Gaudreau, Jagr Lead Flames to Victory over Red Wings

The Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings decided to throw any notion of defensive hockey out the window during the first two periods in a crazy affair. The Flames managed to defend their lead to secure victory in the third.

1st Period: Calgary Flames 2, Detroit Red Wings 0

Detroit would come flying out of the gates and have the Flames on their heels early, but Mike Smith would stand tall on some early Red Wing chances.

Calgary would take the lead halfway through the period with Mark Jankowski scoring his first NHL goal. It came after a shot from Jaromir Jagr hit Jankowski and deflected in, definitely not the most conventional first goal but it counts. Sam Bennett also gets his first point of the season with the goal.

Johnny Gaudreau would make it 2-0 just a few minutes later with a shot off the faceoff that would elude Mrazek with a great screen from Micheal Ferland. Assist to Sean Monahan with the faceoff win. That’s 20 points already for Gaudreau.

Calgary would get a few more chances with Gaudreau leading the way with four shots in the period. That would be it for the opening period with Calgary up 2-0.

2nd Period: Calgary Flames 5, Detroit Red Wings 3

Calgary would capitalize on a bad Detroit turnover with Mikael Backlund intercepting a breakout pass. He’d find Ferland alone in the slot who’d bust in and make a nice move on Mrazek to make it 3-0 Flames.

With Sam Bennett in the box, Detroit would get one back with Martin Frk converting after a great passing play by the Red Wings. No chance for Smith on the goal and it’s 3-1.

After the Red Wings started to take over with momentum from the goal, the 3M line would do what they do best. They’d force a turnover and the puck would find its way back to Brett Kulak.

His shot would be expertly deflected by Matthew Tkachuk past Mrazek. Backlund would get his second assist of the game on the goal. The goal would be briefly looked at for high-sticking, followed by a Red Wing challenge for goalie interference but the goal would stand.

Detroit would get a powerplay which Calgary would kill an in the process Troy Brouwer would get in a fight with Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings would get a goal back with Frans Nielsen beating Smith five-hole after the Flames were caught on a long shift. 4-2 game.

The craziness would continue shortly after with Jaromir Jagr SCORING HIS FIRST GOAL AS A CALGARY FLAME! AAAAH! Brett Kulak would spring Jagr and Gaudreau on a 2-on-1 and it was Gaudreau finding Jagr who would beat Mrazek. Career goal #766 for Jagr. 5-2 Flames.

With 3.3 seconds to go in the period Anthony Mantha would bury a rebound to make it a 5-3 game.

3rd Period: Calgary Flames 6, Detroit Red Wings 3

The first three quarters of the period would see both teams getting powerplays but neither team would convert. The Red Wings would push hard, leading to quite a few chaotic moments in the Flames zone but crisis would be averted.

With two and a half minutes to go the Red Wings would pull their goalie, but Johnny Gaudreau would immediately make them pay with his second goal of the game to make it 6-3. Monahan with an assist on the goal.

That’s how things would finish up as eventually the Flames would shut the door on the Wings who never went away. Mike Smith finished with 39 saves on 42 shots.

Final Thoughts

Well...these are games are certainly more fun to recap than the 2-1 games, but probably aren’t that good for my heart. It was a wild game with nine goals being scored including six in a crazy second period that had momentum shifts at every whistle.

The Flames got their secondary scoring tonight with Jankowski and Jagr burying a pair, Matthew Tkachuk got one, and Johnny continued to be white hot with two goals and an assist. The defence looked a little worrisome at times but Smith closed the door. Calgary got ahead early and never looked back, this team is scary when everything gets going. Calgary is up to 9-7-0 on the year.

Flame(s) of the Game

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Jaromir Jagr and Johnny Gaudreau: I was torn throughout the third period about which one to choose but then I thought, why not both? Both players had outstanding games tonight, combining for five points. Gaudreau set up Jagr’s first goal as a Flame and it was absolutely beautiful.

Gaudreau continues to look like one of the best in the league (sitting 3rd in league scoring at conclusion of the game) while Jagr is proving his doubters wrong as he’s up to four points in seven games and continues to get better. Honourable mention to Brett Kulak for another solid game, he’s playing with a lot of confidence and it shows.

Next Up: St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames on Monday at 7:00pm MT