Flames prevail on home ice in Game 5
Come-from-behind rally in third period moves Calgary within one victory of second round
FLAMES 3, STARS 1
On this night, it might as well have been called the C of Bread.
The Calgary Flames needed a goal, needed a comeback, needed a hero. Andrew Mangiapane delivered.
Mangiapane assisted on the tying tally and then roofed a shot for the game-winner as the Flames rallied for a 3-1 victory in Game 5 of their opening-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
Thanks to Wednesday's come-from-behind triumph at the Saddledome, the Flames pulled ahead in this best-of-seven battle and are off to Texas with an opportunity to advance to the second round. Game 6 is set for Friday at American Airlines Center.
Mangiapane, a fan favourite affectionately known as Bread, had previously been skunked in this tight-checking two-step between a pair of stingy defensive squads. Two nights earlier, he had logged the lowest ice time of any Flames forward.
That's all long forgotten now.
In what was another goaltending duel between Vezina Trophy finalist Jacob Markstrom and star in the making Jake Oettinger, the hosts trailed 1-0 after 40 minutes in front of a nervous crowd.
They finally solved Oettinger seven minutes into the third. Blake Coleman managed to draw the attention of both defencemen on a drive to the net and that left Mangiapane to feed Mikael Backlund for a nifty redirect from the top of the crease.
Just two shifts later, Mangiapane accepted a pass from Backlund as he cruised into enemy territory and whistled a wrister over Oettinger's glove. The building was going nuts. Trevor Lewis salted it away with a late empty-netter, while Jacob Markstrom was again superb in a 20-save showing.
FACEOFF FUN
Flames thumper Milan Lucic was looking for puck possession, not for a punch-up. That's his story and he's sticking to it.
Part of the fun of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the bad blood that is sure to develop during a best-of-seven series and the shenanigans that often ensue, which is why there has been so much banter over the past couple of days about the opening faceoff of Game 4.
Jamie Benn, the longtime captain in Dallas, was at the dot for the Stars.
The Flames countered with Lucic, who typically works the wing. Hmmm.
“Honestly, we just, me and Lew (Trevor Lewis) always talk about who is going to take the faceoffs, and I've taken a lot of them when he's been centre on my strong side,” explained Lucic, stopping just short of a wink, prior to Game 5. “I lost the draw and was mad that I lost the draw. That was it.” Sure, Milan, if you say so. Rewind the tape and it appears Looch was also there to deliver a message. There was a lot of barking before the puck even dropped.
The background? Earlier in the day, Benn had been asked if he was surprised that Flames first-liner Matthew Tkachuk had been declining his invites for a dance.
“No,” he replied. “He's a smart kid.”
Benn, a tough cookie in his own right, is apparently pretty smart, too, because Lucic throws some of the NHL's heaviest haymakers — and you could tell he was angry.
At 33, Lucic is a veteran of the game and the game within the game.
That was, in case you were wondering, his fourth faceoff of these playoffs.
Asked if he would have had a similar conversation with Benn, his fourth-line sidekick Lewis managed to maintain a mostly straight face as he insisted: “If I lost the draw, too, I might have.”
OFF THE GLASS
Flames coach Darryl Sutter split his top trio in Wednesday's middle frame, giving Blake Coleman a look alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm and bumping Matthew Tkachuk to the second unit. He mixed 'em up further in the third, with Tyler Toffoli joined Gaudreau and Lindholm and Tkachuk dropped to the third line . ... Michael Stone remained in the lineup as the Flames dressed seven defencemen for a second consecutive contest. The seldom-used Stone has been a shooting gallery in his two appearances in these playoffs, putting a dozen pucks on net in just 20 minutes of total of ice time. “I know what my strengths are,” Stone told Flames TV at Wednesday's morning skate. “That's something I try to key in and try to create opportunities for us, whether that's off rebounds or screens or tips or whatever it is. I like to get good wood on the puck, so it felt good to get in there.” ... The hat trick of Hart Trophy nominees will be revealed Thursday morning. Gaudreau certainly made a heck of a case for MVP honours, but you could say the same about Jonathan Huberdeau, Roman Josi, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Igor Shesterkin and perhaps others. There will be a few deserving candidates who don't crack the final three . ... Flames fans will be torn Thursday. Do they cheer for the Edmonton Oilers to stave off elimination, keeping open the possibility of a long-overdue Battle of Alberta playoff series, or would they prefer to see their provincial rivals bounced by the Los Angeles Kings?