Good hockey teams don’t play only good hockey games. You have to eke out the odd fugly contest to remain in contention, and build towards a playoff spot.
The Flames returned to Saddledome ice and found a way tonight in a 5-2 victory, a game that featured a lot of scrambly play in their own zone, break downs, giveaways and puck chasing.
I guess they can’t all be Rembrandts!
The Flow
A sputtery, herky, jerky start for the Flames as they looked a little less poised in their own zone and through the neutral zone. They muddled through however, scoring first, and last to take a 2-1 lead to the intermission. Goals by Jones and Jooris.
The second period was more Flame-like. They gave up an early goal when a Giordano penalty expired, but then went to work to push ahead again late when Jooris tipped in a great pass by Kris Russell to make it 3-2 Calgary.
The Flames had ice in their veins in the third period, limiting chances against, and finding their transition game to push the play to the Coyotes. Sean Monahan essentially put the game away when he took a great Wideman pass in the slot, and casually hammered home a wrist shot. All that was left was Josh Jooris to find the empty net to garner the hat trick, assist going to Gaudreau.
Three Stars
1.Josh Jooris: What more could you want from a prospect that wasn’t considered in your top 20 coming into the season but a hat trick to pace the3 way in the club’s third straight win?
2.Johnny Gaudreau: Simply electrifying tonight. Two assists, but created enough chances for a six point game. Fun to watch. He just keeps getting better.
3.Sean Monahan: Young dude night is complete with Monahan’s goal and assist. Does it all in all 200 feet of the ice.
Big Save
Calgary was jumping early with some good chances, and Mike Smith had to be stellar to get across and stop a Dennis Wiseman one timed rebound chance.
The Goat
Mike Smith just wasn’t good enough tonight, giving up four goals on 23 shots. Hard to fault him on the first goal, but he has to have that Jooris goal in the second. Goaltenders have to make all the easy ones and some of the tough ones. He didn’t.
Mr. Clutch
TJ Brodie had an eye popping road trip, getting praise from National telecast and scouts at all three games. Tonight no points, but lead the Flames in ice time and was +3 for the Flames.
Odds and Ends
Great conversation on the site about advanced stats this week, a topic covered by myself and Elliot Friedman in his weekly 30 Thoughts. I was wondering if game style and coaching trumps say Corsi and Fenwick, while Friedman was wondering the same when it comes to the Oilers. Good timing as it seems to confirm what we are saying, advanced stats don’t always match up with the sight test. The Flames are not getting out played to the point where they should be the 3rd worst team in hockey, and the Oilers are some kind of awful despite being a mid tier team in advanced stats. .. Tonight by the way? Likely another tough night for the Corsi with Calgary getting out shot and blocking a lot of shots. .. Two more points for Gaudreau, which gives him four in the last two games, creeping him closer and closer to Forsberg in the rookie scoring race. He’s now only 4 points back in a race that looked to be over, and has completely separated himself from the rest of the pack (up 6 on the rest of the field). … When a young Joe Nieuwendyk was filling the net as a first and second year player his teammates and specifically Gary Roberts nicknamed him Cy because his goal-assist split looked like a dominant pitcher’s win-loss record. Josh Jooris now has 8 goals to go with 4 assists in just 19 games. … A lot of attention going to Gaudreau this season, but Monahan now has earned half the points (17v34) he had last year in just a third of the games (26v75). Like Gaudreau, he had a slow start but now the two are pushing Hudler, Brodie and Giordano for the team lead. … Sven Baertschi is playing solid hockey, but he has to frustrated to see fellow young players all garner two or three scoring points every night while he toils in a checking role. Would love to see him break out to build some confidence. .. Simply amazing that the Flames are now 8 games above .500 on December 2nd. They move to within a point of the conference leading Canucks, and 7 points ahead of the Wild for the final playoff spot. If they play .500 the rest of the way they will finish with 90 points and be right in the mix for the final play off spot. Oh and they’re now 18 points up on the Oilers with ten more victories.
Next Up
The Flames, expected to be the pursuers if anything, continue their three game home stand against teams chasing them when the Avalanche and Jerome Iginla come to town on Thursday. Game time 7pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Jiri Hudler
Michael Ferland – Markus Granlund – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Lance Bouma – Sven Baertschi
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engellend – Ladislav Smid
Kari Ramo
