On the 21st anniversary of one of their biggest Flame comebacks, the current squad staged an even bigger one.

On March 12, 1986, the Flames fell behind 4-0 in the first period against Buffalo coming back to win, 10-4 with rookie Joe Nieuwendyk getting his 50th goal of the ’87-88 season.

Thursday, in Detroit, against the Stanley Cup champs, the comeback was from 3 goals but much more dramatic.

How could a team get out-shot 28-4 in the 1st period setting a club record for shots against, win?

Or, how could a team behind 4-1 against a club that hadn’t lost a game taking a lead into the 3rd period, win?

How could a team behind 3 goals, out-shoot the opponent 11-0 over the first 16 minutes of the 3rd period and not score, win?

How could a team after the taking the lead with 3 goals in 2:02 and then allow a goal on the first shot against in the 3rd period to have the game tied again, win?

How could a team blow a 1-goal lead in the last minute go to OT against the highest scoring NHL, and win?

How could a team with a so-so shootout record go to a shootout against a team with 6 shootout successes in 8 outings, win?
Despite all of  this the Flames won because they refused to succumb to any of the adversity including being shorthanded 6 times in the first including down 2 players for 4:45 in the first period.

Miikka Kiprusoff saved the game in the first period and the shootout. Ollie Jokkinen got 2 goals in regulation and won the shootout.
Unheralded Jamie Lundmark scored 2 goals in the late-game rally.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 13th, 2009 at 7:32 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.