Game Takes: Tampa 5 Flames 2

November 6th, 2014 | Posted in Game Takes | By: D'Arcy McGrath

Heck even three goal road losses are entertaining from this group this season.

The Flames lose, finally on the road tonight, dropping a 5-2 contest to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida on Thursday night, and honestly the better team won. However, despite the score, the Flames were in it, they kept it close, drove the play, hit some goal posts, gave up some goal posts and competed in an interesting back and forth hockey game.

The Flow

I sound like a broken record, but another great start for the Flames on the road, as they took it to the Lightning to start the game, failing to score however. The Lightning pushed the play back to Calgary for the mid to end part of the period, and took advantage putting the home side up 1-0 on Paquette’s first NHL goal. A TJ Brodie rush led to a Jiri Hudler goal and the game was tied through one period.

The second started rough for Calgary as the Lightning score early, Paquette again incredibly, and then made it 3-1 when Russell coughed up the puck on a Flames powerplay and Boyle scored. Sean Monahan got that one right back setting up an interesting third period.

The third wasn’t a good period for the Flames, a quick goal given up to Tampa to make the game 4-2 and that queued the taking chances and coughing up the puck by the Flames the rest of the way. They get some chances, mind you, but can’t find the net before finally surrendering the empty net goal to salt things away.

Three Stars

1.Cedric Paquette: Liqhtning youngster scores his first two NHL goals in the same game to pace the hosts.

2.Ben Bishop: Ex-Senator (still can’t believe that trade) had a huge impact on the proceedings early making 29 saves on 31 shots..

3.Mark Giordano: Manages to wrestle the top billing spot for defenseman scoring from his buddy Brodie with two assists to Brodie’s one on the night. Also finished even which was a feat in this game.

Big Save

Near the end of the second period, former Canuck Jason Garrison unloaded with a slapper from the point only to have Jonas Hiller toss out his catcher’s mitt and rob the defender. Great love save.

The Goat

The Calgary blueline has been the team’s bread and butter this season, but the pairing of Wideman and Russell were pretty complicit in the Bolt’s third and fourth goals, the difference in the game as it turned out.

Mr. Clutch

Steve Yzerman. How many young productive players does Tampa have in the AHL? Every time I see a Tampa game on television I have to learn the name of an offensive threat.

Odds and Ends

Have to say it again, really impressed with Sean Monahan. Its almost been a perfect situation for Monahan to come into his sophomore season with Johnny Gaudreau getting a lot of press clippings, the man could go about his recovery from a flu bug and find his game in peace. Now however, he’s forcing himself to the forefront with a huge burst in puck control and patience, neither of which we saw a whole lot of last season. He’s gone from a finisher to a guy that can create. He’s going to be a big piece in Calgary. Already is … Speaking of pieces, this was Sven Baertschi’s best game of the season. No goals, no assists, but actually calmed down and created a bit with the puck and had some chances. Good to see, my fingers are crossed for the guy. Maybe Elliot Friedman helped him out with his scathing quotes in his 30 column this week. … Everyone sit down. Hiller had a sub .900 save percentage game, stopping only 88% of the Tampa shots tonight. Does this mean a break for the Flame’s MVP and a start from Ramo in Florida? That’s my guess. … Pretty impressed with Josh Jooris’ start on the club’s defacto injury riddled first line. He had speed, energy, and a pretty good touch on the puck shift in and shift out. He’s winning me over.

Next Up

Game four on the trip takes the Flames to Florida, where they take on the Panthers on Saturday afternoon. Game time 1pm on Sportsnet.
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Lines:

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

Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Raphael DIaz – Deryk Engellend

Jonas Hiller



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