Game Recap: Calgary Flames Host Dallas Stars, Take Shootout Win Over Seguin And Sharp

This roller coaster season just doesn't get easier. When they're hot, they're hot. And when they're not, they're really not. Tonight, those ever-loveable even-through-the-losses Flames stole the show in one period. Scratches tonight included Deryk Engelland, Brandon Bollig, and Josh Jooris. Lance Bouma is still on the injured list, but, according to Roger Millions, he's been working out.

Word is Lance Bouma started to workout by himself as he rehabs a broken fibula. It’s been 7 weeks. Was expected to miss 3 months #Flames

— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) December 2, 2015

Tonight's game started quickly. Less than 2 minutes into the game, the Stars opened the scoring. The rest of the period was time ticking away as the Flames kept trying to clear their zone. Mason Raymond, Sam Bennett, and Joe Colborne were the strongest players during the opening frame but they still couldn't bury the puck in spite of their efforts. Dallas scored again to end the period with a 2-0 lead.

After the Stars killed off their penalty and the Flames killed off theirs, momentum shifted as the Flames had a few chances on net. 5 times the home team hit the post, 0 times the puck actually went in. It sparked some effort from the Flames and they continued to put pressure on Niemi. No goals for the Flames that period, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. Joe Colborne and Dougie Hamilton seemed to work well together. They set each other up, took shots on net, and seemed to have chemistry that the team has been lacking this season. It wasn't a terrible period for the Flames, but another Stars goal put the home team down by 3 going into the third.

Now, I don't know what was said or done during the second intermission, but whatever it was, KEEP DOING IT! The Flames came out swinging in the beginning of the third period and didn't let up. Less than two minutes in, Mason Raymond won a face-off that led to a Mikael Backlund goal and put the Flames back in the game. Just over a minute later, Johnny Gaudreau got in the action and netted another one for the home team, and the Flames were within one goal. The effort, emotion, and collective vision on the team shifted and I saw that hunger for a win that made them Calgary's heroes last season. They weren't done yet. With just over two minutes left in regulation, Dougie Hamilton finally got the goal he had been trying for all game long and tied the game to force overtime.

Overtime solved nothing even after Jiri Hudler took a questionable holding penalty. Onto the shootout. Joe Colborne scored first, and Seguin couldn't match it. Johnny Gaudreau buried his as well, and then Sharp scored for Dallas. It all came down to Sean Monahan who scored and skated away like it was just another day at the office. The Flames won with a score of 4-3.

In spite of the slow start and the sluggish appearance in the first period, the Flames showed up to win in 20 minutes and a shootout. The last period of the game was focused, emotional, and hungry hockey that the Flames have needed all season. The chemistry was there, the plays were made, and the players looked like a team instead of a lot of individual talent. They came together and worked hard to bring back the Comeback Kids from last season. THAT is what has been missing this season and I hope to see more of it.

Flame Of The Game

Dougie Hamilton. After a heart-breaking 40 minutes for him when he played hard, had shots on net, and played better than he has all season, he finally notched a goal in the third period to tie the game and force overtime. There's been very little love for this blue-line defender, but I think he's about to show people that he's worth all the hype.

Go Flames Go!

by Traci Kay