Game Takes: Leafs 4 Flames 1

December 9th, 2014 | Posted in Game Takes | By: D'Arcy McGrath

Over the course of a season teams will win games they have no business being in, and drop games they likely should have won.

The Flames, 4-1 losers in Toronto tonight have dropped two straight games that would likely fill spots in their top ten performances this year, but have had the tied flow the other way too with wins in Chicago, and even last week at home against Colorado. It happens.

Key now is to win in Buffalo, if the Flames don’t halt the skid in that one they could be home and cool on a 5 game losing streak and their playoff spot in jeopardy.

The Flow

Save for the first couple of shifts the Flames dominated the first period in Toronto, out shooting their hosts 13-7 but coming up empty on the scoreboard and trailing 1-0. The Leafs Holland scored their goal on a counter after both Hudler and Gaudreau had back to back blue chip chances but were foiled by Bernier.

Any momentum gained by the Flames in the first seemed to drain out of them between periods as it was the Leafs that stormed out in the second frame. Their play caused a penalty, and the penalty caused a goal, and suddenly it was 2-0 Toronto with shots 6-0 through 8 minutes. Calgary settles things down, finds their game, and pushes back in the last third of the period, but either over passed the puck, or were foiled by a pretty hot Bernier.

The Flames continue their push into the third period, out shooting the Leafs 16-8 and coming close to tying the game on numerous occasions but once again couldn’t beat the game’s first star, Bernier. With the goalie pulled, they come close on a few occasions but then succumb with two late empty net goals to make the game look a lot more lopsided then it was.

Three Stars

1.Jonathan Bernier:13 saves in the first period and 16 in the third, stopping all but one of them in a dominant performance by the Leaf’s starter.
2.Kris Russell: Leads all Flames in ice time with 26+ minutes and a real difference maker up and down the ice despite not earning any points.
3.James Van Riemsdyk: Two points, including the game winner early in the second period.

Big Save

Easy one tonight. Johnny Gaudreau jumps on a Hudler rebound and heads in alone on Bernier, attempts a few moves and takes the puck to his forehand only to find the Toronto goalie matching his every move.

The Goat

Love this guy’s game overall, but I wish Paul Byron could have a do over with the goalie pulled and the Flames all over the Leafs (almost said swarming but just can’t). The Leafs are dog tired and 40 seconds into a shift, shot goes wide and Byron blindly tosses the puck behind him into the slot and that’s that. Control it, and I think they tie the game.

Mr. Clutch

Markus Granlund. For a guy that I had sliding and likely destined for Adirondack when Colburne returns (likely in Pittsburgh), Granlund was excellent, scoring once, and becoming one of Hartley’s go to guys in the third period.

Odds and Ends

Not sure I remember the last time the Flames iced a line up with four lines of forwards that could all skate, play defense, and contribute to the offense in the other end. Seems to me there’s always been one or two guys in the lineup that have you worried until they step off the ice again. McGrattan, Bollig and Westgarth (last season) are great team guys, and add in ways that don’t always make the score sheet, but it must be easier to run a bench when you can roll four lines if you wish. The top lines don’t get as worked, and you never feel quite as at risk as you would with Calgary’s more normal fourth line. … The Flame’s timing for telling Josh Jooris that he’s a regular and can find a place to live in Calgary is telling. They could have waited to see how he fared with the roster stocked back up with veterans, and then in the end take the easier road to travel by sending the waiver ineligible Jooris back to Adirondack. By making the move now, they’ve done two important things. 1) Pushed the always earned motif forward in a shining example and 2) Set the wheels in motion for a waiver eligible player to be assigned or traded in the future. … Giordano with a broken stick in the third period reached out for the nearest forward’s twig only to see Johnny Gaudreau. The exchange never happened, but you’d have to wonder if that little instrument would have done him much good! … Assuming the Flames go back to Ramo now with the Hiller’s loss tonight? Don’t blame Hiller as I don’t think he had a chance on either goal, but if the hot hand carries the day I’m guessing they switch. … Gut check time for the Flames having lost two in a row for the first time this season. They simply have to beat Buffalo, and then find at least a point in one of the two final cities on this trip. If not they could be ouch for five and out of a playoff spot. … A lot of talk on 960 today about the Flame’s defense, and the fact they are set with a 1, 2, 3, 4, and a 6 defenseman but really need the 5. Smid they had as the six, but wondered if the Flames need to trade for a 5 or promote Wotherspoon. Interesting thought.

Next Up

The Flames road trip moves on to the “trap” game in Buffalo on Thursday night. A four game road trip as tough as this needs a couple of points in Sabreland. Game time 5pm MST Sportsnet.

Lines:

Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond – Markus Granlund – Paul Byron
Michael Ferland – Matt Stajan – Lance Bouma

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

Jonas Hiller



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