Calgary Puck

Being a Calgary Flames fan builds character.

You develop a certain scar tissue year in and year out as the team consistently finds new ways to under perform or let you down in the post season. That is … in seasons where they make the post season at all.

Have to hand it to the 2019-20 Calgary Flames though, they’ve found a new way to wrap things up in a spectacular fashion that will not only leave a mark, but a lasting image that just won’t go away no matter how long this next off season is.

The Flames did pretty much everything right to start on Thursday night.

They came out flying, completely overwhelmed the Dallas Stars in running up a 8-0 shot lead, and a quick 3-0 lead on goals by Andrew Mangiapane, Johnny Gaudreau and Rasmus Andersson.

Then a complete collapse of both goaltenders in the second period erased a 3-1 lead and replaced it with a 6-3 deficit, in a period where the Stars had 12 shots, the Flames 12 shots. The scoring chances in the second were 7-6 Dallas. Five goals!

From there despite having the overall play, shot attempts, scoring chances, zone time, and expected goal split firmly on their side the Flames were doomed, the season over.

A head scratcher that will not soon be forgotten.

Ouch!

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Honestly that was better.

Sure the Flames lost the game in the end, a 2-1 setback to the Dallas Stars in game five of their best of seven series, but at least they were forcing the issue and in the game.

Far too often in both games three and four the Flames were on their heels and letting the Stars take the game to them.

A rough start for Calgary as the Stars pretty much kept the script from the previous two games for the opening period, but then a push back for both periods two and three had Calgary within inches of tying the game up and forcing overtime.

It certainly makes sense, but the Flames have looked much better when trailing than when tied or up in a game. Desperation possibly, and also the Stars taking the foot off the gas as well.

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Don’t let the final score in overtime fool you.

This one wasn’t even close.

If the Flames had won the opening of this story would be a team getting bounces and how it seems the Flames will go four or five or even six years without a whole lot going right, then every ten years or so they get what seems to be every bounce in an un-probable run.

The Flames started well, but were thoroughly outplayed in the second, third and most of overtime in skating to a 5-4 overtime win with an overtime winner with TJ Brodie breaking his stick. Joe Pavelski paced the Stars with a hat trick.

Series tied at 2-2 and Dallas very much in the driver seat in my opinion.

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Yo Adrian!

Growing up in the 80s Rocky was a staple. The first movie was more drama than fight scenes, the second ratcheted up a little bit, and the third a full on popcorn eating feast of boxing highlights.

In the movies Rocky always had this annoying strategy that clearly always worked. He’s lay back, take an absolute beating, but then come on when the other guy tired himself out punching Rocky in head so many times and then win the fight with a knock out.

Tonight the Flames seemed to deploy a similar strategy to Balboa, as they spent way too much time in their own zone, relied far too much on Cam Talbot, but skated away with a 2-0 victory.

Sure they didn’t give up that many ten bell chances, the Stars only had 8 on the night five on five, but they generated so little … not a recipe for success generally.

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Well that was interesting!

An absolutely terrible start … sure the Flames scored the game’s first goal, but from that point until the time out 7 minutes into the second period the Flames were completely owned by the Dallas Stars.

After the time out though the Flames were much better including a third period where they scored three goals, had two count and looked to have forced the game to overtime only to see a very very late goal by the Stars putting the game away.

What a roller coaster.

The Flames had rough nights again from a lot of key players, namely Johnny Gaudreau on his birthday, Sean Monahan and Mark Giordano, and what looks like a concussion to Matthew Tkachuk after he took a partial spear from Jamie Benn in the first period and just couldn’t get it done with the supporting cast.

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