Calgary Flames Squeak Out Sixth Straight Over Detroit Red Wings
THE CALGARY FLAMES SQUEAK OUT SIXTH STRAIGHT OVER THE DETROIT RED WINGS, WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 3-2 IN OVERTIME. CAN THE FLAMES STAY HOT?
With 1.5 seconds remaining, Tomas Tatar of the Detroit Red Wings squeaked a sharp angle shot past Brian Elliott to tie the game up at two a piece, but it was the Calgary Flames who would prevail in the extra time thanks to Mikael Backlund’s 20th Goal of the season. It was Calgary’s sixth win in a row, and while the team didn’t dominate the game top to bottom for sixty minutes and change, they found a way to whether the storm and manage to find a way to win the game. Few things to take away from this game here tonight:
Brian Elliott is starting to look like he is finding his game:
Brian Elliott is rolling right now. He has been keeping the Flames in games time and time again, no matter what. He made a couple of big time saves to keep the Flames in this game when their play started to taper off in the middle frame, which the Flames were outshot 14-2.
Brian Elliott’s biggest save of the night came in the overtime period, where he made a spectacular glove save on a Ryan Sproul snapshot from about thirty feet out.
It got the crowd back into it, and it seems to be that the case can be made that Brian Elliott has been the Calgary Flame’s MVP over the past month and a half.
In Brian Elliott’s last eleven starts, he is now 9-1-1, posting a 2.18 Goals Against Average and a 0.925 Save Percentage, good for seventh in the National Hockey League since late January. It’s great to see Elliott finding his stride in the C of Red, and the strongest note to take away from this game.
Calgary Flames
Matthew Tkachuk Gets Better Each Game:
Another game where Matthew Tkachuk makes the opposing team uncomfortable when he is on the ice. Number 19 was pesky all night long, throwing his weight around and chipping in on the scoresheet with a highlight reel goal in the first period in order to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
The 3M Line, consisting of Tkachuk, Michael Frolik and Mikael Backlund, continues to produce for the Flames in the offensive and defensive zones. They have arguably been the best line for the Flames this season, certainly the most consistent.
Tkachuk has 11 points in the Flames last fourteen games, which places him seventh amongst all rookies in scoring over that time span. He also leads the Flames in penalty minutes this season with 94 total penalty minutes. Tkachuk continues to amaze and should be a dark horse for the Calder Trophy nomination.
Scoresheets Don’t Have Pictures On Them:
Just like the old golf saying, “there are no pictures on the scorecard, just the score”, the same could be made about the Flames first line as well. Johnny Gaudreau was buzzing all over the ice, creating plays and gaining scoring chances. He also had a fantastic scoring opportunity to finish the game in overtime. However, the puck bounced off his stick after he made a move that had Petr Mrazek fooled on.
Sean Monahan and Michael Ferland’s pace of the game and their play on the ice appeared to be what has been consistent since the line was put together. Just because those three did not register a point tonight does not indicate there was a bad game played by the line. But that they appear to be close to registering a few points together in the immediate future.
WITH THE WINGS CHECKED OFF IN THE WIN COLUMN – WHO IS NEXT?
Sunday against the New York Islanders will be the next shot to increase the hot streak to seven games. The game time is 4:00 PM ET (2:00 PM MT). The Islanders have been playing well as of late, with a team playing much better under current head coach Doug Weight. Expect Brian Elliott to be in goal again on Sunday. SInce he has been playing at the level we have seen in his past as a member of the St. Louis Blues. He is going to be the Calgary Flames X-Factor down the stretch if they are going to a potent threat in the Western Conference.
Next: Calgary Flames Win Fifth Straight
Tune in Sunday afternoon in order to watch the Flames strive for the seventh straight win.