Well that’s a wrap.
Fitting in a way that we see a game with the Flames losing in overtime (check), in a one goal game (check), with a goalie bobble (check) and a freak bounce off a referee (maybe not so much check).
The Flames outplayed the Predators for the most part, but gave up a lot of quality forcing Jacob Markstrom to be excellent.
Calgary carries the overtime and scores first in the shoot out but finds a way to lose it.
Next year country.
Sometimes you just run out of room.
The Calgary Flames had a terrible November and February on the season, and didn’t work them off with a dominant month to reset the season. As a result they’ve been on a tight margin race back to a playoff spot for March and April; one that didn’t afford them a lot of room for error.
On Saturday night they needed more room.
In a game where they didn’t start all that strong, and couldn’t finish against a goaltender on top of his game, they battled and came from behind again, forcing overtime in a game where they were down two goals.
But in the room or margin was too tight and they came up a point short.
Their chances weren’t all that good coming into the game, they’re much less coming out.
Ideally we’d be discussing the Flames sixth straight win and a two point lead in the standings after tonight’s 3-1 win in Winnipeg.
But with the disappointing loss to the Hawks last night it’s a muted … tied with the Jets but they have a game in hand and the tie breaker story as we head into the final four games for the Calgary Flames.
But they’re alive.
And we’ll be talking hockey and playoff chances for three days until they play the Canucks on Saturday night.
All I needed!
Bubble teams lost to crap teams all the time.
Heck good teams lose to bad teams all the time.
The Flames though, have lost all three games to the Chicago Blackhawks this season. In a freaky season where every game is a one goal game, and they can’t win in overtime, you’d better beat the league doormats.
They haven’t.
Tonight they fight back from down 2-1 after one with a solid second period, but then completely come out flat in the third.
Cost them the game.
Could cost them the season.
That’s quite the weekend!
Back to back come from behind 5-4 victories in a season where they hadn’t come back once is something else.
Tonight they had a pulled goalie, deficits of 2-0 and 4-3 and a boatload of help from the bottom half of the roster as Nick Ritchie, Milan Lucic, Michael Stone and Nikita Zadorov all scored key goals.
The win keeps pace with the Jets, as they whipped the Devils in Winnipeg tonight keeping the dream alive.
Next up the Hawks on Tuesday night.
Five more games to go … still only two points back.
