In Calgary, the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets broke out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but they could not sustain any momentum from the outburst for the rest of the game as the Flames scored the final three goals of the game, including the extra time winner from TJ Brodie with 11 seconds left in the extra session.
“It’s big,” Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk said. “We haven’t been too good at home. It’s important to get that first win (to start a five-game homestand). To come back after a tough road trip and get some wins, it’s important for us to come and take care of business at home, which we haven’t done as of late. Hopefully we can turn it around.”
Tkachuk tied the game 2-2 with under two minutes left in regulation.
“They were blocking shots everywhere,” Calgary’s Mark Giordano said. “That’s one of the best performances I’ve seen of guys getting in lanes and blocking shots. We were having a hard time from up top getting them through, to be honest. Finally that seam opened up and I saw [Tkachuk] wide open there, and it was nice to finally put one through that got through to the net and went in.”
Cam Talbot made 20 saves to get the win.
Devin Shore and Gustav Nyquist scored in the opening frame for the Jackets.
“It’s disappointing,” the Blue Jackets’ Nick Foligno said. “You have to be greedy this time of year. As much as you’re mad you didn’t get the two points, be happy you came out with at least something but know that we’re going to need two points here going forward in every game and that’s our focus. You can’t be happy with one this time of year. These are the ones that are going to get you in the playoffs. You’re up 2-0, on the road especially, you have to find a way to win it.”
Elias Lindholm scored in the third period to jump start the Flames rally.
[WATCH:Â All Blue Jackets vs. Flames highlights]
Joonas Korpisalo took the loss on 34 saves.
“We had a really good first so we expected a big push-back from them in the second and we did some good stuff, but in the second and third we went a bit on our heels a little bit too much, receiving the game,” Shore said. “They’re a good team over there. They made us pay. We still did some good stuff.
“[Korpisalo] kept us in it at times. He was unbelievable tonight. We’ll take the point and learn from it and expect more of ourselves.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.