In Calgary Tuesday night, Mikael Backlund scored his first career post season goal and it was a winner.
The goal gave the Flames a nearly improbable win over the Anaheim Ducks, 4-3, and cut the series deficit in half.
“That was something I’ve been dreaming of, something I’ve told myself before the third period I was going to do,” Backlund said. “I’ve got to go in with that mindset if I want to play well. That’s what I was just trying to tell myself.
“It was an amazing feeling. It’s hard to describe. I didn’t believe it went in at first but when I saw all the reaction and all the fans going crazy and my teammates going crazy, it’s just an unbelievable feeling. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know whether to jump or just skate and do a Theo Fleury. I don’t think I’m the same caliber player he is so I couldn’t do it.”
The game-winner came off a slap shot from the blueline as the Ducks were frantic to defend a delayed penalty but the shot went through a screen and beat Frederik Andersen.
“We usually go [Jiri Hudler] first and if he’s on the ice, the next center,” Backlund said. “[Joe Colborne] was hungry but we looked at each other and he gave me the nod and I jumped on. I just tried to be patient with the puck, not rush anything. We were trying to get something to open and nothing really opened so I figured I would take a step in the middle and punched it and I think it hit their d-man and went in.
“I didn’t believe it went in at first but when I saw all the reaction and all the fans going crazy and my teammates going crazy, it’s just an unbelievable feeling.”
The Ducks still lead the series but the Flames showed the character that served them well through the end of the regular season and the first round with Vancouver.
“We’re playing a good team, there’s no doubt about it,” Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. “They haven’t quit all year, and we didn’t expect that. I didn’t think we played our best game tonight. We made some errors that are uncharacteristic, but it’s bound to happen. You’re in the playoffs and it’s going to happen throughout the run.
“We’re going to go and just get away and have two good days of practice here and get ready for Game 4. We came here to at least steal one, and we’ve got a big task ahead of us now in Game 4.”
The Flames knotted the game at three-all when Johnny Gaudreau scored with 20 seconds left in regulation.
“It’s exciting,” Gaudreau said. “A lot of guys in this locker-room played really hard tonight and I was just happy to help contribute a little bit, get the guys in overtime and [Backlund] got a huge goal there for us.”
Calgary’s resiliency was evident when a game-tying goal was wiped out after video review. Instead of being deflated the team responded with steady pressure until Gaudreau scored.
“There was a lot of leaders stepped up on the bench after that goal didn’t go in,” Gaudreau said. “You could see some of younger guys, including myself, get a little down there. Some of the older guys who have been in a position like this before made sure we kept our heads up and kept battling through.”
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