After an extremely listless effort against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night, the Calgary Flames were facing a tall test against one of the best teams in the NHL. In an earlier meeting this month, the Flames put forth one of their best efforts of the season only to fall just short against the Dallas Stars.
You would have thought that the team was destined to lose this game, and most likely in a poor manner, but you would be far from correct.
The Flames, or should we say find-a-way Flames, found a way to come back on three separate occasions. Eventually scoring five unanswered goals, posting a season-high seven, in a wild victory.
Just keep swimming
The Flames looked like a team that was bound to lose tonight based on mistakes. Through the first forty minutes, every single mistake the team made looked to find its way into the back of their own net. Combine that with a less-than-perfect Jacob Markstrom, and the team just didn’t look like they had any mojo.
But they never gave up.
A.J. Greer tied the game after the Flames gave up a goal on their first shot against, then Yegor Sharangovich would later tie the game at two on a beautiful passing play. Despite going down 4-2 later in the game, the Flames kept pushing with goals from Adam Ruzicka, Blake Coleman, Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, and Nazem Kadri making the difference.
Last season, this game would have been over after the team gave up the early goal. This season feels different. The team simply keeps finding unique ways to win games.
Unlike the find-a-way Flames of old, this version of the team is getting it done by committee. Coleman is currently leading this team in goals with six, which is a far cry from one single line getting the job done. The all-in approach seems to be working so far as the Flames crawl back within two points of a playoff spot.
A special shoutout to Yegor Sharangovich who had himself a three-point night. After getting off to a rough start to his Flames career, combined with a relentless Tyler Toffoli start in New Jersey, Sharangovich finds himself tied for second on the team in goals and up to ten points total. Maybe this is what the team saw in him when they traded for him.
Before the calendar hits December, the team has three third-period comeback wins which is more than they had all last season. The comeback kings are officially back.
