Karri Ramo hadn't started a game in over a month. He hadn't won a game in over two months. Yet the back-up goaltender stepped in and delivered a clutch performance for Calgary on Saturday night.
Ramo made 28 saves and Sean Monahan scored his team-leading 18th and 19th goals to lead the Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in a key Western Conference game.
"It was one of my best games in this building this year," said Ramo, who improves his record to 9-5-1. " It didn't feel like it had been quite a while. I didn't feel rusty."
In Ramo's last start on Jan. 7, he was injured in a collision in the second period and ended up sidelined for two weeks. Since his return, Jonas Hiller had been red-hot, making eight straight starts.
"I had no doubt in my mind that he would be ready. We played him twice in the last couple of weeks coming in relief of Hills, and it was by design," said Flames coach Bob Hartley. "Hills had done nothing bad, but Rams hasn't played a lot since the first of December and we needed to get him time.
"He was outstanding."
On a night when a loss would have dropped Calgary out of a playoff spot, the Flames instead pull even with the Canucks— although Vancouver holds a game in hand.
"When the game was on the line, (Ramo) made the save that they needed," said Canucks winger Jannik Hansen. "We had four or five really good scoring chances. You can't really ask for more than that. If you don't score, that's your own fault."
Lance Bouma broke a 2-2 tie at 1:41 of the third period, firing a shot inside the goal post for his 10th goal.
"Every game is so important and every shift is so important," said Bouma. "Guys were sacrificing the body and doing whatever it takes. That's what it's going to take from here on in."
It's been a breakout season offensively for Bouma, who entered the year with six goals in 121 career games.
Calgary (31-22-3) holds the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Vancouver (31-21-3), who got goals from rookies Ronalds Kenins and Linden Vey, sit third in the Pacific Division.
The Canucks lost defenceman Alex Edler in the second period with an upper-body injury.
"He's been our MVP, he logs so many big minutes," said Canucks right-winger Alex Burrows. "He's important for our hockey team and it was tough to see him go out tonight."
Canucks Coach Willie Desjardins said Edler would be re-evaluated on Sunday.
Monahan tied the score 1-1 at 6:48 of the second period after Kenins gave Vancouver the lead.
Johnny Gaudreau was stopped on a breakaway but as the puck froze near the goal-line, Monahan raced in and poked it over while being pushed into the net. Video review confirmed the puck crossed the line before the net came off its flexible peg.
Monahan put the Flames ahead five minutes later, neatly finishing off a give-and-go with Jiri Hudler.
"In the first, I had quite a few chances and when you're getting chances like that, you're kinda feeling it and want the puck on your stick," said Monahan.
Vey tied it at 17:43 of the second.
Ryan Miller had 31 stops for Vancouver. His record falls to 26-15-1.
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