CALGARY – Jonathan Huberdeau’s spin-o-rama for the winner was a treat, as was the rocket launcher used by Matt Coronato to score once and set up the decider.
But when the clock ran out on the hulking Los Angeles Kings Saturday night, there were two pint-sized Flames who played the biggest roles in the host’s win.
Dustin Wolf’s ability to throw his 166-pound body in front of 11 shots in the first four minutes held the fort until Ryan Lomberg swung the momentum by putting his five-foot-nine frame in harm’s way for his third two-fight night.
Both their legends grew a foot taller in a 2-1 win that put the Flames just one point out of a playoff spot at the season’s midway mark.
Their roles were symbolic of how the Flames have managed to stay in the hunt, with a combination of great goaltending and a dogged determination that makes them a tough out every night.
“I think he’s an animal how he approaches things a lot of days,” said Ryan Huska of Lomberg, who gave up five inches and 32 pounds to Tanner Jeannot in a scrap that helped turn momentum midway through a 1-1 game.
“He punches above his weight class a lot of nights and I have a ton of respect for how he plays the game.”
No one handed Lomberg the decision, but everyone handed out their respect for the fourth-line sparkplug who later responded to a hit by Kyle Burroughs on Walker Duehr that prompted his second scrap.
“He’s been around a long time. He knows when our team needs a little bit of something, and he found a way to do that for us.”
“We’re still waiting for that hat-trick,” laughed Huberdeau of the three-fight night fans (and Lomberg) have been dreaming of.
“I mean, he’s been talking about it, so we’ll see when he’s going to do it. Two is good, but three…”
The Kings opened the night with a good chunk of the 32 shots thrown Wolf’s way in the opening handful of minutes.
Wolf was equal to the task, as he has been for almost every start at home this season, where he is a remarkable 11-2-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .936 save percentage.
Asked what it said about the group that the Flames weathered nine Kings shots on a powerplay in the opening few minutes, Huska laughed.
“It wasn’t the group, it was Wolf,” said the coach, whose club now embarks on a four-game roadie.
“There are certain situations your goaltender has to be your best player, and he was.”
A Coronato rocket from the high slot tied a sloppy, one-sided game midway through the second, before Lomberg asked Jeannot to go.
“I know he’s not the type of guy to say no so I went over and asked him and tried to get the boys fired up and get the crowd involved,” said Lomberg, who riled fans up even more with a post-fight grin on his way to the box, where he encouraged a nearby fan to chug.
“Bit of a missed opportunity for him. I told him to chug his beer while he was up on the Jumbotron and he took a little sip. Hopefully, next time whoever I shout out hoses the thing and gets the fans going a little bit more.”
There’s plenty to cheer about in Southern Alberta, where preseason predictions suggested the playoffs were a remote possibility.
“You look at the standings and every team in the playoff is legit,” said Lomberg.
“Now that we’re in that conversation you can get the confidence from it and say we’re one of these teams now. We’re capable of being here, which is why we’re here, and we’re going to continue to prove people wrong.”
Every game is indeed a battle for his bunch, which has been served well by a delightful balance of veteran leadership and youthful exuberance.
Young Coronato has been one of the better forwards of late, playing a pivotal role Saturday, which included using his hard shot to force a rebound Huberdeau buried in style.
Huberdeau has 11 goals and 19 points in his last 17, working magic with Nazem Kadri.
Of all the kids, no one has shone brighter than Wolf, who made two game-savers on Phillip Danault in the final few minutes, which included a sprawling glove save while in the splits.
But people left the rink talking about ol’ Lombo.
“Anytime that guy drops the mitts I think it changes momentum,” said Wolf.
“As you heard, the crowd gets pretty into it. He’s a crowd-pleaser and he’s one of the best at doing it.
So is the way his team has stayed in the fight.
