What no overtime?
The Calgary Flames have made a season of defying odds, and coming from behind, in fact they’ve done it 6 times heading into the third period down a goal or more. So naturally the assumption was solid that they’d find a way to do it again tonight when the Sharks went ahead with half a period to play.
A late Calgary powerplay and back to back to back face off wins by Sean Monahan did almost that, but the Flames came up just short in an entertaining 3-2 loss at the Saddledome on Saturday night.
The Flow
Was that the best period played by the Flames this season? Could easily have been. The Flames were 10-3 in shots and 7-0 in scoring chances through 18.5 minutes but were only rewarded with one strike, a Mark Giordano goal with a few minutes to play. The Sharks turn up the heat late and make it interesting, but 1-0 Calgary after 20.
The Sharks made some adjustments in the intermission, even tossing their own TV channel to the sidelines for a private meeting and it paid off with two quick goals and a boat load of momentum. Calgary finds their legs again, and climb back into it. Johnny Gaudreau gets his own rebound late in the period sending the game to the third all tied up at two.
A high flying third period with both teams getting some of their best chances of the game, and the Sharks going ahead on their second fortunate goal of the game. This time a centering attempt knifes off of Giordano’s stick, flies upward, sails over the net and gets batted in by a waiting Patrick Marleau. The Flames get their chances to score, but come up empty, losing 3-2, and ending their home stand with two wins in three tries.
Three Stars
1.Logan Couture: Set up one, and scored another on a classic backhand to pace the Sharks.
2.Anti Niemi: Stopped 11 of 12 in the first, and 14 of 14 in the third to be the true difference maker on the night. Will be in Gaudreau’s nightmares tonight.
3.Kari Ramo: Gave up three goals on 30 shots, but made many key saves with the game on the line, giving his team a chance.
Big Save
With already one in the bank, Gaudreau heads to the net in the third period, takes a pass, sweeps the puck to his backhand and readies himself for the go ahead goal when a lunging Niemi gets his glove out and takes away the chance.
The Goat
This will cause a stir, but I’m going to go with Hartley in this game, and his line up and change decisions. Who cares if Scott is playing the team didn’t need McGrattan. And if you insist on injuring the third line why would you put out the third defense pairing with them? Way too weak, and they pay for it on the Shark’s second goal.
Mr. Clutch
Paul Byron. Guy had jam tonight. Had a few chances to score, used his speed, was great on the forecheck, through some hits, great little player to watch once again. Making that odd Feaster trade look much better than I expected, even if the team had to stomach the Kotalik era.
Odds and Ends
Still more great discussion on advanced stats this week with the Star having pieces supporting advanced stats and also hammering them in their validity. It’s been a common thing from Flames fans to suggest those only looking at stats likely haven’t seen the team play all that much. Therefore tonight’s game on CBC nationally gave the club a chance to prove their not in the fetal position in their own zone for 15 minutes at a time. The result? A loss, but a game that certainly displayed a team pushing the play and not being dictated it. … Pretty easy to send Knight down when they reactivated Matt Stajan this week. Not that hard to pull Baertschi out now that Stajan is ready. Pretty easy to guess that Baertschi goes down when the next body, probably Mason Raymond is activated. But then what? Does Paul Byron come out? Michael Ferland? This is where it gets tough. Wonder what the Flames will do in the next month if they get 100% healthy. Stajan by the way? He looked good, only 9 minutes of play, but some good dishes down low and solid up and down play. … Really noticed Ferland again tonight, and wonder if he may bypass Granlund for the inevitable next guy sent down. His speed is surprising, he’s great on the wall, has good hands, and now he’s getting over that awe and respect thing that keep young players from playing the pissy style of play that got them here. Some late hits, and some hits to hurt tonight, making it back to back games where he’s garnered attention from opposing players. … The Sharks made an interesting change to their game plan after twenty, dropping into a full lock or trap to try and harness Calgary’s stretch pass and speed attack. Give them credit for adapting, give the Flames credit for adapting to the adaptation, but also revel in the fact that teams now have to play defensively against Calgary. Crazy … didn’t see that coming this year. … Losses don’t feel good anymore do they? Two years of thinking draft pick had me conditioned to think silver lining but now I hate not getting points. The Flames now on a four game road trip and given the tough road in the West they almost need to find 5 or 6 points on the trip. What a ride this team is one that has me thinking a .500 road trip isn’t good enough. Would be easy to assume the trap game will go their way in Buffalo, but then what? Win in Toronto and a OT loss in Pittsburgh? Yikes, have to adjust to all this expectation stuff!
Next Up
On the road again! The Flames visit airports in Toronto, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Chicago. First up is Toronto on Tuesday night, game time 5.30pm.
Lines:
Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Jiri Hudler
Michael Ferland – Markus Granlund – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Lance Bouma
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engellend – Ladislav Smid
Kari Ramo
