The Calgary Flames are still in their second round series. (USATSI)
Every night during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eye On Hockey writers Adam Gretz and Chris Peters will bring you up to speed everything you need to know about all of the action around the NHL. Here’s what you need to know about Ducks vs. Flames, Game 3
Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames, Game 3
Flames 4, Ducks 3 | Ducks lead series 2-1 | Game 4, Friday
Game 3 in a nutshell: The Calgary Flames are not going to go away without a fight. Even though the Ducks seemed to be in complete control of the game, limiting the Flames to just nine shots on goal through two periods, Calgary still found a way to come-from-behind (again) and get its first win of the series, avoding what could have been a 3-0 deficit thanks to Johnny Gaudreau‘s late game-tying goal and Mikael Backlund‘s game-winner in overtime. Now they have a chance to even the series in Game 4 on Friday night.
Turning point: Just when it appeared that the Calgary Flames were going to lose their third game in a row, this time after a controversial call on a potential game-tying goal, the Ducks started to get into a penalty trouble. It all started with Calgary’s Matt Stajan and Anaheim’s Simon Despres getting coincidental minors following a skirmish around the Ducks net that included Stajan running over Frederick Andersen. Less than a minute later, Sami Vatenen was penalized for delay of game giving the Flames a late power play that turned into a 5-on-3 two-man advantage when they pulled goalie Karri Ramo for the extra attacker. Gaudreau then tied the game with a great shot with only 20 seconds to play. Backlund’s winner in overtime also came with an extra attacker on the ice during a delayed penalty call on the Ducks.
Three things we learned
1. The Ducks finally lost a playoff game. Entering play on Tuesday Anaheim was the only team to not lose a game this postseason, riding a six-game winning streak into Game 3. The Ducks were 20 seconds away from making it seven. After having the worst goal differential of all playoff teams during the regular season (plus-10) the Ducks actually have the best goal differential so far in the postseason (plus-15). They have been dominant at times this postseason and had a chance to deliver a potential knockout punch to the Flames on Tuesday. Instead, the door is still open for the Flames.
2. You know who is probably really happy the Flames won that game? The NHL and everybody involved in the process that reviews goals. If Calgary had lost that game in regulation and then gone on to lose the series that potential Sam Bennett goal late in the third period would have been the story across the league for weeks. It’s not that the call was definitely wrong (really, inconclusive still seems to be the only way to describe it) but it was just such a major, controversial call that the storyline was never going to go away. Now, it will quickly be forgotten. If it’s not already.
3. Maybe the Flames still have a little bit of magic left in them. All season they have overcome the odds and found ways to win games no matter what obstacles have been in front of them. They did it again on Tuesday night when they won yet another game when trailing after two periods, and this time they needed to overcome a little bit of controversy, too.
Video of the game: Mikael Backlund wins it in overtime for the Flames.
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