It was looked on as a very important game. A chance to take the eighth and final play-off spot back (for the time being) against a team that most feel will still make the post-season in the Detroit Red Wings. Now that they're healthy the Wings have become a formidable team, and they are still looked at as a team that could do some post-season damage.

As for the Flames, they had a chance to catch a team that they were chasing which hasn't exactly been a strong point for them this season. Just look back at all of the chances they had to catch the Avs earlier in the season but couldn't cash in.

After two periods it was looking like it might be a case of same-old, same-old as despite having their share of chances they still entered the third period down by a goal; A situation they had only been able to overcome twice all season long so things were looking pretty bleak for the road team. Add to that the fact that captain Jarome Iginla hadn't even scored a regular season goal against the Wings in 19 games and reasons for optimism were about as easy to find as a needle in the proverbial hay-stack.

But that was the pre-Christmas team. The team before all of the changes. The team that just couldn't come together as one and play the type of game that the Sutter's insist they can and will play once they put all of their ducks in a row. It;'s clear that they've tried. a mid-season overhaul lick the Flames have experienced doesn't happen very often and didn't exactly set the world on fire when the team was assembled as Calgary continued to struggle to score but for the last three games at least one has to think that this is starting to resemble the type of team that both Sutter's want to see.

The recently formed top line of Iginla, Stajan, and Bourque once again came through in the crunch as Iginla and Bourque (thanks to Iggy banking the puck of his knee) scored two goals in just a minute an thirty-one seconds to eliminate the deficit and put the Flames ahead for good in the third. The first goal ended Iggy's long drought against the Wings and the second lead to just the third come from behind after two periods win for the Flames. The victory was assured when Chris Higgins was able to send a long distance shot from his own end into the vacated Wings net for his first as a Flame to seal the victory.

It was a great win for the Flames as they find themselves back in the position of a play-off spot and can control their own destiny. One thing is guaranteed when looking at their remaining schedule and that is simply the fact that there is no way this team will be able to back into the post-season this year, they'll need to be playing their best hockey of the season in order to even qualify for the dance. The good news is that if they make it, they'll be going in hot, the bad news is that they'll need to be pretty hot with the schedule to give themselves a chance.

Have a great day!
shaune.vetter@hockeybuzz.com

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