New York. The Calgary Flames probably shouldn’t be counted, after all.
Last night they rallied to perhaps their strongest performance of the season and not only did they get their first win in Las Vegas – they won 7-2.
– At the same time, Winnipeg lost, so now we are again. Of course he feels good, says top scorer Mikael Backlund to Sportbladet.
Well, the Calgary Flames haven’t actually won a single game at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip prior to tonight’s visit.
Most recently they got a point, but before that they had back-to-back losses in regular time.
Few expected to be able to break that streak now, as the Golden Knights have been as hot as lately as the desert sand in their hometown of July while the Flames themselves have been up the pack down the stretch.
But in reality: They made a real breakthrough, beating Section VII by a score of 7-2.
– Yes, we played a really good game and we had the keepers too. We never really got that, but on the other hand, you make your own luck. We didn’t play well enough to get any flow. “We really deserved the win tonight,” says Mikael Backlund when we got him on the player bus afterwards.
Best of all: Nashville and, most importantly, Winnipeg lost at the same time. So the just-condemned Alberta Flames are just three points from the goal line.
– Yes, now we are again. Of course, it feels very good, continues Mikkes.
Also on a power play in the third period he scored his 17th goal of the season – via the stick of Vegas defender Alex Pietrangelo.
– Of course, nice. He was very lucky, but like I said. We deserved luck tonight.
Elias Lindholm and Rasmus Andersson had two assists each and William Karlsson was one for the home team.
