There just aren’t many huge nights at the Saddledome in a regular season for teams that don’t figure to have much of a chance at the post season.
The Flames to their credit have been excellent at providing entertainment through the rebuild, but when Toronto and Montreal come to town the games usually have a little more zip. Tonight was an excellent example of just that as the Flames through the kitchen sink at the Habs but came up short in a 2-1 shoot out loss.
The Flow
The Canadiens jumped on the Flames early suggesting to the 19,289 fans in attendance, all in red, many in Montreal togs that this might be a tough one for the home side. The tide turned midway through the first with Calgary using the powerplay to generate momentum, finishing hate period up 9-6 in shots in a scoreless tie.
The second was all Calgary, as the Flames peppered Carey Price for chance after chance, with Mark Giordano finally beating the Olympian and putting the home side up. The Habs tied it on a broken play and a seeing eye shot, leaving the game tied through two in a game that should have had the Flames up two.
The third was all Calgary again, due to energy and push, but also powerplays resulting from said push. Price stood tall again in a game that by this point should have easily been a three goal lead for the home side.
Overtime solved nothing, and was a pretty tame 5 minute stanza given the Flames push into over time.
The shoot out featured a great Price save on Monahan, and a Johnny Gaudreau goal called off for either hitting price, or a motion stop before Montreal won it on a Parentau shot blocker side.
Three Stars
1.Carey Price: I would guess that stopping 37 of 38 shots and then all three in a shoot out would probably earn you a game star on most nights.
2.Mark Giordano: Had a illustrious night on the score sheet with a goal, 7 shots, 6 PIM, and 27 minutes of ice time. There was a rumour that he may have operated one of the ice machines between the second and the third.
3.Johnny Gaudreau: His best games as a professional, by a country mile. An assist, another on a waived off goal, 6 shots on goal and all kinds of jump in his legs.
Big Save
Hard not to pick Price for this, but for timing you have to hand it to Hiller for his save on Gallagher a minute into the third period with the game tied and the Flames deserving to be up. Great first save, and then slid across to get a pad on the Gallagher rebound.
The Goat
Should have been the Canadiens as a whole for not showing up but instead I’ll poke my finger at the Flames powerplay for failing to convert any of seven chances on the night. The team and its expectations don’t suggest special teams powerhouse but if they want to stay in the hunt they have to be good on one for five.
Mr. Clutch
Jonas Hiller. Didn’t get a game star in this one but was once again a force for the Flames in giving up only one goal in 65 minutes on 17 shots. Didn’t get a lot of work, but had blue chip chances against when he did.
Odds and Ends
Listened to a Ryan Huska interview on 960 on the way home tonight, and the timing couldn’t have been better. With Calgarypuck coming apart with Sven Baertschi’s slow start to the season (1 assist, -9), hearing Huska’s calming view that he and Max Reinhart are working hard, adjusting to being key focal points of opposition defense, and have the best of attitudes couldn’t come at a better time. I truly believe that the only thing separating Baertschi from his NHL career is time if his attitude is in the right spot. If its not then its an eternity. … Was truly surprised the Flames didn’t get chased out of the building tonight with Montreal losing the night before in Edmonton, and the skill and speed that team possesses. Instead they seems to be chasing the Flames all night, which could be seen in many of their penalties – the chronic feet not moving calls. … I’d take Gallagher on my team any time, love watching that feisty little SOB go to work, tough to play against, a pleasure to play with. … Happy to see the progression of Gaudreau through 11 games (10 he played), and you have to give the Flames credit for how they’ve managed him. Slow start and calls for a demotion to the AHL, a healthy scratch and now adding more and more responsibility. Tonight he gets his first look at four on four overtime and a shoot out opportunity. … Both Matt Stajan and Joe Colborne went down with injuries tonight. Stajan on and obvious knee on knee, but didn’t see what happened to #8. … Hiller has won me over. I came into the season fully expecting to see Ramo out play the new comer and relegate him to backup statues, but Hiller has been amazing to Ramo’s very very good.
Next Up
The Flames next play on Halloween night, Friday at the Dome on Sportsmen at 7pm
Lines:
Joe Colborne – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Curtis Glencross – Matt Stajan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Mikael Backlund – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Josh Jooris
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Deryk Engellend
Jonas Hiller
