Playing in front of friends and family can really boost a hockey player, regardless of age, or level of hockey. When a guy is young in his NHL career and living two time zones away, you just know the boost that having one’s parents in town will provide.
Both the Gaudreau’s and Mr. Jooris were at the Dome on Thursday night to see the Flames pummel the helpless Hurricanes by a score of 5-0. Josh Jooris earned his dad an assist, while Gaudreau came up empty in front of his folks.
The Flow
Solid period for the Flames to start, against a clearly struggling, maimed opponent. The Canes had a great chance on a Stajan giveaway but otherwise were held at bay and didn’t generate much of any chances or shots. The Flames had some jump on a powerplay, but didn’t find the cage. Late Wideman fired a shot through traffic that appeared to be tipped by Glencross, 1-0 Flames after one.
All Calgary in the second, as the Flames come out hard, and score two quick ones to essentially put the game away. The Calgary marksmen were Stajan and Monahan, both guys getting their first of the season, Monahan to help silence some of the worriers about a sophomore jinx.
With the game all but done, the two teams go through the motions in the third period, but the Flames do manage to pad the lead when both Monahan, with his second of the night, and Bouma with his first of the season completing the route. From there it was all about protecting the shut out for Hiller.
Three Stars
1.Sean Monahan: Amazing how much better two goals and two assists in nine games sounds when compared to just two assists and no points in six game. Monahan breaks out of his flu slump with a pair.
2.Matt Stajan: Terrible giveaway in the first, but scores his first of the season in the second.
3.Jonas Hiller: Wasn’t tested often with only 16 shots to stop, but made a few big ones and was a brick wall.
Big Save
Starting to get used to Hiller’s glove hand. He waved his mitt and absolutely robbed Jeff Skinner, after Skinner intercepted an ill advised pass attempt from Matt Stajan and went in alone on the Swiss goaltender.
The Goat
The Canes themselves. Injuries suck, and we’ve certainly seen our share of injuries in Calgary in recent seasons, but just like each of the past two seasons where the Canes free fall toward a draft pick, this team doesn’t seem to have a lot of pride. Compete. That was awful.
Mr. Clutch
Going with Joe Colborne, though any of Hudler, Russell or Colborne could get the honor for solid games, and two assist nights. Colborne is now tied for the NHL lead with assists at eight, as he continues to prove a solid start may not be an aberration. Beast on the wall and tough to contain.
Odds and Ends
Ran a poll on the message board today about Brian McGrattan sitting out 5 of 9 games so far including tonight. The most popular reason was “Stajan/Bouma can’t be scratched because of PK, and Bolig is a LW” and for good reason, the Flames of late (its early) don’t seem to employ that 6 minutes a night crash and bang fourth line anymore; you have to play some kind of a role. Bolig is a stretch as he’s only playing fourth line minutes but the others on the line chip in on the penalty kill. Without a fighter in the lineup I don’t think the big guy has reason to play…. As we’ve seen in recent seasons bad in the East and bad in the West mean different things as inter conference play proves time and again. The Hurricanes may have had trouble with the Hitmen tonight. … Hartley’s line blender continues on and on, but it does look like he found two trios that looked good together, with Stajan and Monahan’s line clicking. The Backlund group had trouble getting much done however. … Wideman continues his hot hand with another point on the Glencross goal. Wonder if there’s a market for the guy? … The Flames were over 60% in the faceoff dot tonight against an AHL team, may as well take it for statistical purposes!
Next Up
The homestand continues on Saturday night when the Ovechkin and the Capitals come to town. Game time 8pm on HNIC.
Lines:
Joe Colborne – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Curtis Glencross – Matt Stajan – Paul Byron
Johnny Gaudreau – Mikael Backlund – Mason Raymond
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Josh Jooris
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Deryk Engellend
Jonas Hiller
