The Vancouver Canucks played their best game of the series en route to a season-saving 2-1 win in Game 5 against the Calgary Flames.
Flames vs. Canucks, 2015 NHL playoff results: 3 things we learned in Vancouver’s 2-1 win
Vancouver finally found their legs.
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Calgary still leads the series, 3-2.
The Canucks came out of the gates with vigor that pinned the Flames in their own zone and allowed Vancouver to dominate play for two periods. David Jones opened the scoring for Calgary with a goal less than three minutes into the game, but that was all the offense the Flames would muster.
Vancouver amped up the pressure in the second period and finally converted when Nick Bonino tied the game with a wrist shot at 12:40. After two frames, Calgary had been outshot, 34-16.
The deciding moment of the game occurred two minutes into the final frame. A shot from the point by Dan Hamhuis led to a scramble in the crease, and Canucks winger Daniel Sedin scooped in the game-winning goal to stave off elimination for Vancouver.
3 Things We Learned
1. Vancouver tried so hard to get under Jonas Hiller’s skin.
Every game in this series has featured bad blood between the two teams, but on Thursday, the Flames had good reason to be upset with Vancouver. The Canucks worked all game long to get inside Hiller’s head with post-whistle whacks, pokes and shoves. More than usual, to be specific. Credit to Hiller for keeping his cool even if his teammates could hardly withhold their anger at the incursions.
2. The Canucks finally completely dominated a game.
Calgary had their moments, but Game 5 was the first time all series that the game never seemed wholly out of reach for the Canucks at any point. That the Flames were outshot, 34-16, through two periods and still held a 1-1 tie is a great example of how well Hiller played. Vancouver was overwhelming.
3. Calgary couldn’t take advantage of their power plays.
The Flames were given two power plays late in the third period, but failed to do anything with them. In a game where every shot on goal had to count, Calgary couldn’t afford to let opportunities like those man advantages to just slip away.
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