Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
They did it!
With a beauty goal in the overtime, the Calgary Flames have won all five consecutive home games for the first time since February 15, 1997.
The only goal in the first period came from an assist by Chris Butler and Kevin Westgarth. T.J. Galiardi made his way in front of the net and took a great pass from Westgarth. While on his knees in front of the Wild net, Galiardi backhanded the first goal of the game.
Matt Cooke scored the first short-handed goal for the Wild, but Dennis Wideman put the Flames ahead again soon after with a tip-in from Chris Butler.
The third period was opened with a short-handed goal by Mikael Backlund when Lee Stempniak carried the puck into the Wild’s zone and took a shot. Mark Giordano rushed the net in hopes of the rebound only to be denied until Backlund slapped it into the net, putting the Flames up by a score of 3-1.
Dany Heatley brought Minnesota within one goal and Keith Ballard tied the game with about five minutes left on the clock.
About halfway through an overtime period that was full of a lot of back and forth, the play was in the Wild’s end when Giordano went along the boards to cover his player. Backlund stepped in to pick up the puck and passed to Sean Monahan who was in front of the net. Monahan took a shot, only to be denied by Darcy Kuemper, but Backlund picked up the rebound and scored.
The Flames won their fifth consecutive game at home with a final score of 4-3, giving fans a whole new reason to hold onto hope.
Not only did the Flames have the most shots on goal (32), but they also won the most faceoffs (32). Their next home game isn’t until February 27, after the Olympic break, when they take on the LA Kings.
Go Flames Go!