It’s been an odd start to the season.
In the age of advanced statistics the Flames have defied odds and won games that quite likely they had no part even being in. Tough periods against Vancouver, Edmonton, St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus and Winnipeg suggested to the naked eye that the shoe was about to drop for this 4-3-0 team.
Tonight however, they were full marks. Full marks against a team that figures to be in the mix for home ice in the East when the dust settles in April. Yet they found a way to lose it, giving up a late tying goal and then the overtime winner to turn a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 overtime loss.
I guess there’s always the loser point.
The Flow
A typically slow start for the Flames, as you’d expect from a team that was on the road for six games in a season that has only featured one home start in seven contests. They righted the Ship and slowly took over the game to finish the period however, out shooting the Bolts 8-5.
The second period was a back and forth affair with the Flames maybe having a bit of an edge in play. Like the first though neither club was able to best the goaltenders, as Ramo and Nabokov were solid again sending the period to the third.
The third period finally found some scoring action. First Johnny Gaudreau hit the blue line as a Flame’s powerplay was nearing expiry, and dazzled his way through three defenders and fed a wide open Dennis Wideman before crashing into the corner boards; 1-0 Flames. The lead looked to be holding up until the Bolts tied the score with just 2:15 to play when Filppula corralled a loose rebound and steered it into the empty cage.
In overtime the Lightning should have won it when Stamkos and Drouin broke in on a two on ouch but were denied when Ramo slid across and made an amazing save. A few minutes later Mark Giordano flubbed the puck up the boards, leading to a shot from the point and a rebound winner for Palat.
Three Stars
1.Evgeni Nabokov: Old battery mate to Miikka Kiprusoff was excellent in the backup role tonight turning aside 21 of 22 shots directed his way. Didn’t have a chance on the goal that beat him.
2.Kari Ramo: Ramo was solid again, and likely deserved better after his jaw dropping save in the overtime period.
3.Andrej Palat: Last year’s rookie of the year finalist gets the nod for the overtime game winner in a game mostly about goaltenders.
Big Save
You may have seen this coming from numerous mentions above but no contest, Ramo’s save in overtime on Drouin rivalled his save in Nashville, simply amazing.
The Goat
Its ironic because he scored the Flames only goal, but I thought Dennis Wideman was sketchy and disinterested tonight. Weak on the puck, hell his stick wasn’t even on the ice for most of his time on the ice. Hartley must have liked him though, as he finished second in ice time for the Flames.
Mr. Clutch
I really liked the third pairing of Smid and Engellend tonight. They kept their game simple and avoided damage from talented Bolt forwards, and gave the team the kind of minutes you need from a third pairing.
Odds and Ends
So with the current lineup (realize it changes quickly every night) you have to wonder how other teams view them when it comes to hierarchy. Is the top line the one with Sean Monahan and Mason Raymond? Another unit with Curtis Glencross and Joe Colborne (he of 5 points), or is it the Mikael Backlund line with Jiri Hudler? None of these groups are top flight clearly, but if you have a checking line I’m not sure where you start. .. Setoguchi out again? Is he on borrowed time? Looked simply lost in Winnipeg. … Bryan McGrattan sits as well, which could be flu bug related, or a sign that the Flames are begrudgingly moving towards the NHL norm of not needing a tough guy. If so why is he sitting for Brandon Bollig? McGrattan hasn’t played enough this season to generate a true Corsi% number, but Bollig is last on the registered skaters at 29%. A change up might be smart. … Gaudreau is small, and at this point he’s still not great at winning puck battles to get himself the puck. But when he finds a loose puck or takes a dish from a teammate he’s out of this world. As Gaudreau learns the NHL, I think his linemates need to learn Gaudreau to make this the success it should be. Get him the puck in flight and he can make things happen. Not sure why they don’t let him hit the ice in overtime, he’s built for 4 on 4 hockey. … When is the last time the Flames have started a season alternating goaltenders that turn in solid start after solid start? Rick Tabaracci and Trevor Kidd seems like a stretch. Lemelin and Vernon in 1986? Riggin and Lemelin? It’s confusing for this writer because I always seem to feel the last guy to play is the better goaltender.
Next Up
The Flames are back at it in the Dome on Thursday night, when fellow McDavid chasing Carolina is in town to lock horns. Game time 7pm, Sportsnet Flames.
Lines:
Paul Byron – Mikael Backlund – Jiri Hudler
Curtis Glencross – Joe Colborne – Josh Jooris
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Mason Raymond
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Lance Bouma
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Deryk Engellend
Kari Ramo
