One of the Flame’s biggest assets this season has been their un-daunting discipline, they just don’t take penalties.
Tonight? Quite the opposite, as the team relied heavily on their penalty killing crew as the Flames took 6 minors to the Senators 2 but delivered in killing off all of them on the way to a 4-2 victory on Saddledome ice.
The Flow
The Senators get on the board first when a Clarke McArthur seeing eye shot bounced through traffic and beat Kari Ramo over his shoulder. Calgary righted the ship and pushed hard for the rest of the period, out shooting their visitors but trailed through 20.
The second was all Calgary, at least five on five, as the Flames generated numerous scoring chances, but had only a Paul Byron goal to show for their efforts, a marker set up by a great stretch pass from Sven Baertschi. Other chances were thwarted by Anderson saves, deflected pucks, and bad bounces; the game goes to the rid knotted at one.
Calgary gets in penalty trouble again in the third, but their first call to Lance Bouma resulted in a Calgary goal when he exits the penalty box, forces a turn over heads in, spins and sets up Markus Granlund for the go ahead goal. Calgary stretches the lead to 3-1 when Jooris finishes a great Glencross pass on a Calgary powerplay, the game winner. Ottawa makes it close at 3-2 before a brutal puck handling gaff by Anderson results in Bouma’s 5th of the season to salt things away.
Three Stars
1.Lance Bouma: I’m a happy guy any time I can pick Lance Bouma as a game star. His shot blocking heart laden play was a big part of the Flames identity last year, and this year he’s shown his puck work in the off season is paying off. Scores his 5th of the season (he had 5 in 78 games last season) and added a classic assist to pace the Flames.
2.Kari Ramo: Can’t fault him for either goal, and was huge in the third period with the Flames killing penalties and the Senators pushing.
3.Paul Byron: My first star on Thursday night makes the mark again. Scores the Flames goal in the second period, almost scores again in the third short handed. Continues to prove the Flames have more than one talented little dude.
Big Save
With the game knotted at one early in the third period, Kari Ramo gets his pad out and thwarts Zach Smith on an Ottawa two on one, a save so unlikely the goal judge actually turned on the goal light. Great save Ramo.
The Goat
The Ottawa powerplay. Out worked by the Flames penalty kill all night, and often times outsmarted. Took shots with no chance of going in, and lost puck battles on the wall resulting in easy dump outs by Flame defenders.
Mr. Clutch
The Adirondack Flames. Thanks for sending us Josh Jooris and Markus Granlund. So happy you’ve found a way to win without them (just swept an AHL road trip on the strength of Bill Arnold learning pro hockey). Both players pick up a goal and an assist and continue to prove their flights to Calgary needn’t have a return option.
Odds and Ends
Brian McGrattan takes a seat again, after playing 6:12 against the Coyotes on Thursday night. He looked fine on a line with Bouma and Reinhart, but yields his spot to Bollig, who sat out the last game. Earlier in the day I heard an interview with McGrattan about the lack of fights on his recent appearance list, and he hinted they happen more as the year goes on, and that he doesn’t have to go looking for them, they need to come to him. Is that wise? If I’m a fourth line fighter on a team that is gaining success as a four line team, wouldn’t it make sense to get in a dust up and show the coaching staff how you can manufacture energy for your team? Does to me. He can’t stay in the lineup scoring, or playing a shut down roll, and he doesn’t have the foot speed to get in on the forecheck and cause mayhem. … Hartley hinted Michael Ferland will be back in the lineup once he gets his foot speed back from his concussion lay off. That’s good to see, my fear was his being demoted as soon as he was healthy. Would be a shame after only one NHL game. … Anyone out there old enough to remember Arturs Irbe? Well Craig Anderson did his best impression tonight handling the puck like a hand grenade. You’d think a couple of rough forays out of his cage would result in a reluctance to do so, but no he’s out there giving Bouma the insurance goal late. Crazy. … The Flames six penalties were rare this season, and likely undeserved tonight. Some were bad luck calls like Baertschi’s minor, and the firsts Bollig call shouldn’t have been made as roughing when the opposition drops the gloves first is a little unfair. … So when do we start taking this team seriously? Almost at the quarter poll, and 5 games over .500? Seriously? The win tonight moves them back into a tie with the Canucks for 2nd in the division (third with extra games played), and a full 5 points up on the Hawks who sit out of a playoff spot. I’ve targeted US Thanksgiving (Nov 27) to be in a playoff spot because of the pageantry of the date for expectations. With only 12 days to go it seems pretty likely they’ll make that mark. But what does this mean for the season? The trade deadline is March 2nd this year. Will this team be a buyer instead of a seller? Will they be smart enough not to mortgage picks and prospects? Or is it smart to move later picks and lesser prospects with the cupboard appearing more full than expected? Shaping up to be a hell of an interesting season should this continue to any degree. Fun!
Next Up
Game three of the Flames’ home stand is up next, Tuesday night 7pm on Sportsnet against the high flying Ducks from Anaheim.
x
Lines:
Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Markus Granlund – Jiri Hudler
Sven Baertschi – Josh Jooris – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Max Reinhart – Lance Bouma
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Deryk Engellend
Kari Ramo
