It seems that no matter what a team has for expectations they always break camp full of hope and optimism, talking about catching teams off guard and aiming to make the playoffs.
The Flames rolled their 6 game road trip into Missouri last night, and dropped a 4-1 decision to the contending St. Louis Blues leaving the team 1-2-0.
Through three games the Flames have done exactly what we should have expected; come up short to a team just ahead of them last year, beat a team below them, and then were outclassed by a true NHL contender.
But it’s early!
The Flow
You can’t script a worse start for a tough game in St. Louis then to get raided for a goal early, but that’s exactly what happened in the first with the Blues scoring just 48 seconds in. The Flames settled down somewhat but left the stanza down 2-0, and for a Calgary team that has difficulty lighting the lamp that’s a big hole.
The Blues smelling blood put their collective feet down on the pedal in the second, scoring two more times and putting 19 shots up on an exasperated Jonas Hiller, who’s valiant effort kept this one from becoming a laugher. 4-0 St. Louis after two.
The Blues stepped back in the third period a tough, with the Flames finally finding the net on a powerplay, Curtis Glencross’ first step towards trade deadline value. Final score 4-1 Blues.
Three Stars
1.Kevin Shatenkirk: Emerging blue line talent, puts up three assists to lead the way for the home town Blues.
2.Paul Stastny: Native Missouran matches Shatenkirk’s output with three assists of his own 4 points in 2 games with his new team.
3.Brian Elliot: Wasn’t as busy as other starts, but solid in giving up one puck on 24 shots.
The Goat
Tough to pick a goat in a game where a demonstratively better team beats an inferior opponent on any given night, but if you want to poke at the Flames there’s no better place to start than special teams. The Flames have a middle lingering powerplay but the league’s third worst penalty kill through 3 games, successful just over 50% of the time.
Mr. Clutch
Another game where TJ Brodie puts on display two hard to deny facts. 1) He’s becoming an elite pairing NHL defenseman, and 2) he’s going to cost the Flames a lot of money in negotiating the follow up to his bridge contract. A good problem to have, don’t get me wrong.
Odds and Ends
Is it too early to reverse standings watch? Clearly yes, but this schedule was always setting up to be a tough start for the Flames. The expected loser of a home opener, taking the Oilers homer opener, but then a really tough road schedule to start the season, has the Flames predictably 1-2-0 to start the season. Expected basement dwellers Buffalo and Carolina are already 0-2-0 to start. … Another game and another quiet Johnny Gaudreau appearance. Two schools on this one, and I hope the Flames are careful not to jump to the “overwhelmed send him down” option. The regular season is a step up from the preseason, and he’s a smart player, he needs time to adjust. … Hartley elevated Smid and Wideman above Engellend last night, as Wideman moved into the top four in ice time, and the newcomer slid back by about 8 minutes. I guess I jinxed him yesterday. With Wideman out and back in, and the Smid / Engellend shift this weekend its clear Hartley is trying to find a top four pairing leaving two defenders to hide. … The Flames were the dot losers again last night with Backlund and Monahan taking the brunt of the Blues’ superiority. Joe Colburne held his own. … One bonus of terrible penalty killing? Plus minus stats are saved from the brunt of focus in lopsided losses.
Next Up
The Flames continue their 6 gamer in Nashville on Tuesday night, game time 6pm on Sportsmen 360.
Lines:
Paul Byron – Sean Monahan – Devin Setoguchi
Curtis Glencross – Mikael Backlund – Lance Bouma
Johnny Gaudreau – Joe Colborne – Mason Raymond
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Bryan McGrattan
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Deryk Engellend
Ladislav Smid – Dennis Wideman
Jonas Hiller
