Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets both needed a win with the two teams getting together Thursday night in Columbus. Alex Tanguay scored a minute into overtime to give Calgary a 4-3 win and some much-needed confidence.
Tanguay had to step up for a team that is missing their lead goalkeeper in Miikka Kiprusoff, and Tanguay’s fourth goal of the season provided the boost that the Flames needed. Columbus is now left wondering what might have been.
The Blue Jackets had 29 shots on goal but had only 17 of those after the first period. That will not work for a Columbus team that needs wins to stay in the playoff chase in the Western Conference. Tanguay is proving that age is no factor as at age 33, as he is playing some of the best hockey of his career. A big positive in this win is that the Flames didn’t give up on the road even after trailing through one period, and Calgary will need to keep doing that with Kiprusoff out.
The Blue Jackets need to figure out another problem as well in their attendance. The game drew just over 10,000 fans which made the Nationwide Arena look like a ghost town. Columbus needs more fans to show up for their games or there will be a point where the other teams in the National Hockey League get tired of dealing with it and want to contract the team. The effects of trading Rick Nash continue to trickle down for Columbus.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.
