Johnny Christmas! Flames win OT Thriller 4-3!

December 23rd, 2014 | Posted in Game Takes | By: Gary Cooper

Remember when playing the Kings was going to be the test to see if they were playoff-ready? Now it’s just be one last chance to break the streak before the Christmas break. The Flames entered the Staples Center on an 8-game losing skid, desperate for something positive to build on.

But it turned out to be a test after all! The Flames spotted them an early lead on a softy, and then found themselves down 3-0 by the middle of the second. But then it was time for a Johnny Christmas miracle! A natural hat-trick for Johnny Gaudreau – with 2 of the goals scored with Hiller on the bench!

And to top it off, a beautiful overtime winner from the captain! 4-3 final. The losing streak is over! (and just in time so we don’t have to endure obnoxious Oiler fans about it on Saturday).

The Flow

The Flames came out with good jump and had a couple good shifts to start, but the Kings came down the ice and scored on their first shot – a weak one at that. And that has happened too many times against Hiller this year, it was a shot that he simply HAS to save.

It was a fast paced, physical, and intensive first with one power play each – but the Flames’ attempt was anemic and the Kings were able to capitalize, 2-0 after one.

The Kings really took over in the second, playing physical, and clogging the neutral zone. Another PP goal made it 3-0 and things were not looking good. A big hit by Bollig and then a PP seemed to spark the Flames. The PP had some good pressure for a change, and with a couple broken sticks on the ice, Gaudreau scored on a rebound to close the gap to 2. They had several good chances to get another before the end of the period, but couldn’t get it done. 3-1 after two.

Good jump in the third. After a post from Carter on a giveaway, Bollig hit the crossbar with a really good shot. After several more good chances for the Flames, a rebound came out to MasonRaymond at the side of the net and his backhand headed for the open cage. It may have been swatted out of the air by McBain, or it may have just been the hockey gods knocking it away, not too sure. Either way, no dice. It looked like their bad luck would continue.

To the Flames’ credit though, they never quit. With the holiday break looming, it would have been easy to fold their tent and go home. But not these guys. They kept the pressure on and, with Hiller pulled, Gaudreau went around the net and out front and slid it under Quick. 3-2.

Then, with a minute left, he went down the right wing and tried to throw a pass out front. It hit Doughty’s foot and slid past Quick. The Flames finally got a break!

Overtime was very entertaining. Monahan had a good chance. Then Hudler setup Gaudreau on a 2 on 0, but Quick denied his chance at a 4 goal night, then denied him again on the rebound. Not to worry though, Giordano entered the zone shortly after, went around the defenseman with a good power move, and beat Quick, for an incredible and hard-fought comeback win.

Not only did the Flames need that victory for their sanity, but the way they fought back, against a big, physical, and stingy Kings team – the team they trail in the standings – makes it hard to overstate just how massive this game was for them and their season.

Three Stars

1.Johnny Gaudreau: First career hat-trick and his usual, electrifying self. On a night when the Kings were trying to beat them into submission, and when nothing was seeming to go their way, Johnny said ‘I got this!’. He had 7 shots and was a +3
2.Jonas Hiller: Ok, sure. He had 31 saves.
3.Mark Giordano: Was physical all night, was a beast defensively, and then had a beauty of a goal in OT to seal what was easily their biggest win of the season. 1G, 1A, +3, 2 hits and 4 blocked shots.

Big Save

I’ll give it to Hiller for making 2 or 3 big saves in the final minute after Gaudreau had tied it. I will give him credit for redeeming himself. Can a player get The Goat and the Big Save in the same game? It looks like he can.

The Goat

I filled this one out 2 minutes in. Hiller let in a brutal goal to start the game and, regardless of how things played out afterwards, you just can’t do that to your team when they are in the kind of funk they’re currently in. Inexcusable. And crushing. Probably even tougher on the team than the early own-goal in Vancouver.

Mr. Clutch

Hmmm, let me think… Johnny Gaudreau with his first career hat-trick. And two of them were with Hiller on the bench. It would have been something if he could have gotten the OT winner when he went in all alone on Quick, but we’ll have to settle with 3.

Odds and Ends

The Flames went 3-2 against the Kings last year, including winning both games in LA in regulation… Calgary outhit LA 34-30 in what was a physical, and somewhat nasty, affair… The key to the win was probably the fact that they were outshot 34-28… Bollig might have had his best game as a Flame. He laid a huge hit in the second period that seemed to spark the Flames. Then in the third he hit the crossbar on a really good chance… I thought Monahan played well as well – at least in the 3rd and OT… Along with Giordano, Brodie had an assist and was +2… Hudler had 2A and was +3… Gaudreau has found his scoring touch. After just 3 goals in his first 23 games, he now has 7 in his last 12, including the game-tying goal in back-to-back contests. He also has 27 points in 35 games, a 63 point pace… With the win, the Flames pull within 2 points of 8th place LA, though the Kings have a game in hand…

Next Up

Christmas break, then the Oilers come to town on the 27th. Had the Flames been entering the game sporting a 9-game losing streak, it would have had a VERY different complexion. But thankfully, they can enjoy the break and come out hard and confident against their provincial rivals.

Lines:

Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Markus Granlund – Jiri Hudler
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Lance Bouma
Mason Raymond – Joe Colborne – Paul Byron

Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engellend – Rapha Diaz

Jonas Hiller



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