The epitaph will read 8 losses in a row, and rightly so, but in the end, its the Flames coming from behind by two goal to earn a point and put an end to 7 straight games without a point, as the club fades out of playoff contention.
Vancouver, loser of 5 straight themselves, managed to find a way to secure two points in besting the Flames by a 3-2 score on HNIC, further making a mess of the Western Conference standings.
The Flow
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Calgary actually had a decent start, and were in the process of creating down low, when a delayed penalty call to the Canucks turned into disaster when a Dennis Wideman bank pass back to Mason Raymond resulted in a 200 foot own goal into the Calgary cage. Calgary flounders for a while from this point, and the Canucks turn a powerplay opportunity into a 2-0 lead when Vrbata outmuscles Byron in front of the net to double the score.
Calgary gets their feet on the ground in the second, outshooting and out chancing the Canucks despite being down 2-0. They’re push finally pays off when David Jones finds the puck in the slot and beats Miller short side to bring the Flames within one.
A back and forth third period goes Calgary’s way when a pronounced Hudler/Gaudreau shift results in a give and go, and finally a wrister from Gaudreau that beats Miller through the pads to tie the score. Later in the period Monahan gets in shorthanded but is turned away by Miller to send the game to over time.
Overtime doesn’t take long. Mark Giordano is caught deep when the Canucks break down the ice and find Tanev as the trailer to salt thins away. Final score 3-2 Vancouver, Calgary gets a point.
Three Stars
1.Ryan Miller:Gives up only two on 28 Flames shots to earn the victory.
2.Daniel Sedin: Two assists on three Vancouver goals, the Canuck’s twins are slowing down, but they’re still key players on the top line.
3.Ryan McDonagh: Jonas Hiller. Flames lose 3-2 but he’s only in the cage for two of them so a solid night of goaltending from the Flame’s Swiss stopper.
Big Save
Ryan Miller did well to hold the post when Joe Colborne cut hard to the net in the second period, giving Matt Stajan a rebound opportunity that Miller was at the ready to turn back.
The Goat
Mason Raymond had better find his game. Sure he’s unlucky to be the guy that misses the bank pass on the half wall giving up the Flame’s own goal, but he’s weak on the stick and a turn over machine in only 14 minutes of action.
Mr. Clutch
Johnny Gaudreau has another solid night, this time in Vancouver the site of his first NHL goal. Busy creating as per usual, but tonight actually shoots the puck and is rewarded with the team’s second goal of the night.
Odds and Ends
The Flames top four defenders have struggled with little doubt, but the team’s top forward have completely disappeared as well. Hudler continues to produce, but Monahan, Glencross and others have been quiet for many a game. I understand the dry spell for Jooris and Granlund but Calgary’s veterans have to produce. … Have NHL coaches figured the Flames out? Or are the Flames their own worst enemies because of tension and tight sticks? The club was lights out moving the puck tape to tape and breakouts and transition through November, but now it seems like the team has regressed to chipping pucks out and chipping pucks in instead of pushing the play themselves. Interesting to watch. … Mikael Backlund skating this week is a great sign for the Flames. His experience and two way game would give Monahan a break in not only responsibility, but also who’s he’s matched up against. In a contract year, would be key to get Backlund back on skates and pushing for a decent renewal from the Flames. … Given Ramo’s last couple of performances, I’d imagine we’d see Hiller again in L.A. on Monday night.
Next Up
The Flames move on to L.A. to take on the Kings on Monday night. Not sure if the Kings are really the target, but points-wise a good time to hit the win column. Game time 8pm Sportsnet.
Lines:
Joe Colborne – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Jiri Hudler
Curtis Glencross – Markus Granlund – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Lance Bouma
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engellend – Raphi Diaz
Jonas Hiller
