Matt Stajan celebrates his 2nd goal. (Photo: CP, Jeff McIntosh)
Alex Tanguay scored a highlight reel goal early in the first period to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. It was a Datsyukian breakaway goal, complete with a Gretzky-worthy deke, a slow fade to the left and a laser into the top of the net over a sprawled Niklas Backlund. The goal was one that needs supporting video evidence to explain how sweet it truly was. Your honour, I present the following:
The highpoint of the game for Minnesota fans was when rookie Charlie Coyle scored his first-ever NHL goal off a nice feed from Pierre-Marc Bouchard. His goal tied the game, which remained deadlocked at 1-1 until Stajan scored the eventual game-winner late in the 3rd.
Stajan’s first goal could be considered “gritty”. After Chris Butler fired a shot on net from the point, it was deflected by Jarome Iginla and a scramble around the net followed. Stajan was in the right place at the right side of the net and after a couple whacks, the puck found its way into the net.
Stajan’s 2nd of the night came into the empty net at 19:51 of the 3rd and sealed the win for the Flames, who desperately need points now. It was Stajan’s first 2-goal game since Dec. 12, 2009, but he downplayed the personal moment in favour of a team-oriented outlook.
“It seems like a while since I’ve had two in a game, but I’ll take it,” Stajan said. “That’s a big win. It doesn’t matter about personal stuff right now. We need to find ways to win and if we’re winning games, it benefits everybody in here.”
The Flames get right back at it tonight, hosting the Phoenix Coyotes at the ‘Dome. Puck drop is at 6pm.
Greg is the founder of Red Mile Blog has been following the Flames through good times and bad since they arrived in Calgary in the early 80s. He has written hundreds of articles on the Flames since 2005 and considers himself an expert on hockey inconsistency and frustration. He shoots right and usually plays defence, but has been known to jump up in the rush. He is a 2-time CAHL men's league champion and knows the sweet taste of beer from a Cup.
