Duck disaster at Dome
Flames squander lead, drop 5-4 overtime loss to Anaheim in Game 3
Remember when the Calgary Flames faced the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL playoffs in 2015 and barely got out of Anaheim alive after games 1 and 2? This is not that team. But similar to back then, they’re going to need to continue throwing everything they have at the Ducks after squandering a three-goal lead in the final 20:49 of Monday’s 5-4 overtime loss in Game 3 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Their playoff lives depend on it. Game 4 goes Wednesday (8 p.m., CBC, Sportsnet 960 The Fan) — a must-win if they want to extend the series and send it back to the Honda Center (cue the horror movie music) on Friday for Game 5.
Corey Perry netted the gamewinner with just 1:30 into the extra frame while Michael Stone was tying up Nate Thompson in front of Calgary’s net.
After back-to-back losses by 3-2 counts in the first two games of the series, the Flames pumped John Gibson for four goals on 16 shots to end his night before the second period was over.
At one point, they were up 4-1. Yes, you read that right.
Anaheim, looking like a team that hadn’t lost in regulation in 16 straight games, chipped away and erased the cushion on unanswered goals from Shea Theodore — who also scored to force overtime with 4:21 remaining in the third period — and Thompson.
Monday’s game also featured a controversial goal call just like Saturday’s game, which saw the Flames’ potential go-ahead goal waved off for goaltender interference.
Once again, they were on the wrong side of the call.
This time, it was on the Ducks’ third marker with 8:46 remaining in the final period when Hampus Lindholm’s shot was deflected off Thompson’s stick.
Immediately, referee Gord Dwyer got on the horn and determined whether or not Thompson had a high stick on the play. The goal stood.
The NHL sent confirmation that although Thompson’s stick was at or below the height of the crossbar when he deflected the puck, the “determining factor is where the puck makes contact with the stick in relation to the crossbar. If the puck makes contact with the portion of the stick that is at or below the level of the crossbar and enters the goal, this goal shall be allowed.”
Got it? Good. Because it was the turning point in the game.
The Flames, backed by a deafening home crowd, tried to fend off a Ducks attack during the last five minutes of the third. Didn’t work. Theodore lined up a straight shot past Brian Elliott’s glove hand — Elliott’s fourth goal allowed on 24 shots.
With just 4:34 elapsed in the middle frame, Stone, looking like he was back with the Calgary Hitmen, ripped home a point shot and gave the Flames their second even-strength goal of the series. At the same time, Matthew Tkachuk tied up Rickard Rakell in front and provided a screen.
On Calgary’s fourth power play of the game (Korbinian Holzer off for hooking on Johnny Gaudreau, who nearly had a breakaway), Sam Bennett bashed and crashed his way into Gibson’s crease and wound up getting credit for Mark Giordano’s shot — 4-1 Flames.
Theodore scored with 49 ticks left in the second period to preview a comeback to come in the third period.
It seemed like it was the Flames night, however, at the puck drop.
Fans in the ‘C’ of Red started “go Flames go” chants during warm-ups and kept the hits coming all night. Also overheard at the Saddledome were these classics: “Biek-sa’s Ugl-eeeee,” “Kesler’s Ugl-eeeee,” “Gibbbbbson,” “Kesler Sucks” and various renditions of “boos” whenever old friend Kevin Bieksa or Ryan Kesler touched the puck.
Special teams, once again, dominated the game as Sean Monahan netted his third man-advantage marker of the series, just 2:10 into Game 3. Monahan finished off a passing play from Troy Brouwer and Gaudreau and got the fans engaged.
The power play struck again when Kris Versteeg batted in Monahan’s rebound at 9:18.
The Ducks replied after spending nearly two minutes in their own zone when Mikael Backlund stripped Rakell of the puck in the neutral zone and the Flames played keep away.
Nick Ritchie deposited a massive Elliott rebound following Antoine Vermette’s shot with 4:27 remaining in the first period.