The Calgary Flames employed the quick-strike offence on Friday, completing a comeback victory over the visiting New York Islanders.
With eight rookies in the lineup, the Flames scored three times - including two from Joe Colborne - in just over four minutes late in the third period for a 4-3 win over the Islanders.
The win comes on a very special night for the Flames organization. One of the franchise’s greats, Joe Nieuwendyk, had his No. 25 raised to the rafters at Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames, winners of their last two games and three of their last four, are now only nine points back of the struggling Vancouver Canucks, who have slipped to 11th in the Western Conference. The two teams meet on Saturday in Vancouver. Their last meeting in January produced a line brawl off the opening faceoff and Vancouver’s head coach John Tortorella later tried to storm the Flames’ dressing room during the intermission.
Meanwhile, for the Islanders, another lead slipped away. It’s been a problem for them all season, as per Arthur Staple of Long Island Newsday.
#Isles have had a 2-goal lead or more 24 times this season. Have given it away 14 times.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) March 8, 2014