Welcome to another edition of Calgary Flames Throwback Thursday! Today, let’s look at Steve Smith scoring on his own net in game 7 in 1986 to give the Flames the win.
I’m sorry Edmonton Oilers fan (except not really). Ok just kidding, I am. Please don’t come for me. I’m a Calgary Flames fan, I feel your pain.
But it’s Thursday which means it’s time for another Throwback Thursday. Last time, we talked about the Flames clinching a playoff spot in 2015. An honour of the Oilers losing in game 7 last night to give the Anaheim Ducks a spot in the Western Conference finals, let’s look at an Oilers-related throwback Thursday today.
It was game 7 of the Smythe Division finals (what we know it today as the second round). The game was tied two a piece for both the Oilers and the Flames. Then there’s about 14 minutes left of the game. And in an attempt to clear the zone, poor Oilers rookie Steve Smith accidentally scores on his own net. The Flames would go on and win this game 3-2 and ended up being Western Conference champs by winning the next series against the St. Louis Blues as well.
You got to feel for the guy. He was a rookie. Actually, if you go to his Wikipedia page, his bio at the top of the page says, “He is best-remembered for scoring a critical own goal in the playoffs of his rookie year in Game 7 of the 1986 Smythe Division Final against the Calgary Flames, in which Calgary went on to win the game 3-2 and the series 4-3.” Ouch, poor guy.
Calgary Flames
Oh no, I just found out that that game was his 23rd birthday. Double ouch.
Now, I wasn’t alive when this happened, but my dad was and he remembers this game really well. So I decided to ask him about it. Here’s what he had to say:
"Oh that was a hell of a game. It was in the third period? I could have sworn it happened in overtime."
Yes dad I’m sure. Moving on.
"He ended up being ahell of a player, but nobody forgot about that one incident. Actually, it’s funny. For the next few years, every time Edmonton would play in Calgary and Steve Smith had the puck, Flames fans would yell, “shoot!”"
If I was alive at that time, I would definitely be one of those Flames fans yelling shoot. Also, fun fact: Smith would end up playing for Calgary in the last few years of his career.
Next: Jimmy Howard should be plan B for the Flames
That’s all in this edition of Throwback Thursday! Tune in next week to see what we’ll talk about next.