Calgary Puck

Have we ever seen a starting 40 minutes like that?

A visiting team with only five shots on goal through two periods, none of which even remotely close to a scoring chance?

The Flames were full marks for not looking past the Detroit Red Wings last night, but even still had some tense moments in the third period with a 1-0 lead (that should have been four or five) before steering home a 3-0 victory.

The win gives the Flames two wins in a row after the loss to the Capitals on Monday night, and three wins in the first four games of this ugly five games in seven nights schedule.

Next up a tired Flames team will be in Denver to take on the Avalanche tonight.

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What a game!

You have to forgive Calgary fans for expecting a little bit of a correction when a season just continues to roll on with success; we’re just not that used to it.

So when a top team, the Cup Champs, come into town you kind of hold your breath and hope for the best, while secretly expecting the worst.

Instead the Flames play the Lightning tight through 39 minutes on the strength of both goaltenders before scoring two late second period goals before cruising to a huge 4-1 victory.

Johnny Gaudreau picks up the hat trick with two bank shots to move to 26 goals on the season.

This team is for real.

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A sloppy game from the start, you just had that sinking feeling the Flames would find a way to lose this one.

The Flames got better as the game went along, and looked like they were going to seize things in the third period, before a return to sloppy play and some iffy goaltending at times cost them in the end.

The 5-4 loss to the Capitals snaps a home point streak at 13 games, and a five game point streak overall.

These games happen.

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Darryl Sutter thought both teams were exhausted, and he likely had a point as the most recent Battle of Alberta had a noticeable lack of high octane play in a quiet slug fest between the provincial rivals.

The Flames found their way to a 3-1 win on the strength of two goals by Tyler Toffoli in the second period, and a put away goal by Johnny Gaudreau in the third period. Jacob Markstrom lost his shut out bid on a third period goal off the skate of the referee, robbing him of his 9th doughnut of the season.

The win keeps the Flames rolling overall and and home ice, and pretty much puts a dagger in the Oilers and any chance of catching Calgary this season. They  now have an 11 point lead and have two games in hand.

No rest for the weary as the Flames play the Capitals tomorrow night. Glad it didn’t get to overtime!

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I said it earlier this week when the Flames swept the Minnesota Wild in a two game set; the Flames have done well to answer to measuring sticks since the ugly road trip through Florida and Carolina.

Many had circled the two Wild games and the game tonight against the Avalanche as key games to prove the Flames are for real in this improbable season, and tonight with the Flames beating Colorado in overtime the Flames managed to win all three of those games and send a very strong message.

Calgary had their top line go off with all three of Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk having three point nights, and Dan Vladar was solid in a surprise start picking up the win.

Next up the Edmonton Oilers with a great chance for the Flames to bury any chance of their provincial rivals catching them this season.

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