Game Takes: Flames 5 Oilers 2

October 10th, 2014 | Posted in Game Takes | By: D'Arcy McGrath

With recent roster cuts, angst over veterans making the hockey club over rookies, and pushing off the future, we’ve heard a lot about never given, always earned.

Someone forgot to tell the Oilers that, as the Oilers likely earned the victory, but instead gave the game away, much to the delight of their Calgary visitors.

The Flames eked out a 5-2 road in win in Edmonton on Thursday night, spoiling their rival’s big 1984 reunion night (maybe the Flames thought it was a 1986 reunion and played their historic part). It was a game where only Kari Ramo .

The Flow

As is often the case, the hosts of a splashy opening ceremony are very much the victims of said ceremony, and the Oilers were true to form, coming out flat, missing their checks and letting the Flames pile up two early goals by Mason Raymond and Jiri Hudler. The Oilers got one back before the end of the period, and were very much the better team over the final 10 minutes.

The second was all Edmonton, a Taylor Hall goal got them to even, but the Flames generated little in terms of scoring chances or shots in a game that looked very much to be going the way of the home side.

Getting out of the second was big for Calgary, and it appeared some time to discuss shortcomings of the seconded was the tonic as a very different Calgary team emerged for the final frame. Colburne with a great read up the middle out of his own corner (looked like a giveaway when he let it go) found Raymond who wired one for the game winner. Then later Colburne wheeled around the Oilers D to set up Raymond for the hat trick goal to salt it away. A late goal by Brodie tossed more oil on the fire (sorry!).

Three Stars

1.Mason Raymond: One came early, two came late, all told a hat trick for the Flames new comer and a key component of the Flames third period explosion.

2.Kari Ramo: Simply outstanding in the first two periods, and the biggest reason the Flames hung around long enough to snatch away the win.

3.Joe Colborne: Huge presence up the middle, and paramount in finding open scoring options. Picked up three assists.

Big Save

Ramo had numerous key saves for Calgary in the first 40 minutes, it was said last year that he looks somewhat like Kiprusoff in his ability to move laterally. Couldn’t even pick one specifically, but a solid overall performance.

The Goat

This will sound like a broken record, but the Oilers skill players and their failure to play a 200 foot game once again cost them a hockey game. They looked dangerous and scary on the attack all night, but a failure to pick up a man in their own zone or provide back pressure throughout cost them dearly. A who’s who of skill players with big minus night for Edmonton.

Mr. Clutch

Have to hand it to Deryk Engellend. Signed to the shock of most NHL followers, the plucky defender has moved into the Flames top four and is holding his own with the surging Kris Russell as a linemate. His presence has given the Flames a fourth man to avoid Giordano and Brodie from having to play 25+ minutes every night. All four had 22 minutes of ice time apiece last night.

Odds and Ends

A quiet night for Johnny Gaudreau as he continues to adjust to NHL speed. A pessimist would see a guy that looks small, and is having trouble moving his game to the next level. An optimist would see a pretty calm young player, letting evolution come to him. Put me in the latter camp. He’s wily. … Colburne and three assists. Its only one game, but average hockey players don’t generally set up three goals in a night in the toughest league on the planet. Would be a great sign, if a 4th round pick turns into a solid 2nd line center. Colburne seems to have realized the stock value of his physical gifts and has shown up ready to employ said gifts this season. Interesting to follow a club that couldn’t find a center for a decade and then have a guy like Colburne, join the mix with Backlund, Bennett and Monahan all at the same time… What should we make of the Dennis Wiseman benching? A sign that the roster will be fluid all season, or is this step one in finding a way for the veteran to leave town? He’s not Shane O’Brien, but you have to a little worried if you’re Wiseman and watching life change from January 2014 and on. … Kari Ramo is a solid goaltender. He came of age in the second half of last season and he’s picked up where he left off. I like Hiller too, but the Flames would be well served to have both play well, sign Ramo and deal Hiller at the deadline should an injury trigger a starting spot for a playoff team. Good sign. … Flames got whipped in the face off circle last night, something I’m watching this season with added strength to Calgary marksmen. After a solid start against Vancouver, Colburne and Monahan got diced last night and the team won only 41% of their draws. Arcobello and Gordon owned the dot, the former at 80%. Backlund held his own.

Next Up

Six game road trip moves to game #2 on Saturday in St. Louis against the Blues. Game time 5pm.

Lines:

Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – Mason Raymond
Johnny Gaudreau – Joe Colborne – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – David Jones

Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Deryk Engellend
Ladislav Smid – Raphi Diaz

Kari Ramo



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