NHL scores 2016: Sean Monahan survives boring moment to lead Flames into playoff race

You guys know about Sean Monahan, right?

I’m sure that name is familia—no, not that Sean Monahan. Not the 22-year-old center for the Calgary Flames who scores goals a lot and is also pretty good defensively. Not him.

I’m talking about this Sean Monahan.

That Sean Monahan is hilarious. But he rarely shows up on the ice; the real Monahan is a pretty great shooter and relied upon heavily while the Flames await Johnny Gaudreau’s return from injury later this season.

So imagine everyone’s surprise on Friday when the Flames had a 4-on-3 power play in overtime against the Minnesota Wild and Boring Sean Monahan appeared out of nowhere.

When you pick your jaw up off the floor, look at this.

This is the unthinkable: the brief moment in time when Boring Sean Monahan transcends the ethereal state of “Twitter concept” and emerges as a living, breathing spirit within the real Sean Monahan.

Luckily, it appears that the real Sean Monahan survived this encounter. He scored the game-winner in the shootout, propelling the Flames to a playoff spot for the first time all season.

But now that we know that plane of existence can be crossed, hockey fans must remain vigilant.

Flames 3, Wild 2 (SO)

Sharks 2, Canadiens 1

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1. Brent Burns attaches a JUGS machine to his stick before every game

Burns entered the night leading the league with 99 shots on goal in just 24 games.

By the end of the first period in the 25th game, it seemed like he was on the cusp of history.

Burns launched six shots on the Canadiens’ net in the first frame. For perspective, Patrick Marleau holds the Sharks record for shots in one game with 12 SOG. Ray Bourque set the NHL record at 19 back in 1991. For a moment there, we believed Burns would break it. And why not? He’s a super weapon defenseman at this point.

Well ... not quite. He only recorded one SOG in the second period, effectively killing the dream. But here’s a prediction nobody will remember: Brent Burns will break that Ray Bourque record before he retires. Mark it down. Or don’t, and let this fade into history.

2. Overtime sucks in Calgary without Johnny Gaudreau

It’s so tension-less. Like sitting on the edge of your seat because you’re falling asleep and about to fall off. Like opting to ride the lazy river instead of the roller coaster. Like listening to an audiobook narrated by Ben Stein while surfing.

Come back, Johnny.

3. Carey Price is lightning-quick

It’s hard to describe, so just watch:

That scoring chance came into existence and reached Price in the span of maybe two seconds. If we’re rounding up generously. And Price swatted it aside like a fly buzzing around his head as he tried to finish a novel or something. Unreal.

Matthew Tkachuk is a heady player.

At this point, Mikkel Boedker is making more destructive impacts for the Sharks than constructive ones.