Game Takes: Hurricanes 4 Flames 1

November 10th, 2014 | Posted in Game Takes | By: D'Arcy McGrath

Sometimes you can get away with spotty play as long as you work hard, never give up and get a bounce or two.

The Flames found that in both Washington and Florida, giving the team four points, and in the end a successful road trip, though both games could have gone the other way and resulted in misery.

Tonight their luck and bounces ran out, as the Hurricanes skated away with a fairly easy 4-1 victory over the Flames.

The Flow

The Flames were money in the first period, out playing the Hurricanes, winning all the puck battles, getting pucks to the net and playing the consummate road game. They were awarded when Mark Giordano pushed his point streak to 7 games on a play that saw David Jones score a powerplay goal. The Canes tied it up when Hiller got caught on his knees and gave up a short side goal to end the period.

The second was all Hurricanes. They used the momentum from the bad goal in the first to fuel their second period fortunes. The damn burst when Devin Setoguchi got caught from behind skating the puck out of his own zone, and took a penalty to avoid the turn over. The Canes scored soon after and essentially took the game away. By the end of the period it was 3-1 Carolina on Skinners’s 100th career NHL goal.

The Flames had some jump to start the third period, but didn’t get rewarded on any of three decent scoring chances, including a deflection chance by Glencross that was turned aside by Ward. The Hurricanes put it away when a centering pass hit Brodie, and bounced to a streaking Gleason who whipped it past Hiller; 4-1 Canes.

Three Stars

1.Justin Faulk: Cane’s defender has a goal and two assists to pace the home side to a cruise victory.

2.Jeff Skinner: Big 100th career goal for Skinners, who’s come back from concussion issues. Also added an assist.

3.Cam Ward:The score doesn’t show it, but if not for his fine work in the first half of the game this one could have gone much differently.

Big Save

I often pick saves by importance as much as by athleticism, and that’s the case for picking Ward’s pad save early in the third period when Paul Byron flipped the puck into the slot and Glencross got wood on it to deflect it towards the Carolina cage. That goes in and a different game.

The Goat

Lots of culprits in this one, but Devin Setoguchi’s penalty in the second period when caught from behind was a real momentum flipper. When under pressure you simply have to chip the puck out. Beyond that play he was -2 on the game.

Mr. Clutch

Hate saying it, but Alexander Semin is the guy. Lots of poise with the puck, picked up an assist on Skinner’s big goal and could have had a few of his own. The normally lazy overpaid forward actually showed up!

Odds and Ends

Some interesting stats projections heading into this game; Giordano is on pace for 26 goals and 92 points, Brodie 21 goals and 72 points, Gaudreau 16 and 65, Monahan 31 goals. Pretty glad I took Gaudreau in round 10 of my hockey draft. The defender numbers are gaudy and unlikely to last a full 82 games, but both are heading for career numbers. The Monahan burst is the most encouraging to me as I’ve stated in other game stories; he’s creating more than I expected this season (really thought we’d see a sophomore jinx). … The Flames got away with murder in Washington and again with a tough start to the second period in Florida, but found points. Would be easy to take those points away from them and suggest the road trip was more of a fluke then earned, but I don’t buy it. Good teams find ways to win, and developing teams start learning those skills towards contending. The Flames found ways, earned points, and brought them home. Now can they continue that at home? With 11 road games already in the bank, maybe it matters a little less that they haven’t played all the tough Western Conference teams as of yet. Will this team make the playoffs? Don’t think so, but I do think they’ll hang around. The biggest difference now is that Hiller looks mortal, he needs to get back to being super human again. … Max Reinhart didn’t have the best of first league games this season, going -2 and getting sat down in the third period. Interesting to see Hartley’s top nine when he shortens the bench, and have to wonder how many of those 9 would still be in the 9 if the Flames were healthy. … Feel bad for Michael Ferland, really expected him to fly in and join the team on this road trip. … Another goal tonight for Emile Poirier as the Baby Flames won their third straight on this road trip. Good sign for both Poirier, and the team given how many bodies have flown west to Calgary. … Back to Ramo against Arizona? I’m guessing so, as I wouldn’t have faulted Ramo for any goals past the first one in Florida. … Not the greatest night for Giordano and Brodie, perhaps trying to do too much with all the media attention out east.

Next Up

Time to head home for the Flames, as their five game road trip finished tonight. Next up a Saddledome date with the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, game time 7pm Sportsnet.
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Lines:

Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Markus Granlund – Jiri Hudler
Paul Byron – Max Reinhart – Devin Setoguchi
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Josh Jooris

Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Deryk Engellend

Jonas Hiller



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