For the final time this year, the Canucks and Flames faced off in the Saddledome Saturday night. For the final time this year, the Flames took to the ice in front of the crowd that watched them almost pull off a miraculous run. 60 minutes was all that was left in the 2010-2011 season.

The first period was borderline boring. Not a lot for these teams to play for, beyond pride and rival bragging rights. The Flames really got going in the second. The top line of Tanguay-Backlund-Iginla were buzzing, getting pretty chance after pretty chance before Iginla finally got one past the Vancouver goalie on the powerplay. An absolutely gorgeous pass by Tanguay gave the Flames captain his 43rd of the year and the Flames the 1-0 lead.

Their second mark would come during another Flames powerplay after Ryan Kesler was sent to the box for slashing. Mikael Backlund would pot his 10th of the season. Why it took so long for this kid to play with talent is beyond me. He’s going to become a fantastic centre for the Flames in the coming years.

The Flames had the 2-0 going into the third. A far better effort than the 7-whatever loss at the hand of the Canucks last season. Things looked good!

…until the Canucks started playing like the Canucks.

Alex Burrows put the Canucks on the board and Vancouver took over. This period was chippy, physical and did more than reignite distaste for the Canucks. Matt Stajan would “harpoon” (according to CBC, which made me laugh so hard. Harpoon. Canucks. They’re whales…you get it.) Maxim Lapierre and they would both get offsetting roughing minors, Stajan getting the extra call for slashing and the Canucks get a powerplay.

A pretty play by the Sedin’s to Kesler and the game is tied 2-2. Just like that.

Overtime was my favourite part. Yeah, they lost but what was more entertaining was Henrik Karlsson’s reaction. He really, truly believed he was interfered with on the winning goal, and while, honestly, the replay showed nothing to me, I can understand his frustrations. It’s just nice to see a guy with that much passion. He wanted the win.

So they fall 3-2 to the Canucks at home and the season is over. All that’s left is to clean out lockers and say hello to another long summer. There’s a lot to cover though, a lot of speculation on the roster changes they can (try to) make,  if Jay Feaster will get the full GM position, etc. It’s going to be interesting to see what the Flames do this summer after a second straight year of no postseason.

Until then, we say goodbye to the Calgary Flames.