legs and Jakub Voracek snuck behind D and bonked in the loose puck to make it 1-0 Flyers.

Shots were 18-3 Flyers and scoring chances 13-4 Flyers in the second period.

The Flames tied things up early in the third off a nice bit of work and cycling from Mikael Backlund’s line. After a few battles for pucks won by Backlund, Andrew Mangiapane’s wrister from the slot beat Carter Hart to tie the game at 1-1.

But late in the period the Flyers scored to retake lead after Rittich got stranded behind his own net after Joel Farabee stole the puck from him and Mark Giordano, feeding Kevin Hayes for a tap-in to make it 2-1 Flyers.

But the Flames battled back, pulling the goalie and tying things up off a smart bank play by Rasmus Adersson. Andersson shot wide intentionally, with the puck rebounding from the end boards right to Elias Lindholm for a tap-in to tie the game at 2-2.

Shots were 13-9 Flames and scoring chances 10-4 Flyers in the third.

Overtime solved nothing, despite a last minute full of wild end to end rushes, so this one went to a shootout. Matthew Tkachuk was the lone shootout scorer for either team and the Flames won 3-2.

Tell me if this sounds familiar: the Flames played good early but weren’t rewarded. Some key players had key defensive lapses at key times and the game started getting away from them. But this time the Flames bent but didn’t break. They got a few great plays from key players at key times to keep the game close and give them a fighting chance.

Rittich wears the goat horns on the second Flyers goal, but he was superb for much of this game.

Stick-taps also to Mangiapane, playing despite a broken nose, and Andersson for his very savvy play on the tying goal.

The Lindholm goal snacked victory from the jaws of defeat, or at least ensured that the Flames would find a way to get a point.

Data via Natural Stat Trick. Percentage stats are 5v5.

This was the ninth consecutive game in which the Flames allowed the first goal.

The Flames have played 427:46 without having a lead in a game, extending a new club record.

The Flames (11-12-3) are off to Pittsburgh. They play the Penguins on Monday night.

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