Flames 4, Avalanche 3

December 4th, 2014 | Posted in Game Takes | By: Gary Cooper

Flames fans have watched Iginla and Tanguay many times before, but tonight it was in enemy colours as the under-achieving Avalanche made their first of two visits to Calgary this season.

It has been a complete role reversal for the two teams as Colorado, 3rd overall last year, find themselves 22nd entering tonight’s action, while the Flames are attempting their own Avs-like meteoric rise in the standings.

And the Flames showed the Avs exactly what this season has looked like for them, winning yet again in miraculous fashion and entertaining their fans beyond belief! Sean Monahan scored the OT winner after yet another come from behind, tie it with the net empty, thriller. 4-3 good guys. Simply amazing!

The Flow

The first was choppy, whistle-filled, and scoreless. Shots were 7-5 but the Flames did have a clear edge in scoring changes, led by Ferland who had a couple really good opportunities to pot his 1st.

The Flames came out flying in the 2nd and a good shift led to a PP which resulted in a beautiful goal from Wideman – his 9th of the season – on a really nice set-up from Gaudreau. The Avs looked to have quickly replied with a PP goal of their own, but it was knocked in off the glove of Briere and negated on review.

Colorado eventually did tie it when an ill-advised pass by Wideman inside the offensive blueline sprang O’Reilly on a 2 on 1. He fed a nice pass to Duchene who had an open net to convert. The Avs controlled much of the play in the 2nd (including 15 straight shots) and were rewarded when Holden added the go ahead goal 58 seconds after Duchene’s marker. Shots were 15-8 Avs.

But Team Third Period still had something to say. The Flames lead the NHL in 3rd period goals (37), 3rd period goal differential (+23), and wins when trailing entering the 3rd (5). And they added to all of those totals tonight (now 39, +24, and 6 respectively).

Glencross scored 2 minutes into the frame to tie it with a hard shot off a nice feed from Jones. They kept the pressure on, but the Avs were skating well too and 14 minutes in, Tanguay went inside out on Russell, then outwaited Ramo on a gorgeous individual effort.

No worries. Just pull the goalie, pass it to Wideman, and boom: tie game! But the Avs didn’t quit and had a couple good chances in the final minute. Shots in the 3rd, 9-7 Colorado.

Explain to me how a guy can get a breakaway 3 seconds into OT. But that’s Paul Byron. Well that, and not scoring on the breakaway. But the Flames kept coming and a minute and a half later, Monahan fed a nice saucer pass to Giordano, who gave it back to Monahan in the slot. His shot was saved by Varlamov, but the puck laid open on the ice beside him and Monahan finished what he started, potting his 10th goal of the season. Sophomore jinx? Phht.

Shots were 3-0 in the OT and 29-25 Colorado overall.

Three Stars

1.Dennis Wideman: Yes, his turnover resulted in the 1st Avs goal but that is forgiven. Two more goals, including the last minute heroics. He leads all defensemen with 10.
2.Curtis Glencross: A goal to start the comeback , and an assist on Wideman’s tying marker. He now has 4 points in 2 games and 12 in his last 12. (3G, 9A)
3.Matt Duchene: Was flying all night and converted a beautifully executed 2 on 1

Big Save

Going to split this. Brodie made a great diving save in the final minute, only to be matched by an equally impressive save from Ramo a couple seconds later. This comeback could easily have been for naught if not for those two saves.

The Goat

Tough one. Could have been Wideman for coughing it up on the Avs first goal. But nope, can’t be the hero and the goat. I’ll give it to Varlamov for not containing the rebound and giving Monahan the opportunity to end it.

Mr. Clutch

Hard not to give it to the guy that scored the game winner in overtime, but I am going to give it to Wideman, who just keeps on scoring huge goals.

Odds and Ends

The line of Ferland, Granlund, and Byron was flying all night. Ferland gets my nod for hit of the night as he pasted Landeskog early in the 3rd. Baertschi had another strong game. Ramo posted his 6th win in a row, and the Flames their 4th win in a row, moving them to 4th in the Western Conference. They sit tied with Montreal for 7th overall. Unfortunately, they remain 3rd in the Pacific Division, one point back of Vancouver and Anaheim. Notably, they are now 9 games above .500 and it is notable because that was the level that got Dallas into the 8th and final playoff spot last year. Having said that, it looks like it will probably take more than that this season, but nonetheless…. The Flames also lead the west with 87 goals (5 up on the Canucks) and trail only Tampa Bay league-wide (97). Kris Russell had 3 assists, upping his total to 13 and the D corp had a total of 2 goals and 4 assists on the night. That gives them 22G, 59A, and 81P in 27 games. Incredible. Whether the Flames eventually make it into the playoffs or not, the amount of excitement, passion, and thrilling entertainment that they are dishing up on a nightly basis is making this as enjoyable a season as fans could ask for.

Next Up

Yet another key four-pointer against a team that is trailing them in the Western Conference standings when they host San Jose on Saturday. The Sharks will be looking to avenge the 2-0 shut-out that Ramo and the Flames handed them last week. Game time 8pm on CBC.

Lines:

Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Jiri Hudler
Michael Ferland – Markus Granlund – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Sven Baertschi

Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engellend – Ladislav Smid

Kari Ramo



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