The Calgary Flames were supposed to be in the Connor McDavid conversation this year. A lowly sputtering hockey team that shows up and works, but didn’t have the skill to play with the big boys in the National Hockey League.
Well don’t look now but its November, and the Flames scored 6 times in Montréal to hammer the Canadians 6-2 to start a five game road trip. The win puts the Flames three games over .500 and very much in the playoff conversation.
I guess that’s why they play the games.
The Flow
It would be tough to put in words what happened in the first period at the Bell Center tonight. The Habs had the edge for the first shift of 25 seconds, but from there the Flames literally blew their hosts out of the building, out shooting the Canadiens 19-4 and putting up a two goal lead on goals by Josh Jooris and Markus Granlund.
The second had the Flames take their foot of the gas a little bit, but still primarily control the game. Montreal had a few chances, but the Flames carried the play, supported the puck well and rode their top four defenders to keep the Canadiens and bay and cruise their way to the third period. Curtis Glencross tipped a TJ Brodie point shot past Price late to make it 3-0 Calgary.
The Flames were money in the third period again. Montréal made it close when Pacioretty scored just 35 seconds into the stanza. Believe it or not though, there was no following tension from the Flames, they just went back to work and padded their lead up to 4 and then 5-1. Montréal scores again to move to within three before Giordano hits the empty net to put things away.
Three Stars
1.TJ Brodie: Talk about a breakout game on a big stage. The CBC trucks in Red Deer, the Flames in Montréal and the nation watching as Brodie puts up three assists and dominates every time he was on the ice.
2.Josh Jooris: Two goals for the re-inserted rookie. Very much a factor on the night with his speed and tenacity.
3.Johnny Gaudreau: Another great night for the electrifying rookie. Two assists, and a huge impact in creating plays in the first period to get the Flames off to a good start.
Big Save
With the game somewhat in the balance at 3-1, Rene Bourque broke in on Hiller and could have made the game a nail biter but was foiled by the Flames’ starter.
The Goat
The Habs as a collective can put on the horns. Talk about over looking an opposition, the depleted Flames should have been an easy mark, but perhaps they forgot the stolen victory in Calgary last week.
Mr. Clutch
Chris Russell. The emergence of Kris Russell and Dennis Wideman have given the Flames a solid top four which is a huge factor in the Flames recent surge. Russell was great transitioning the puck up ice, and playing an air tight positional game behind the Calgary blue line.
Odds and Ends
Ran a Question of the Day poll on the site today asking fans if the current injuries the team is facing will end up being their downfall from a pretty decent start (given schedule and expectations). A pretty positive group overall, with only 1 in 5 seeing the sky falling, and the other 80% seeing the team in and around .500 or better. I was the 1 (Just saying). This team is starting to alter my expectation level as they have won the first two of that six game set and in style. … McGrattan is back to the sidelines again after the one start against Nashville. He struggled. The Flames iced the puck or were hemmed in their own zone for many of his shifts. Great guy, and a good presence, but he may not be long for the Flames and NHL. … Part of the problem for guys like Setoguchi and McGrattan is the quality of players the Flames are bringing up from the farm. Gaudreau has gone from almost sent down to dominant, Jooris now has three goals to go with size and speed. Poor Michael Ferland looked great against Nashville until he got hurt, and Markus Granlund looks like a seasoned pro. The cupboard is bare line from CBC announcers just isn’t heard any more. … I hope Sven Baertschi gets a few more starts before heading back to Adirondack. He was almost invisible tonight, save for a chance in the first. Hopefully a few games will let him settle in and get back to creating.
Next Up
Calgary travels to Washington to take on the Capitals on Tuesday night. Game time 5pm on Sportsnet
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Lines:
Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Markus Granlund – Jiri Hudler
Sven Baertschi – Paul Byron – Devin Setoguchi
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Josh Jooris
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Raphael Diaz
Jonas Hiller
