Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
It was edge-of-your-seat hockey last night as the Calgary Flames hosted the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans were taken on a roller-coaster ride of excitement as the Flames kept pace with Chicago during the entire sixty minutes. In spite of Reto Berra being pulled after forty minutes, the Flames came back to win it in overtime with a goal by T.J. Brodie.
The first period opened with a backhanded goal by Mikael Backlund fed by Lee Stempniak barely two minutes into the game. Patrick Kane quickly answered back and the score was tied. Lance Bouma sent a wrister to the back of the Hawks net about halfway through the period to put the Flames up by one again. Marian Hossa tied the game to end the first period.
Matt Stajan, with an assist to David Jones, put Calgary up by one goal again early in the second, and Backlund netted a short-handed goal that gave the Flames some confidence with a two-goal lead. Ben Smith scored and Hossa potted another one to tie the second period.
There was no scoring in the third period and the teams lined up for overtime. Halfway through the five-minute period of four on four hockey, the Flames pressured hard against the Blackhawks and Brodie grabbed the puck and made a beauty wrap-around to end the game with a final score of 5-4. Lee Stempniak and Sean Monahan got the assists on the game winning goal.
Kevin Westgarth had a couple of good chances on net during the game, and Mark Giordano led the defensive team while the offensive push on the Blackhawks was something to be proud of.
And now the question remains…
Can the Calgary Flames keep their home win streak alive when they take on the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, January 30th?
Go Flames Go!