Flame on!
First Period
Wow did this period suck. Boring, boring hockey. Fortunately for the Leafs, it meant minimal shots against, 5 to be exact. Unfortunately only 7 shots for isn’t that great.
Big downside to this period was Phil Kessel taking shots off both his injured foot, and his healthy one. He was clearly hobbled by the injuries, as he was unable to really hit his stride and struggled to keep up while on defence.
The period ended 0-0. Shots were 7-5 Leafs.
Second Period
Right off the bat, McClement out of nowhere. Franson grabs a weak clear out of the Flames end and centres for the much maligned penalty killing centre, who pots it. 1-0 Leafs.
Almost an entire lackadaisical period later, Matt Stajan slips by Franson and puts a solid move on Bernier before slipping it five-hole. Because of course. 1-1 tie.
The period ended 1-1. Shots were 9-6 Calgary in the 2nd, 14-13 Flames overall.
Third Period
Some fortunate (unfortunate if you’re on Tank Nation) puck luck for the Leafs under three minutes in. Morgan Rielly does good offensive defenceman things, bringing the puck in deep and sending a pass to Dave Bolland. Bolly tries to get er on net, but a bounce here and there, and it goes in off TJ Brodie. 2-1 Leafs.
And then, oh dear Lord, and then. Mimico, Ontario’s own, David freaking Clarkson, on a breakaway, dekes out Karri Ramo and scores his fifth of the season. God. Damn. 3-1 Leafs.
Oh you thought it was over? HA. We’re not even halfway through the 3rd period. Two minutes before the halfway mark, Kris Russell goes post in on Bernier, cutting the lead to 1. 3-2 Leafs.
Just, blegghhhhhh hockey for the rest of the period. Not abysmal but hockey that makes you go “Oh, come on” when you watch it. Thankfully (Unfortunately?) the Leafs held on to win this one.
The game ended 3-2 Toronto. Shots were 10-10 in the 3rd, 24-23 Calgary overall.
Your Three Stars were Jay McClement, Matt Stajan, and Dave Bolland. You can’t make this stuff up people.
Glove Taps
Glove Tap to The Phil, for taking multiple shots on the feet, then lasering a shot at TJ Brodie’s feet in the name of vengeance.
Glove Tap to David Clarkson. God bless ya you water bottle policin’ bastard.
Glove Tap to Jake Gardiner, 63% CF% tonight, leading the team. Why the hell people don’t like this kid is beyond me.
Glove Tap to Nazem Kadri’s patience. Twelve minutes tonight compared to Jay McClement’s eighteen and a half. Jeez.
Player of the Game
Givin’ er to Clarkson. Because why not? Game-winner. Good for him.
Final Thoughts
Oh yeah, oh yeah! We’re back in the playoff ra… Stop that sentence right there. For the love of god, take off the rose-coloured glasses and look at what just happened. One of the worst teams in the league, and one of the only two (I think) teams that’s younger than us in the NHL. These were two points to be expected. If we didn’t grab these two…. hoo boy. We shouldn’t be parading around that we won this game. Sure, be happy that the losing streak is over, but don’t toot the horn after this. Jeez guys, look where the Flames are in the standings. This game doesn’t drop us right back in the playoff picture damn it, we stumbled drunkenly back into the conversation, knocked over a couple of glasses in the process. If we somehow manage to get into the playoffs, holy smokes is this team going to tumble.
It went down to the wire with the Flames. Do playoff teams, nay, teams fighting for their playoff lives, let the Flames take them down to the wire? No they don’t. They take the lead, manhandle the Flames in the 3rd, and take their damn lunch money in the process. We didn’t. Plain and simple. We have Boston up next. God have mercy on their souls.
Frank on Sports 