Nashville Predators 5 Calgary Flames 4 (OT)

Flames Come up Short in Comeback Thriller

D'Arcy McGrath

October 25th, 2001

Is it right for a team to be jubilant with a loss?

Chances are when the Flames are forced to confront their trance-like initial 40 minutes at practice tomorrow, the answer will be a defiant "NO".

However, it's tough not to appreciate the come from behind effort in gaining a point in a game that looked all but lost less than four minutes into the contest.

The only thing more bizarre than the outcome of the game, was the entrants into this nine goal game.

Both the Flames and Predators are built with a defence first mantra, the only way either team can compete with large budget, offensive jugger-naughts.

On this night, both squads took a break from the routine.

The Predators pounced early in this one, striking twice in the games first four minutes on Flame miscues.

Denis Arkhipov opened the scoring, with assists going to fellow "alphabet line" teammates Vladimir Orszagh and Martin Erat.

Orszagh's assist gives the rookie five points in his last three games.

The Predators doubled their lead when a Robyn Regehr giveaway led to a two on one, and a Craig Johnson goal. Vitali Yachmenev picked up the assist.

The Flames climbed to within one as Derek Morris scored his first of the season on a powerplay a couple of minutes later.

Before the period was out the Preds managed to pad their lead back to two when Andy Delmore scored his first of two on the night.

Things got worse in the second with Nashville extending their lead to three goals on David Legwand's fourth goal of the season.

Shots on goal through two periods had the Predators up almost two to one with a 19-11 edge. It appeared the Flames planned to call it a night.

Or so the Saddledome faithful thought.

One can almost  imagine ...  a tipped garbage can, possibly a scattering of hockey sticks, a stomped on Gatore Aid bottle, regardless of the motivational tool, the Flames were a different team in the third, peppering Nashville with 18 shots and three goals.

Jarome Iginla led the way with two goals and an assist to add to his first period assist in leading the Flames back to a tie in front of the sparse Saddledome crowd.

His final goal coming with less than a minute left on the clock.

The fairy book ending was ended when Dean McAmmond was called for kneeing in the extra frame.

Less than two minutes later the Predators had a win, as Delmore scored his second of the night on the powerplay.

The over time loss moves the Flames record to 7-2-0-2 on the season, and continues their perfect streak of at least a point per home game this season.

OUR STARS

1) Jarome Iginla - the team on the losing side rarely ends up with the first star, but we had to make an exception as Iginla ran up four points on two goals.

2) Andy Delmore - two goals including the overtime winner for the ex-Flyer blueliner. 

3) David Legwand - Third year player scores a goal and adds an assist.

GAME NOTES

The game within in the game? Solving Predator goalie Mike Dunham. The Flames may have dropped the game in overtime, but scoring four on Dunham is huge relief as the Nashville goaltender has managed to pitch a shut out in the over 180 minutes of hockey against Calgary, dating back to last season ... C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R - sometimes more can be gained from a 5-4 come from behind loss than a cruise to the finish line victory. The Flames habitually lost every game in which they surrendered the first goal last season. This year? Two come from behind wins, and a one overtime tie. Not too shabby. ... The Flames swapped one league leader for another on the night. Roman Turek lost the league lead in goals against average, moving to 1.76, and his save percentage to .931. Both numbers keep him in the top five, but out of the number one spot. Taking his place at the pinnacle however is Jarome Iginla, the current league leader in points with 17 in 11 games. ... Around the west - the Flames moved a point further ahead of both Vancouver, Los Angeles, Columbus and San Jose on the night. Edmonton and Chicago both gained a point.