It seems to me that just about every blog that I’ve written of late starts with the same couple of words or sentiments; Boy these Flames have been fun to watch and or surprising!
Just last night the Calgary Flames were challenged against the Ottawa Senators with what would be their 7th straight and final game on the road. Having already won 4/6 of their previous games, Calgary was confident coming into the night and fans were hopeful for another two points to close out the road trip.
While the Flames ended up losing the game, they did manage a point as the game would require a shootout. What’s interesting about this particular game is the fact that the Flames were actually down four goals to none going in to the 3rd period, and scored four unanswered goals to tie the damn game!
“Like Bob (Hartley) said, if there's any team that can come back from 4-0, it's us.… Backlund offered.
“This was a great comeback, probably the best of the year. There's so many this year so it's hard to rate them, but 4-0 is a pretty big lead going into the third. We were all really excited when we scored the fourth there.…
The Flames were outshot in both first periods, looked a little flat, and simply could not get any offense going as a group. Things were not looking good and it would seem nice and early that they would end their road trip with 8 of a possible 14 points.
After allowing four straight goals, Karri Ramo would get the boot and in would come Jonas Hiller who was also tested, and tested often but ultimately stood quite tall between the pipes, especially after a double pad stack against Bobby Ryan just minutes in.
It would be Joe Colborne of all people who would get the Flames on the board with his 7th of the year as he walked in to the Sens’ zone and blasted a shot from the point past Anderson. The big saves from Hiller and Colborne’s goal seemed to boost the team as a few minutes later Kris Russell would find the back of the net on the power-play, and under a minute later Backlund brought the team back into the game with his 8th of the year.
Just when Sens fans thought the Flames were done and the game was possibly still theirs, Russell threw an absolutely beauty of a shot on net which found the side bar just over Anderson’s glove hand. Tie game.
Neither team would score during the OT as it would seem the Sens started to back up defensively given the last minute surge of goals from Calgary, and as such the game would require a shootout. All tied going into the 6th round of shootouts, Erik Karlsson would win it for his team and the Flames would walk away with just one point; a HUGE point if you ask me....and the coach.
“Huge point,… head coach Bob Hartley said. “I think we saw the character that we've built over the last year, it's really paying off in games like this. Guys after the second period, they were mad, they were disappointed with themselves, but at the same time there was that belief, and that's something we've cultivated.
“Once we got the first one, it was electric on the bench. We had that sense we would make it happen.…
9 points out of 14, and a 65% winning percentage over their seven game road trip is very much respectable and the Flames currently find themselves sitting two points ahead of the Kings for the 3rd and final spot in the Pacific Division.
With another two points last night, Jiri Hudler has been named the 1st star of the week from the NHL and deservingly so. Hudler has amassed 8 points over his previous 4 games played. That’s some solid contribution from this veteran who many from his days in Detroit weren’t so sure about his production rate. And here’s the interesting thing, Hudler has been quite a bit more productive since joining the Flames than he was during his previous three seasons with the Wings.
Last three years with Detroit
08/09: 57pts in 82 games = 0.69ppg 10/11: 37pts in 73 games = 0.50ppg 11/12: 50pts in 81 games = 0.61 ppg
Average: 0.60ppg
Last three years with Calgary
12/13: 27pts in 42 games = 0.64ppg 13/14: 54pts in 74 games = 0.72ppg 14/15: 56pts in 63 games = 0.88ppg
Average: 0.75ppg
That is certainly some interesting stuff if you ask me! Good on ya Hudler!
The Flames will take to the ice next on Wednesday night against the Anaheim Ducks, and it should give the team a good challenge in terms of how their fair against strong playoff teams. Expect a rough game, but a good game from each side as the Flames are now being taken quite seriously from other scouts around the league.
Thanks for reading!
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