The Avs opened with an unsuccessful power play and from then on it was mostly Flames. It seemed like whenever Colorado go the puck out of their own zone they turned it over or settled for a weak shot from the point.
Both teams have a shot that hits the post in the first period. With 9 minutes to go, the Flames have a wraparound attempt that looks like they should score on. Varlamov ends up doing a snow angel and the puck is sitting there near the line for a second, but no goal.
With 20 seconds to go in the first, there's a loose puck and Duchene finds it. He fires a backhand shot that gets saved and then uses some nifty hands to score with his body all the way behind the goal line.
It's only his second of the year and the Avs take the 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Here's a picture of the view from our seats:
In the 2nd period, the puck is deep in the Flames zone and they make a nifty pass along the boards to create a two on one. Tyson Barrie tries to hedge his bets by staying in the middle but the shooter never has to make a pass. Easy shot and score. 1-1.
On a Calgary power play, a Flame crashes the net and tips the puck toward goal. He careens into the net knocking it off the moorings a split-second before the puck crosses the goal line. We go to video review and the call is confirmed: no goal.
Soon after Barrie fires it toward the net and Iginla tips it in for a 2-1 lead.
Shortly after, there's another two on one for Calgary. This time the defender goes down, forcing the shooter wide. He gets off a decent shot and it's seemingly stopped under Varly's pads but no one knows where it is. A few seconds later, a Flame comes in and pokes at the pad. We never see the puck but it goes to a video review. For all I know it trickled across. But they confirm: no goal.
After that close call, Calgary goes on the power play again. But the Avs set up shop in their zone and Erik Johnson fires a slapshot. The goalie is screened and the Avs get a shorthanded goal. 3-1 and we're going nuts.
Just before the end of the 2nd, Calgary scores on a wraparound, a play that's been there all day for them.
3-2 Avs after two. During the intermission, Johnson gives an interview talking about how they need to learn from previous games mistakes where they've given up leads in the 3rd. I think this is pretty fun and make a few jokes about them being in a good spot because they've blown so many leads before.
Early in the third, the Flames shoot and Varly saves it, bouncing high and just over the top of the crossbar, landing on top of the net. Yet another close call.
With 12 to go in the game, a Flames shot from the point trickles through and it's 3-3 to the surprise of no one. As I always say when this happens, "on the bright side, we're going to see at least on more goal tonight."
With 7 minutes to go, Iginla makes a nice play in the zone to gain control of the puck. He's at an angle and I see an Av in the slot. Turns out it's MacKinnon. I scream out, "It's right there!" As I'm doing that, Iginla passes it to Mac and he shoots it. The puck hits the back of the net just as I finish saying it.
Great moment. Avs up 4-3 with 7 to go. Tommy and I joke around that Colorado scored way too quickly, way too much time to give up the equalizer now.
Right after the goal, Calgary trips a Colorado player. The Avs go back on the power play, I'm thinking there will be just 4 minutes left to kill after the power play is over. But instead Beauchemin puts it on net and Duchene tips it in. Power play goal and it's 5-3. Holy crap.
With 3 minutes left Calgary pulls the goalie and the Avs fling it down the ice. In a play reminiscent of the first playoff win I saw, the puck is sliding down and the defenseman is giving chase. This time he doesn't get there in time, but it hits the post. Instead of clearing it, he kinda parks in front of the goal and it's an easy put back for Iginla. 6-3 on the empty netter.
Great game with a ton of close calls. Calgary really could have scored 7 or 8. But hey, they didn't. Calgary was the opponent in the first game I ever attended but they won that time. Not tonight.
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