Some game stories almost right themselves. They contain many themes, easy openings, and little difficult in putting pen to summarizing the game’s events.
Tonight you have Jiri Hudler and two goals, for ten on the season. Then you have the back to back games meaning little to the upstart Flames as they run their record to 9-0-1 after losing a game this season.
However I’m going with the US Thanksgiving. Ken Holland has always contended that things are pretty much decided by American Thanksgiving. When the Flames had a hot start I kept eyeing that November 27th date and wondering where the Flames would sit when their game in San José came to a close. Well tonight’s 2-0 victory gives the club 30 points in 24 games, a divisional playoff spot, and a six point bulge on the best of the trialling teams. Guarantee of playoff action? Of course not, but boy do we have a story unfolding in Calgary.
The Flow
Looking to atone for the slow start last night the Flames jump out hard on the Sharks and control the play from the start. Almost go ahead in the game’s second minute when a goal mouth scramble resulted in a great Niemi save on Gaudreau. San José comes off the mat and has chances of their own, but neither team manage to find the net by the end of the period.
Pretty even Steven second period, at least for the first ten minutes, then things seemed very much up hill for the Flames for a good six minute stretch, starting with a Shark powerplay. Ramo stood tall though and kept his team in it, giving the Flames a chance to find their legs again. And did they ever find their legs … a four on four creates a complete momentum shift and the Flames run out the next 5 minutes dominating the Sharks, and going ahead when Brodie and Hudler combined on an amazing give and go for Hudler’s 9th of the season.
As expected the Sharks come out hard in the third, but the Flames hold strong and the period turns into a back and forth almost whistle free track meet with chances at both ends. The Flames get a late powerplay chance due to a great effort by Markus Granlund on a rush, resulting in an empty net goal by Hudler, his second of the night.
Three Stars
1.Kari Ramo: Stops 32 for the shut out, and a big statement for carrying the mail over the next while given Hiller’s recent struggles. If not for his work in the second period this one could have been different.
2.Jiri Hudler: Scores the huge go ahead goal in the second, and then adds the empty netter to put things away.
3.TJ Brodie: Simply amazing game for Brodie in back to back games. Great assist on Hudler’s goal, and some amazing work transitioning the puck out of the Flame’s zone.
Big Save
Didn’t take long to find this one, as Johnny Gaudreau is absolutely stoned by Niemi on a cross crease one timer. The fellow Fin used the Kiprusoff special to go post to post and rob the Flames rookie.
The Goat
Not a one. Every player showed up for this one, and they all played at least up to their expectations. Some played less than others, but nobody mailed it in. Huge win for the Flames.
Mr. Clutch
Going with Paul Byron, but it would be easy to pick almost any player on a night like this. Great team effort. Have to say though, Byron’s huge four on four shift was as much a part of the Flames goal as the Brodie/Hudler give and go. He wore the Sharks top line out with tenacity down low and gave way to a line change.
Odds and Ends
Is the Devin Setoguchi experiment officially over? Or is this a go down to the farm and get confidence kind of thing? Time will tell. But zero points in roughly half of the Flames games this season just isn’t going to keep the guy in the NHL. Give the Flames credit though, they do appear to be keeping to their word when it comes to spots being earned. Real crunch is coming when they (or if they) get fully healthy however. … Guessing Corbin Knight is recalled once Setoguchi clears tomorrow, although interesting to think they may look at Emile Poirier as well. Developmentally it may make more sense to keep him in the AHL until Christmas however, given his age. … Loved that open ice hit from Ferland in the second period, but was hoping someone would jump him and he’d get to show of his fist chucking. He’s a guy that can hit and then back it up. The thing that’s surprised me is his foot speed as he continues to get in quickly on the forecheck … Good for Hrudey to point out the classic four on four shift by Byron in the second. A lot of focus on Gaudreau, but Byron is a pissy, slightly less skilled little guy in his own right. … Is Sven Baertschi starting to find his game again? Had a great scoring chance in Anaheim, and then hit a cross bar tonight all the while playing a smarter, more complete game. Good timing with three vets skating in Calgary. … Uncharacteristic night for Monahan, as the Flame’s second year center coughs up the puck to Sharks in the slot not once, but twice in the game. Usually so smart in his own zone, rough night! … Brodie’s two points move him past Brent Burns and into 2nd place in the NHL defenseman scoring race, trailing of course his buddy Mark Giordano. …
Next Up
The Flames finish up their 3 game road trip with a game in Phoenix on Saturday night against the Arizona Coyotes. Game time 7pm, Sportsnet.
Lines:
Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Jiri Hudler
Michael Ferland – Markus Granlund – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Sven Baertschi
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Raphael Diaz
Kari Ramo
