A goal for the ages, but a game to forget
Flames keep the points streak alive and get fodder for the year’s highlight reels
Everybody will be talking about The Goal, and rightfully so — but don’t forget about The Roll.
The Calgary Flames couldn’t finish the job, but they extended their point spree to 10 straight games with Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings in a testy, entertaining affair at the Saddledome.
The Flames’ talented trio of Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Micheal Ferland hooked up for a goal-of-the-year candidate in the opening period, but Kings winger Tanner Pearson spoiled the party with the game-winner with 26.1 seconds left in the three-on-three session.
It’s now been four weeks since the Flames took a regulation loss.
They rolled to seven straight victories before their bye and have since settled for a single point in back-to-back-to-back bonus-time losses — a shootout setback and an overtime bummer against the Winnipeg Jets and then Wednesday’s unfortunate ending against the Kings.
L.A.’s star defenceman Drew Doughty faked a shot but instead fed to Pearson, who found the fivehole on Mike Smith for the decisive goal.
The Flames’ first line was certainly worth the price of admission Wednesday. In fact, it’s hard to believe they combined for only one goal — The Goal.
With about six minutes left in the first frame, Ferland stickhandled into the slot and — surrounded by three would-be defenders — dropped a no-look pass to Monahan.
The Flames’ leading marksman quickly moved the puck to Gaudreau as he cruised into the right circle, and the all-star left-winger had it on his tape for barely a blink before a return feed for an easy finish. Tick-tack-toe. (Promise us you’ll go watch the replay.)
Just over a month ago, the Kings were perched atop the Pacific Division standings.
They have been in free fall in January, arriving in Calgary with just one win in their past eight tilts, but seemed determined to snap out of that funk.
The out-of-towners tied it up early in the third, while Flames rookie Mark Jankowski served a two-minute sentence for tripping. Jake Muzzin unloaded a slapper from the blue-line that Smith couldn’t track through heavy traffic.
The Flames and Kings are now tied with 57 points in the standings.
The Flames will aim to extend their point streak to 11 in a row in Thursday’s Battle of Alberta against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place (7 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 960 The Fan), their final itinerary item before the all-star break.
Gaudreau and Smith, who made the highlight reel Wednesday with a glove save on Alex Iafallo’s second-period one-timer, will represent the crew from Calgary at the mid-season shindig. Ice chips: Flames RW Michael Frolik ditched his no-contact jersey for Wednesday’s morning skate, an indication that he’s oh so close to returning from surgery on a cracked jaw. Expect to see him shortly after the all-star break.