Backlund hero with the first playoff goal – Aftonbladet

Calgary avoided getting into a fatal 0-3 underdog in the match series against Anaheim.

And it was Mikael Backlund made sure that the “Red Sea” inside the Saddledome Stadium exploded with his goal in overtime.

– An incredible feeling, hard to describe, I have not scored in as many matches so the feeling is pretty good right now, said match hero after the 4-3 victory.

Calgary got a power play just over four minutes In the overtime period. Then took Mikael Backlund – in the reverse position at the blue line – some cuts inside the track and let loose a pull shot via Anaheim defenseman Clayton Stoner bones found behind a hidden Frederik Andersen in the case.

The 26-year-old Swede had thus made his first slutspelsmål in NHL career, and reduced match series to 1-2.

“Could not be more noisy”

And afterwards praised the overtime hero his audience.

– They are cruel, they have been there all season and tap-dancing really up in the playoffs. It does not get louder than this, says an exuberant happy Backlund in the interview on the ice immediately afterwards.

Gaudreau acknowledged late

An almost equally great hero for the home team was 21-year-old Johnny Gaudreau, nominated for the year’s rookie, who flicked the 3-3 equalizer from the right face-off circle 20 Seconds remains of the third period. Then had the Anaheim defenseman Sami Vatanen just become the scapegoat when he volley happened to clear the puck over the complexity of its own zone and thus gave Calgary (also with a man sent off) mode in game five against three.

Svårdrömd goal situation

But might equalizer have been a fact six minutes earlier – at least according furious Calgary coach Bob Hartley, the whole team’s bench and all dressed in red inside the arena.

Sam Bennett had namely fired a “Isère” as Andersen made the save (?) with the leg guard right at the finish line. But the angles were available were not sufficient even to the judges in the War Room “in Toronto could prove that the puck was actually inside.

Match four played the night of Saturday in Calgary.

VIDEO: See Backlund’s ruling on viasatsport.se