Calgary Flames drop Game 3, 6-2 to Colorado Avalanche.

Read Game 3 Preview here

Mike Smith in net for Calgary Flames. Phillip Grubauer for Colorado Avalanche.

1st Period

Sean Monahan and Nathan MacKinnon face/off to start the game – Avs take possession before the whistle blows. The Flames come in hot with Hathaway-Mangiapane-Ryan crashing the net early. Hanafin getting a laser shot away from a Lindholm pass at 16:08 clock. On that same play Avs Ian Cole takes a cross-checking on Monahan.

Flames don’t score on the PP – Mikael Backlund hitting the post, Gaudreau’s shot deflected away by Grubauer, and Tkachuk not able to bat the rebound in.

The Flames find themselves down 2 men as they’re caught with too many men on the ice, and Oscar Fantenberg takes a hooking call. Mike Smith makes a couple of big saves on Tyson Barrie, but unable to stop the 5th shot the Avs took on him during the PP – Mackinnon scores on the Avs 2-man advantage as Landeskog screens Smith.

Nathan Mackinnon gets his 2nd PP goal of the game 5 minutes after his first – this time Flames Garnet Hathaway was off for holding – Avs first line taking full advantage.

The score is 2-0 the Avs leading with 4:20 left to play in the first period. Shots are 6 for Calgary, 16 for Colorado. PIM 6 for Calgary, 2 for Colorado.

Doesn’t take long for Mackinnon to share the wealth – feeds the new kid Cale Maker to make it 3-0 Avs.

2nd Period

The Flames start out flat footed – Tkachuk loses a skate to start the 2nd. Ian Cole converts one of his two short-hand rushes into an assist – Matt Nieto scoring the Avs 4th goal on Cole’s shot rebound. Smith left in crying snow angel position.

The Flames gets a glimmer of hope with a PP goal 43 seconds later going in off of Sam Bennett’s skate, Rasmus Andersson with the assist.

The score is 4-1 for the Avs half way into the game. Shots are 33 for Avs, 13 for Flames.

No mercy from Mikko Rantanen (G) – Avs up 5-1 as the Flames are caught on the other end of a 5-on-3. TJ Brodie coughing it up to Colin Wilson (A) for the Avs speed burst.

4-on-4 for a minute and half – Smith making a huge glove save, followed by a butterfly pad save. Flames with a 5-on-3 PP with Gaudreau getting tripped up with 6.4 left to play in the 2nd.

The score is 5-1 at the end of the 2nd. Shots 41 Avs, 20 Flames. PIM 8 Avs, 10 Flames.

Last 20 minutes

The Flames start the 3rd period with a 4-on-3 power play, time running out and Avs making it 6-1 with a 4-on-4 goal by Erik Johnsson.

Brodie answering 15 seconds later with a tip in, stick side, on Hanafin’s shot making it 6-2, the Flames trailing by 4.

Not long after Brodie coughs up the puck again – no clue who he’s passing to in the neutral zone, he’s not dumping the puck .. Gaudreau with little urgency as Tyson Jost skates past him for his best chance this playoffs – the Flames taking a penalty on the play. Avs top line cycling, Smith making 3 saves.

The shots are 47-21 in favour of the Avs. Flames with double the PIM 24, Avs 12 PIM.

Giordano gets his second shot of the game on the Flames PP with a 6-2 score. Sam Bennett stepping in for his Captain, gets tangled up with Calvert – both players go off for Roughing (2 mins) and Misconduct (10 mins), Benny with the extra glove jab on Calvert.

Soon to be accompanied by Tkachuk who also takes a Roughing and Misconduct on Gabriel Landeskog who takes a 2 min Roughing penalty. The Avs go on another power play with 9 mins left to play in the game.

The Calgary Flames glad that it’s over. Smith getting bombarded with 56 shots by the Avalanche. Colorado now leading the round 1 playoff series 2-1.

Final SOG 56 Avs, 29 Flames. PIM 26 Avs, 48 Flames.

Will Mike Smith get a rest after facing all those shots – Who wants to see Rittich get a try in Game 4? And when will the Flames top line show up?

Avalanche top line each registering 6 SOG, total of 18 – 3 turning into goals (2 G, 3pts Mackinnon, 1 G, 2pts Rantanen).

Calgary Flames get a chance to redeem themselves on Wednesday, April 17th in Denver, Colorado at 8pm MT.

by Renu Sahota