Flames rally in 3rd period to upend Canucks in Game 1
Kris Russell scored the winner in the final minute as the Calgary Flames defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on the road after trailing through two periods in Game 1 on Wednesday.
Star Performer: Jonas Hiller made 29 saves - including 13 in the first period and 13 in the third - to give Calgary a chance at stealing home-ice advantage. Wednesday was Hiller's first playoff start for the Flames after appearing in 26 postseason contests with the Anaheim Ducks.
Turning Point: The Flames were behind until David Jones fired a wrist shot from the slot that beat Eddie Lack to the glove side, tying the game 7:59 into the third period. The goal appeared to energize Calgary, who produced better chances down the stretch.
Goalie Comparison: Lack and Hiller were fairly evenly matched, but Hiller's one extra save made all the difference.
| Goalie | Shots | GA | Saves | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiller | 30 | 1 | 29 | .967 |
| Lack | 30 | 2 | 28 | .933 |
Top Highlight: Hiller stood tall all game, but he was at his most poised in the third period. He maintained positioning to stop a hard shot by Chris Tanev after a scoring chance on a rush, keeping Calgary within a goal.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
Stat of the night: Calgary finished the regular season tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the league lead with 99 third-period goals and continued that trend in Game 1. Including Wednesday, the Flames are 11-20-4 when trailing after two periods.
Series at a glance:
Game 1: Flames 2, Canucks 1
Game 2: Friday, April 17, 10 pm ET
Game 3: Sunday, April 19, 10 pm ET
Game 4: Tuesday, April 21, 10 pm ET
Game 5*: Thursday, April 23, TBA
Game 6*: Saturday, April 25, TBA
Game 7*: Monday, April 27, TBA
*If necessary