With a tough schedule to come, and the league paying notice to an upstart team that continues to hang around the playoff race despite being written off before the first puck drop of the season, you simply have to win games like these against teams like these, in situation like these.
Wins won’t be easy to come by when the Flames try to mine ore in their own division against teams from California, so you have to make hay when the hay is available, which the Flames found a way to do by coming from behind to beat the Florida Panthers 6-4 this afternoon.
The Flow
The Panthers were ready to roll this afternoon, jumping on the Flames and getting up early when Scottie Upshall bounced a puck off of Kari Ramo and into the cage. Calgary levelled their play off and had some chances before the end of the period, but trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Period two was a tough one for goaltenders as teams combined for 6 goals, with the Flames pulling even twice only to trail again by one after 40. Calgary out shot the Panthers in the second, and received goals from Jones, Hudler and Giordano.
The third period was a good one for the Flames as they drew even when Johnny Gaudreau found Sean Monahan in the crease for a tap in goal. The Flames went ahead late in the period when Giordano lugged the puck up the ice, found Hudler who layed off a perfect back pass to Lance Bouma who potted his 4th of the season. An empty net goal by Gaudreau put things away.
Three Stars
1.Mark Giordano: A goal and two more assists for the streaking blueliner, now up 4 points in the defenseman scoring race. Left the ice after slamming into the boards, but came back to set up the game winner.
2.Johnny Gaudreau: The most dangerous quiet game in hockey? Gaudreau has consistently turned a few turns with the puck into key goals at key times, and today was no different. His assist to get the Flames going on the Jones goal, was equalled with his assist to Monahan to tie things up.
3.Scottie Upshall: Two goals, an assists and a great deal of edge to his game this afternoon.
Big Save
Was there one? Kari Ramo for half a game, and Montoya for 60 minutes had the puck bouncing around their perspective creases all night with almost everything going in. Not a great afternoon for goaltending at all.
The Goat
Al Montoya. Did the Panthers over look the Flames in starting their back up goaltender instead of Luongo? He was solid for the Jets last season in a back up role, but struggled mightily against the Flames today. Can’t blame him for some of the bang bang stuff in the crease, but his rebound off of Glencross in the second spun the momentum and gave the game to the Flames.
Mr. Clutch
Flames fans have to be excited to see Sean Monahan not only handling the pressure of the ice time and responsibility but thriving under the added ice time and mail to carry. This road trip has shown he’s up to it, and he added another goal and an assist today. With the injuries to key centers Monahan has points in 5 straight games, a total of 7 points including 4 goals.
Odds and Ends
Was a little surprised to see Hartley move Jooris back to the fourth line after the game in Tampa. That line didn’t get a lot done, but I thought was Jooris had good speed and jump compared to most of the forwards. Hartley is a blender guy so it probably doesn’t amount to much, and I suppose coaches like to make changes after losses. … Tough start for Kari Ramo giving up the puck off his skate in the first couple of minutes. From there I wouldn’t honestly fault him for the goals against as they were either odd bounces, or tight plays in his crease. Thinking Hartley made the move to shake up the Flames, and clearly this was one of the times where the move worked perfectly …. Speaking of Hartley, glad he gives his young established players room to make mistakes. If it was a merit game only Brodie may have lost some ice time for giving the puck away, or firing low percentage passes up the middle. Instead he plays the same role, and gets better at it going forward. Stuff that builds teams. … Regardless of the blame you put on Ramo, pretty good bet that Hiller will conclude this road trip with the start in Carolina. Unreal, the Flames can go 4-1 on this trip and 5-1-0 since Backlund, Stajan, Colburne, et al went down to injury. Not expected at all. In that band they were outplayed in stretches but you have to give them credit for hanging in, and getting results. .. .
Next Up
The Flames wrap up their 5 game road trip in Carolina against the suddenly hot Hurricanes on Monday night, game time 5pm on Sportsnet West.
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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 – Deryk Engellend
Kari Ramo
