Four games in and the first win of the season for these Calgary Flames. There were other ‘firsts’ tonight as well. Matthew Tkachuk scored his first NHL goal to the tie the game late in the 3rd. Chad Johnson, local boy, got his first win as a Flames in net facing his old team. Then there were a lot of ‘same old’ like the abysmal broken powerplay. Everyone who knows anything knows this: Calgary has never had a good PP. Never. Ever. (Ok, maybe we did in the late 80s). So let’s say 30 years ago we had a good PP. Today? Not so much.

As the team continues to learn the system under the coaching staff. It will take a few games, but it still doesn’t account for how terrible the PP is. The PK did its job late in the game, but how many 5v3s do you need to got ever a SHOT on goal? Apparently we still haven’t had enough. Mark Giordano, who’s consistently done one thing this season–get bad penalties while ON the PP–seems to be the most out of place. Without a competent QB on the PP it’s not going to score goals, something the Flames need if they stand a playoff chance.

When Calgary started moving their feet, sometime in that third period, you could see them take over the game. Although they have controlled possession versus opponents, it means little if you can’t score. The first two periods saw the team down 2-1. But with some line juggling including moving Tkachuck to the 4th, and Versteeg to the 4th, the team found pay dirty.

Micheal Ferland with his first of the season off a beauty backhand. Then Tkachuk late off a nice transition snapping one short-side.

OT saw Calgary dominate for the most part. The team with the puck is has the advantage, and you could clearly tell the new system pay off in the OT frame. It’s always a fire-drill for whomever is on D, which translated well into the eventual game winner off of Sean Monahan, who along with Gio and Gaudreau, were mostly silent all night.

Missing in action? Dennis Wideman. He may get into the game against Carolina Thursday. I’m guessing Engelland may come out? But then again, maybe not since his only contribution (Wideman’s) is on the PP.