Ryan Tait scored a pair of goals in the 3rd period, including the winner then a very late empty netter to help Flames collect a 3-1 win over the visiting Manchester Storm.
Flames took the shot count in the opening set, boasting an 18-5 advantage but the period ended with the teams locked on a scoreless draw.
Storm replied by edging the middle frame shot count, but the scoring didn’t kick in until most of the period was in the rearview; finally counting one 91 seconds from period time when Peter Crinella had the breakthrough that gave Flames a lead at the break.
They doubled the advantage near the 3rd’s halfway mark thank to Tait, but Dallas Ehrhardt cut the deficit to a single in the 55th minute. Unfortunately, for the visitors, a 5 minute Roughing major to Loren Ulett with a little under 4 minutes left put them down a man for the remainder of the contest where Tait, with just 2 seconds left, sunk a long range empty net powerplay goal to close out the win.
Eamon McAdam made 27 saves on 28 shots whole Evan Weninger for Storm stopped 37 of 39.
“Any time you go as long as both teams went without scoring, it is obviously a game that can go both ways,” admitted Paul Dixon.
“We probably could have had some scoring in the 1st period, but Manchester pushed back in the 2nd and we were happy to have been able to get that late one to start the 3rd with a lead instead of still even.”
“We don’t have time to admire the 4 point weekend though because we are back at it again Wednesday night and we want to make the most of that game as well.”
