SNAPSHOTS: Flames triumph in overtime in Anaheim

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ANAHEIM — The Calgary Flames hit the street on a mission. 

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They hit the NHL’s vacation break in a playoff spot, undertaking the purpose that they’d talked about again and again for the previous week. 

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The Flames climbed into the elite eight in the Western Conference with Friday’s 3-2 overtime triumph towards the Anaheim Ducks, the capper on a profitable California sojourn. 

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“We talked about it — have a good road-trip, which we did,” mentioned Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson, who picked the highest shelf in sudden-death. “To come out with three out of four wins and seven of eight points, it’s a good trip. Now, we build and we keep going.”

First, although, they calm down for a couple of days, discover out what’s wrapped up beneath the tree, maybe take pleasure in a splash of eggnog. 

They’ll return to the rink for Tuesday’s tangle with the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), the squad they only leapfrogged to tug into the second wildcard slot. 

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“You know what? This has been a grind for our team,” mentioned Flames coach Darryl Sutter previous to a late-night flight house from Anaheim. “So I don’t know about a springboard. They need a break and tonight was just about digging down there a little bit.”

Michael Stone opened Friday’s scoring on a howitzer — this man may hearth a puck proper by means of grandma’s fruit cake — and the Flames capitalized on a bit of excellent fortune for his or her different regulation strike. A second-period clearing try by the Ducks plunked referee Trevor Hanson on the leg and Trevor Lewis scooped up the free puck and dished to Brett Ritchie, who deposited a backhander from the slot. 

The Ducks did all of their offensive harm on the power-play — a back-door one-timer from Mason McTavish throughout a stretch of five-on-three after which a blocker-side bury by Jakob Silfverberg. 

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The Flames haven’t had a complete lot of success in bonus time, however Andersson ensured that they wound up on the smiling aspect of this one. His shot was an absolute magnificence. 

What was mentioned through the celebration?

“Merry Christmas,” grinned Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom. 

Very merry. 

They made positive of it with back-to-back wins in San Jose, a single level in Los Angeles after which what Ritchie described as “a pretty greasy win” in Anaheim, a reference to the very fact it didn’t should be this shut after they’d racked up 45 pictures on internet. 

“We stuck with it throughout the games, whether we had good bounces or bad bounces,” Ritchie mentioned, summarizing this four-game getaway. “Last night (in Los Angeles), we gave up two early ones in the third and we easily could have caved. I think that’s what was missing early on in the year, that ability to stick with it. You’re never out of it until it’s over.”

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The chase for playoff spots is way from over, however the Flames (16-12-7) achieved their mission previous to this explicit mileage marker. 

“Obviously, we’ve been through some stretches where we haven’t been playing as good as we wanted to,” mentioned Markstrom, now victorious in three straight begins. “But we’re also having stretches where we play really good hockey, and we have to build on that. It’s going to be nice now to have a few days with the family and relax and get away for a bit, and then come back ready.”

AROUND THE BOARDS 

Markstrom delivered a 21-save efficiency at Honda Center. He should have been bored in the center body, when the shot depend was 23-1 in favour of the out-of-town company … The Flames are actually 3-7 in video games that stay undecided after 60 minutes … Andersson’s last stat-line in Anaheim — 4 pictures on internet, 4 blocked pictures and the overtime winner in 27:37 of icetime. “It changes quick, right?” he mentioned afterward. “Yesterday, I made a horrendous play on the overtime goal in L.A. I let them play tic-tac-toe around me and they scored. Today, I scored but yesterday was probably my fault that they scored, so it goes both ways” … With about 10 ticks left in regulation, Flames defenceman Chris Tanev hit the deck for an important shot-block on Silfverberg … Washington Capitals famous person Alex Ovechkin tallied twice Friday, climbing previous Gordie Howe on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring charts. With 802 profession notches, the 37-year-old Ovechkin now trails solely Wayne Gretzky, who sniped 894. Can the Great 8 in the end swipe this document from the Great One? “I hope so,” replied Flames rearguard Nikita Zadorov when requested concerning the fellow Russian. “That would be cool to see.” Zadorov was 10 when Ovechkin debuted with the Capitals and remembers marvelling on the spotlight footage. “Right now, you could call his goals boring — all from that one spot,” Zadorov cracked. “But when he was young, he was killing guys on the forecheck. He would come from the left wing, put it between his legs, he would go around the defencemen all the time, lots of different goals.” Lots of objectives, interval. 

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OFF THE GLASS 

Flames assistant common supervisor Chris Snow is house for the vacations. His spouse, Kelsie, shared that terrific information Friday on Twitter, full with a photograph of Chris wrapped up in a hug from their two children. The Snows have been an inspiration to many as Chris continues his battle with ALS. “We got our Christmas miracle,” Kelsie posted. “After two weeks in hospital and two times on life support, Chris is home” … Happy holidays, C of Red. If you want a hockey repair earlier than Tuesday’s Battle of Alberta, a few Calgary’s prospects — Finland’s Topi Ronni and Sweden’s William Stromgren — shall be in motion on Boxing Day on the world juniors … Need a Christmas want for these Flames? How a few purpose for blue-liner MacKenzie Weegar, nonetheless taking pictures for his first on behalf of his new membership? How about some credit score for Lewis, who has quietly been among the many most constant performers all season? How about one other alternative for ahead call-up Matthew Phillips, who has been scratched for six straight video games?

wgilbertson@postmedia.com 

Twitter.com/WesGilbertson