That’s a wrap!
Not the season the team expected. Not the season the fans expected. But here we are.
As the season has wound down the Flames have seemingly found their offensive gear, as perhaps the gripping of the sticks has been alleviated with the games meaning next to nothing.
Today six more goals in routing the Vancouver Canucks by a 6-2 score to conclude their season one game under .500 with 55 points in 56 games.
Meaningless game number three gets a decent finish with the Flames pouring it on in the third period in an attempt to erase a 3-0 lead.
Late goals by Andrew Mangiapane and Matthew Tkachuk make it close, before the Canucks put it away with an empty net goal off a Milan Lucic turn over.
One more to go!
Well if a game isn’t going to mean anything it may as well be entertaining.
The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames managed 11 goals on Sunday night in a meaningless game including four in the third period for the west coast hosts as they eliminated a four goal deficit and forced overtime, only to lose on a fluke goal in the extra frame.
The win gives the Flames two straight over Vancouver to finish off the regular season, the two clubs have two more afternoon dates this week (Tuesday and Wednesday) to complete the goal of getting out of the way of the ongoing playoffs and putting their seasons to bed.
For reverse standings, the Flames moved into in win percentage with Chicago at .491, so if the Flames split their remaining two games they will move into the 12th worst record and have the 12th best odds (Seattle in, Arizona forfeited).
In a game that literally meant nothing, we saw a relatively spirited effort from two teams that will have a lot of navel gazing to do in the off season.
The Vancouver Canucks got off to a solid start with a goal just a minute in, but from there it was all Calgary with four straight goals in a 4-1 win on Thursday night.
The two teams have three more games against each other to wind out the season; Vancouver with an extra game against Edmonton to boot, before they can call an end to their nightmarish seasons.
Darryl Sutter has hinted at AHL help to wind down the schedule, but not tonight as only Oliver Kylington and Glen Gawdin got a second look.
Would imagine we’ll see more farmhands in the next three games.
Have to admit it’s kind of fun that this season is still a thing!
The Flames are still alive with four games and three off days on their schedule. Tonight’s 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators coming on the heels of last night’s regulation loss by the Montreal Canadiens in Toronto means the season ticks on to May 10th and we’ll take it from there.
Tonight the Flames jumped all over a tired Ottawa team scoring only once in the first, but taking the game away with three second period goals, only to add another two in the third.
Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau led the way with three point nights as the Flames live to fight another day … or … live to watch the out of town scoreboard another day.
