The game of hockey has been filled with heroes. Most are the star superstar players that have a reputation for coming up clutch. However, there are many unlikely heroes that come out of nowhere. Some of these players chip with a goal out of nowhere, while others come up a large for a game or series. Even more of these unlikely heroes have a season to remember that was never replicated. These unlikely heroes are a part of hockey history. Today, our Last Word On Hockey summer series looks at the Calgary Flames Unlikely Heroes.
Calgary Flames Unlikely Heroes
The Criteria
Some wonder what makes an unlikely hero. It can be a player that comes with a massive improvement out of nowhere. An unlikely hero can step up and chip with a massive goal or a shutout that wasn’t expected. It can also be a player that steps up and has a season to remember. An unlikely hero can player that’s a youngster that gives a breakthrough performance. It can also be a star player that gives one last flash og greatness. The Calgary Flames unlikely heroes come from their glory days.
Lanny McDonald
Background
McDonald was in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career. The veteran forward had become a role player in his 16th season in the league. He was known as “Machine Gun Lanny” after his exploits with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
McDonald had been an offensive force with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Rockies. He even piled up 66 goals in the 1982-83 season with the Flames. However, he would never reach the same heights and watched his production slowly decline with age.
The veteran forward did play a hand in the Flames getting back to the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens. However, he was scratched for Games 3, 4, and 5. Despite this, McDonald made one last contribution in Calgary’s quest for its first Stanley Cup.
The Moment
McDonald was put into the lineup for the pivotal Game 6 in Montreal at the Forum. We’ve already talked about this season in our Biggest Game in Franchise history series in 2019. Flames head coach Terry Crisp rolled the dice by putting McDonald back into the lineup.
The veteran forward took a penalty earlier in the game. However, he would more than make up for it in the second period of Game 6. His goal in the middle frame gave the Flames the lead, which they would never relinquish. He scored 44 goals in the postseason in 117 playoff games. However, none would be more important than that series-clincher in Montreal.
The Aftermath
This would be the perfect capstone to end McDonald’s career. He would be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 and do plenty of work with that organization. McDonald has received plenty of plaudits after his career wrapped up.
He was given the Order or Canada in 2022 and a Stanley Cup trustee since August 2023. His iconic mustache makes him one of the most recognized figures in all of the sport of hockey.
Oleg Saprykin
Background
Times got lean for the Flames in the 1990s and the early 2000s. However, Calgary would find itself back in the Cup Final with a surprising run in 2004. They would run into the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were playing for their first title in franchise history.
Saprykin had been up-and-down between the NHL and the AHL in his first few seasons with Calgary. The 2003-04 campaign was the first time that the Russian had eclipsed 10 goals in the show as he got 12 during that season. However, he would put himself into Flames’ lore with the help of a franchise icon.
(Credit Image: St Petersburg Times/ZUMAPRESS.com)
The Moment
This moment would go down in Calgary history as “The Shift.” In overtime of Game 5, the Flames would get control of the puck with just over six minutes left in overtime of a 2-2 tie. Some hard work by Jarome Iginla, Jordan Leopold, Dave Lowry, and Marcus Nilson set up the final moments of Game 5.
Saprykin would jump on the ice as Lowry was exhausted. He recovered Robyn Regehr’s dump-in behind and got the puck to Nilson. Iginla eventually got the shot on goal and Saprykin was there to deposit the goal. This would give Calgary a 3-2 series lead and a chance to get its hands on the Stanley Cup.
The Aftermath
However, the Flames could not close the deal and the Lightning won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Saprykin would have stints with the Phoenix Coyotes and Ottawa Senators before spending the rest of his career in Russia.
The goal will go down in Flames’ history and is proof that hard work can lead to good things. Saprykin fits the bill of one of the Calgary Unlikely Heroes.
Honourable Mentions
Most of our choices have postseason moments. However, we look at the rise of Micheal Ferland, who started as a grinder in the bottom-half of the lineup. However, there was a three-year stretch where was a strong scorer. He eventually got be on the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.
Many remember Darren McCarty from his time with the Detroit Red Wings. However, he potted a memorable goal in Game 1 of the 2006 playoffs against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The enforcer only played 99 games between 2005 and 2007, but this cemented him as one of the Calgary Flames unlikely heroes.
Main photo by: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
