Thrilling Flames-Predators tilt whets appetite for playoff series

NASHVILLE -- What started with a fight between two former carpool pals ended with an overtime winner that saw the Calgary Flames beat their former backup goalie.

In between was a three-hour melodrama that included another heavyweight scrap, more hits than a Nashville concert series, several lead changes and a game-tying goal with 0.1 seconds left in regulation.

As Matthew Tkachuk walked off the ice for a post-game interview Tuesday, the first thing out of his mouth was, “what happened?”

Hours after the game Flames and Nashville Predators fans were wondering the same thing, as one of the most incredible regular-season scripts was flipped endlessly in a 5-4 win for the Flames that easily could have passed as a playoff tilt.

“I’ve got to say, I’ve played over 1,000 games now and that’s probably (one of the) top five games I’ve been a part of, with the goals, the hits, the fights, the emotion, the crowd,” said Milan Lucic of a game filled with more drama, twists and violence than anything at Dutton Ranch.

“It was a great game to be a part of. I think everybody who was here, and watched on TV, got their money’s worth.”

Told there were 74 hits in the game, Tkachuk interjected with a grin, “in the first period?”

It was indeed that opening frame that set the tone with former Predators teammates Erik Gudbranson and Tanner Jeannot squaring off for a heavyweight tilt borne out of an exchange of big hits on one another.

Earlier in the day, when no one could have guessed how raucous things would get, there was Gudbranson speaking glowingly about the youngster who “was his ride for two weeks,” after he was traded to Nashville last season.

Both teams rode the emotion of that battle with a litany of post-whistle scrums that saw Tkachuk and Matt Duchene exchange some nasty stickwork while lining up for a draw, followed by a big-boy tilt between Lucic and Mark Borowiecki.

The tone setting didn’t stop there, nor did the plot twists in a game that saw the Predators clinging to a 4-3 lead when their starting netminder and MVP, Juuse Saros, came up lame and needed help onto the bench and down the tunnel with a left leg ailment of some sort with 6:32 left.

Potentially devastating far beyond Tuesday's drama.

Enter David Rittich, who was a member of the Flames until last season’s trade deadline.

With just 0.1 seconds remaining, and Flames netminder Dan Vladar pulled for an extra attacker, the very first shot on Rittich was a stuff-job by Tkachuk from the side that slid under his pads as the horn sounded.

The Flames, and their fan base, exploded in celebration, not knowing if indeed it would count.

“I couldn’t hear, so I didn’t know if it was in or not,” said Tkachuk, whose 41st was confirmed by video review.

“It was just, ‘what else? What else can happen?”

Lucic intervened with a grin.

“How much more can we get entertained?”

Plenty more.

Two minutes into overtime, Elias Lindholm silenced a Bridgestone Arena crowd we should all hope will witness a rematch in the opening round.

A Dallas shootout win over Vegas 15 minutes later confirmed the Preds had clinched a playoff spot. Nashville is now tied with the Stars at 95 points apiece with two games remaining.

Regardless of who wins that battle to play Calgary, the Flames left Nashville owning the night.

“I think there were a lot more plays that were bigger than (his goal), and Looch was just saying that in there, it didn’t mean as much as it does when it comes to points, but when it comes to the team sticking up for one another and battling for each other that game did so much for us,” said Tkachuk, whose club got its second two-goal game from a surging Dillon Dube.

“Those fights, the goaltending. That game felt like a four-overtime playoff game. That was as good of an atmosphere as I’ve seen in the NHL by a mile, including playoffs.”

There was no update on Saros' status after the game.

The result is a testament to just how well this team has bought into the importance of finishing strong, even though there’s nothing on the line standings-wise for the Pacific Division champs.

“Darryl (Sutter) has been on us about being in playoff mode for the last 10, 15 games and I think that’s what makes him a really good coach and why we’ve had so much success as a team,” said Lucic.

“He prepares us and gets us ready and fired up for every game no matter what.

“I just think we showed a lot of character sticking up for each other and four ourselves and I said it even after the Saturday night game that this game wasn’t going to be one where you’re going through the motions because they’re playing to clinch a playoff spot and it’s a possible first round matchup. If we play them, or don’t play them, whoever we play, it was definitely a playoff-type game.”

This, remember, is the same building in which Tkachuk scored his between-the-legger, one-timer at the buzzer in overtime a few years back, making this place memorable for more than just Tootsie’s.

Yet, all he wanted to do was talk about the process, as opposed to the result, singling out Lucic and Gudbranson for handily winning their respective fights.

“What they did there was huge for our team,” he said.

“What this game did for us to bring us together this time of the year… this game did so much more for us than people would probably expect.

“It’s definitely feeling good.

“That game prepared us for what this next little bit is going to be like.”

Asked if he could handle a seven-game series with the Preds, Tkachuk smiled: "Get the ice packs ready."