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 The Calgary Flames pulled another rabbit out of the hat Thursday,
tying the game with 1:17 remaining before sophomore center Sean
Monahan scored in the extra session en route to a 4-3 overtime
triumph over the Colorado Avalanche.
It's the sixth time already this season the Flames have managed a
victory despite trailing after 40 minutes.
"It's funny, when we come back in the third periods and in hectic
games like this and OT games like this, we look at the bench and
just kind of smile to each other," said Flames alternate captain
Curtis Glencross, who had a goal and an assist against the
Avalanche.
"You have to take them while you can. ... Teams in this league are
too good and they usually don't give up leads in the third period,
but we've found a way this year to do it. You have to give the whole
room credit for it."
Defenseman Dennis Wideman scored twice Thursday for the Flames
(17-8-2), including the equalizer with the goalie pulled for an
extra attacker late in the third period.
 Monahan finished the job at 1:47 of the overtime period. His initial
shot was stopped, but he pulled the puck away from the pads of
Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov and buried his second game-winning
goal of the season.
The Flames have now rattled off four straight victories. Thursday's
win also marked No. 400 for Calgary's head coach Bob Hartley, who
was awarded the fire helmet that is presented to the Flames player
of the game after every triumph.
"To be honest with you, I think I have no business to have this
prestigious fire helmet," Hartley said. "I told the players that I
really respected the fact that they presented me with the helmet,
but I told them that I'm ready to trade that helmet to see them in
the playoffs. I think tonight we saw another great moment in our
season."
Another great comeback, too.
The Flames now have a 6-7-0 record when they fall behind after two
periods. They lead the NHL in that category.
"It will not always work," Hartley said. "But the thing is that we
have the feel that we can do it. We have the feel that something
special can happen. There's excitement. This is one of the most
exciting buildings right now to be in. Fans are staying with us,
they believe in us, and I think it really helps us."
Suddenly, fans in Calgary are wondering if a playoff spot really is
a possibility. Thanks to Thursday's overtime triumph, the Flames
remain just one point out of top spot in the NHL's Western
Conference.
The Avalanche, meanwhile, are in sixth in the Central Division with
a 9-11-6 record.
"It stings for us," said Avalanche right winger Jarome Iginla, who
spent 16 seasons with the Flames. "And, obviously, a big win for
them."
Center Matt Duchene and Nick Holden, a defenseman who was working as
a fourth-line forward in Calgary, scored in a 58-second span
Thursday to give Colorado a 2-1 lead after two periods.
After Glencross tied it up with a top-shelf shot just 1:14 into the
final period, Avalanche left winger Alex Tanguay danced around
Flames defenseman Kris Russell and then deked goalie Karri Ramo for
the go-ahead goal.
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Turns out, that was just setting the stage for another comeback.
With 77 seconds left on the clock, Wideman wired a shot through
traffic to send the game to overtime.
"We had the lead 3-2 late in the third period. Unacceptable,"
Tanguay said. "We've got 12 losses, and probably six or seven of
them are like this. We keep finding ways to not win games. It's very
disappointing. It's very frustrating. There is still time, but we're
a little way back of the playoffs now and we need to get points on a
consistent basis and stop losing the one-goal games."
After a scoreless opening period, Wideman struck first for the
Flames, driving to the net and knocking left winger Johnny
Gaudreau's pass out of the air for a power-play goal at the 2:23
mark of the middle period.
The Avalanche would find the back of the net at 13:23 of the second
period, with right winger Ryan O'Reilly setting up Duchene on an
odd-man rush. Just 58 seconds later, defenseman Zach Redmond fired a
pass into a crowd in front of Calgary's net, and the puck hit
Holden's skate and bounced in for the 2-1 advantage. Avalanche
center Michael Sgarbossa earned his first NHL point with an assist.
Ramo made 26 saves for the Flames, while Varlamov made 21 stops.
NOTES: For Avalanche RW Jarome Iginla, Thursday marked only his
second visit to Calgary since he was traded away by the Flames on
March 27, 2013. Iginla spent 16 seasons with the Flames -- including
a lengthy stint as captain -- and is Calgary's franchise
record-holder in games played (1,219), goals (525) and points
(1,095). The 37-year-old Iginla signed a three-year contract with
the Avalanche this summer ... The injury-riddled Avalanche finally
got some good news, with G Semyon Varlamov returning after missing
six games due to a groin issue. LW Patrick Bordeleau (back), C
Marc-Andre Cliche (oblique), RW Dennis Everberg (shoulder), LW Jamie
McGinn (back), C John Mitchell (leg), D Brad Stuart (hamstring), C
Ben Street (hand), D Ryan Wilson (shoulder) and C Jesse Winchester
(head) remain out for Colorado ... Flames C Matt Stajan is ready to
return after missing 15 games with a knee injury, but he did not
play Thursday against the Avalanche. C Mikael Backlund (abdomen), RW
Joe Colborne (wrist) and LW Mason Raymond (shoulder) remain on
Calgary's injured list.
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