Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!
The Calgary Flames headed into the Bay Arena on Monday night simply needing to get two points against the San Jose Sharks. They were not especially good in the first period and were merely fine in the second frame. But a fantastic third period gave the Flames exactly what they needed – a bunch of goals.
The Flames beat the Sharks by a 3-2 score to remain alive in the Western Conference playoff picture.
The rundown
The Flames were pretty disjointed in the opening period, while the Sharks were pretty energetic. Dustin Wolf was really good, and faced way too many quality chances.
Late in the first period, the Sharks opened the scoring. Nikolai Kovalenko beat out Rasmus Andersson to a loose puck behind the net, and Kovalenko fed Will Smith in front of the net. Smith beat Wolf to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
First period shots were 18-8 Sharks. Via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 13-12 Sharks (high-danger chances were 8-2 Sharks).
Neither team scored in the second period, but the Flames were a lot better than in the first.
Second period shots were 11-8 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 12-7 Flames (high-danger chances were 3-2 Sharks).
The Flames kept pressing in the third period.
Midway through the third, Martin Pospisil crashed into the boards awkwardly and Adam Klapka subbed in on Nazem Kadri’s line… and it resulted in a goal! Kadri and Klapka went in on an odd-man rush. Kadri’s initial shot was stopped by Georgi Romanov, but Klapka jammed in the rebound to tie the game at 1-1.
A little later, Klapka was hauled down and the Flames got a power play. With Jonathan Huberdeau parked in front of Romanov, Morgan Frost fired the puck into the Sharks cage to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
A little later still, Mikael Backlund provided some back-pressure on a Sharks defender as they attempted to skate the puck out of their end. Matt Coronato took advantage of that distraction to swipe the puck, skate in and beat Romanov to give the Flames a 3-1 lead.
The Sharks got a late power play and, with Romanov off for the extra attacker to make it a six-on-four advantage, Smith scored his second of the game to cut Calgary’s lead down to 3-2.
But that’s as close as the Sharks got, and the Flames escaped the Shark Tank with a 3-2 victory.
Third period shots were 13-5 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 8-2 Flames (high-danger chances were 5-1 Flames).
Why the Flames won
This can’t have been an easy day for the Flames with Greg Millen’s passing. They looked a bit rattled and off their game early on, and you have to give them credit for finding their rhythm as this game went along. Wolf was excellent throughout this game, and the Flames found their execution and desperation in third frame.
Red Warrior
Klapka continues to be a gem on the fourth line, and when he was elevated, the Flames found an extra gear.
Honourable mention to Wolf, who was fantastic.
Turning point
Let’s just say “the third period,” especially that seven minute segment where they scored three goals and found their offensive swagger.
This and that
After the passing of Greg Millen on Monday, Sportsnet carried the NBC Sports broadcast of Monday’s game rather than produce their own broadcast.
Up next
The Flames (37-27-13) are back in action on Wednesday night when they visit the Anaheim Ducks.
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