Columbus Blue Jackets @ Calgary Flames: 1/23/23

Period 1 of this game would be a stalemate until 16:18 when Flames W. Duehr would score. This would be the first and only goal of this opening period, giving us a 1-0 Flames lead heading into Period 2.

N. Kadri would score just 1:32 into this second period. Some 5th Line fans were likely cringing at this point, wanting a sold showing for Johnny Gaudreau's first return to Calgary after singing with us. I had this hope too, but I wouldn't become hopeless on my team in Period 2! No way. At 9:04, Kirill Marchenk scored his tenth goal of his first NHL Season. The primary assist would mark number thirty-two for Johnny Gaudreau, while the second would add number thirteen to Patrik Laine's total. Then, presto, with another goal at 9:53, Patrik Laine would complete the comeback with the thirteenth goal of his season! Johnny Gaudreau would go up to thirty-three assists, with the primary on Laine's goal. Andrew Peeke would pick up the secondary, giving him a four-assist total. This tie would hold until  A. Mangiapane scored. 3-2 Flames lead after a tight and exciting Period 2.  (Fun fact: our goals this period were on the Power Play!)  Also, there was a fight between Olivier and Lucic.  No one was given a considerable penalty, so it's a footnote tonight.     

Period 3 would start out with a bang, a cannon bang! Captain Boone Jenner would again tie the game, this time at three, with his thirteenth goal of the season at 4:34. Patrik Laine would add his second assist of the evening, giving him fourteen this season so far. The secondary assist would go to another returning Flames player we signed in the off-season, Erik Gudbranson, the eighth of his first Blue Jackets season.  This tie from Boone Jenner would hold up for the rest of the regulation, resulting in Overtime!  (I mean, we did start at 9:30PM here in the states, but who turns down extra hockey, right?)

Unfortunately, this extra time wouldn't end with a different point for us.  D. Dube would score at 2:25 into the Overtime period.  Maybe, there were a few questionable incidents that weren't called, which would've helped us and continued this Overtime...but 4-3 is how it ends.

Johnny Gaudreau would be Star Two in a Flames sandwich tonight, as their team had Stars One and Three.  Johnny had a 0-3-0 night.  So, a good night for returning to a team you spent roughly a dozen seasons with along the organization, nine on the NHL Flames ice.  

Huge congrats to Korpisalo, who held the net all night and had his highest save total of 44 in his career on the Flames' 49 end-total shots.  To those wondering, we ended with 25.  

Our next game will be Wednesday, January 25th, at the Edmonton Oilers.  This game will be at 9:30 PM State time and the late game on TNT.  So, if you couldn't see tonight's game, your odds are good for Wednesday!  Until then, we got a point!  

Go CBJ!