An audible click click click of the same laptop key getting hammered over and over again could be heard from press row. The DELETE button on a game story of the upstart Flames getting taken to the woodshed by a true NHL contender was written by every beat reporter after the second period. The third, a frame to relax, tweak the odd game star selection and wait to hit send once a quote or two was added after the game.
Instead the upstart Flames continue to push up, coming from behind in dramatic fashion to shock the Anaheim Ducks with a 4-3 shoot out victory at the Saddledome. If this game was to diminish expectations, or prove sustainability to the Calgary market it failed miserably in its quest.
The Flow
The Flames had a good start, they showed their speed, and had the Ducks in a bit of a track meet for the first ten minutes of the first period. Things were looking very much like the Arizona and Ottawa games last week. Then they hit a wall, or a duck, or a bunch of Ducks, and the game got away from them. In the end the Flames were out shot, out chanced and outscored 1-0.
The second period was one of the worst periods the Flames have played on home ice this season. They iced the puck, coughed up the puck, and handled the sucker like a hand grenade, getting flummoxed by the Ducks skill, speed and depth. The Ducks doubled their lead, had the game in control, and the Flames on their way to the record books with only 7 shots on goal through two periods. School was in, and the Flames were planted firmly in the dunce row.
Then the third period happened. And happened. And happened. The Flames have been a third period team all season, and they proved that again with back to back to back goals to take the lead, and force the Ducks to get on the comeback trail themselves. Dennis Wideman scored two of the goals, Jiri Hudler added the other, Markus Granlund picked up two assists. The Ducks tied the affair on a powerplay, sending the game to over time.
The extra time was about as interesting a story line as you’ll find, as the surging Flames went primarily with youth in the extra frame and out played the Ducks. Veteran Jiri Hudler got a turn with Sean Monahan, and the other duo was Granlund and Johnny Gaudreau both rookies, both sets outplaying the Ducks and generating chances. A late penalty to Ryan Kesler gave the Flames 19 seconds of powerplay time and the game should have ended there, but didn’t and went to a shoot out.
Calgary takes it in a shoot out with Gaudreau and Monahan (youth again) scoring for the Flames.
Three Stars
1.Dennis Wideman: Had the odd fire drill in his own zone in the first 40 minutes, but there’s something to be said for the guy’s shot. He scores twice in the third period, one bullet, one flop shot to bring the Flames back and into the front.
2.Markus Granlund: Rookie continues to show he’s the real deal. Tim Erixon who? Picks up two assists and is +3 against monster centers from Anaheim.
3.Sami Vatanen: Two ugly give aways in the third period that lead to Flames goals, but was in on every Duck goal so we’ll let it slide since he made the evening so entertaining.
Big Save
With three seconds left in over time Andersson slides over and gets a pad on a Dennis Wideman howitzer. The puck had game winner written all over it. Sure the Ducks lost in a shoot out so it didn’t matter, but quite the athletic save.
The Goat
Hate to say it, but on a team where youth is pushing up the roster and making a case for Treliving to move out bodies when health returns you have a night like this from Sven Baertschi gravely hurting his chances. Coughed up the puck, and then poorly timed a block on the Duck’s first goal, and had trouble getting the puck out on the wall in his limited time on the ice. Tough night with only 7 minutes of ice time.
Mr. Clutch
Johnny Gaudreau. Picked up an assist, but his impact was so much more. His speed and offensive flair fueled the Flames come back in many ways by setting up chances, creating zone time down low. His assist was classic in that he just turned the puck over, got mad, went in and stripped it and fed Dennis Wideman. Then he schools the Ducks in overtime with speed, and scores on a deft stone cold hand move in the shoot out. Glad he’s not in a hotel anymore.
Odds and Ends
Well we sure saw tonight how much Kris Russell matters to the Calgary Flames, really happy they locked the kid up last year. He may be small, but his presence on that second defense pairing almost makes the duo Brodano light in decision making, and quickly transitioning the puck up the ice. Lady Smid is a warrior, but he couldn’t fill those boots, and the Flames spent way more time in their own zone as a result. Hope his injury isn’t serious. … Gaudreau was on his way to a very good hockey game before the third period, he was the only guy honestly creating chances, or at least he was in on pretty much any chance created. His minor point slump came to an end last night, but like the past two games, he has a hand in so many blue chip scoring chances that it’s only a matter of time before he has two and three point nights. Great little hockey player. His speed from behind the net in overtime was amazing, both to the fans and the Ducks, who looked visibly on their heels. … Two NHL Granlunds. One has 8 points in 17 games, the other has 8 points in 9 games. Can’t believe I took the older one in my hockey pool. Seriously, who would have expected point per game output from Markus Granlund this season? Very small sample size, but I’ll say it again, this kid just can’t go back down to the AHL when the Flames get healthy. Maybe he should grab a place with Gaudreau. … A lot of talk about lines when the Flames get healthy, there are so many combinations. I think it obvious that Monahan, Backlund, Granlund and Stajan are the centers. I’d move Colborne into Jones spot with Glencross and Monahan. Leave the Granlund line alone, have Jones and one of Byron or Jooris play with Backlund, and then a fourth line of Stajan between Bollig and Bouma. Did I forget anyone? Clearly no room for Setoguchi. Reinhart, Ferland and Baertschi get sent down, and McGrattan munches popcorn. …
Next Up
The Flames, winners of their first three of a five game homestand host the Blackhawks on Thursday night, game time 7pm Sportsnet
Lines:
Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – Devin Setoguchi
Johnny Gaudreau – Markus Granlund – Jiri Hudler
Sven Baertschi – Josh Jooris – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Brian McGrattan
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Ladislav Smid – Dennis Wideman
Rafi Diaz – Deryk Engellend
Jonas Hiller
