The flipped script gets flipped again.
The Flames were pretty much terrible in their home opener, but found a way to win.
Tonight they had what looked like a perfect road game going through 40 minutes before imploding in the third period, giving up 5 goals in a 5-2 loss in Pittsburgh.
Brutal period and a lot of shaking heads.
But also a big step forward in playing the system and looking like a team that could be competitive this year.
Tough one in Pennsylvania.
Pretty ironic start to this new chapter in Flames history.
Last year, the Flames controlled the play more often than not, out shot their opposition and often out chanced them. But they missed the playoffs due to an inability to finish (and generate the blue chip chances), and stop enough pucks to collect their spoils.
Tonight they flipped the script …
Completely outplayed, relied on their goaltender (got the big save) and had timely scoring and opportunistic finish in turning back the Winnipeg Jets 5-3 on opening night.
Guess that’s why they play the games.
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!
