Curses! Flames lose 6-3 to the Ducks

January 22nd, 2015 | Posted in Game Takes | By: Gary Cooper

“Elvis is dead. The Beatles have split. We have a big game tonight.” Hartley, referencing the Flames’ 19 game losing streak at the Honda Centre.

Well, Hartley and the Flames had the right attitude towards The Curse, and gave it a good effort, out-shooting and out-chancing Anaheim. But the curse is strong, and the Ducks did a good job capitalizing on their chances. In the end, the streak was pushed to 20 games as the Flames magic run came to an end and they fell 6-3 at the Honda Centre.

The Flow

The Flames came out with good jump and had a couple good chances, care of Monahan and Backlund, but the Ducks managed the first goal on a cross-crease set up from Beleskey to Palmieri. After that, the Ducks gained momentum. The Flames had a couple power plays, but their woes on that front continued. There was a good chance by Bouma, then at the other end, the Ducks got a second goal on a tip-in from Maroon. Again, no chance for Ortio. That was the theme for the night, and it continued.. a couple more chances for the Flames, then down the ice and a wrist shot from the point by Lovejoy tipped off Russell’s glove and past Ortio. The Honda Centre bad luck was in full force. So the first period ended with the score 3-0 Anaheim. The shots were 10-8 Flames and, IMO, the Ducks only had 4 scoring chances. I’ll give them credit though, they did a good job of collapsing around their net and stifling the good chances that the Flames did have. And they buried their chances, though the third goal was pure fluke.

The Flames had good jump to start the second and got an early PP. While it was better, the result was the same. Then Ducks got their first PP of the game, already up by 3 and it was getting scary. But the Flames’ penalty killing was really solid and it gave them some momentum. Unfortunately, they couldn’t convert and sure enough, one chance at the other end and Tim Jackman (yes Tim Jackman, from Bourque no less) buried it over Ortio’s shoulder to make it 4-0 and that was the end of Ortio’s night. Four goals on 11 shots, but only the 4th one could be put on him.

The Flames didn’t quit though. First, Backlund scored to break the goose egg on a rebound from a real good effort from Bouma, driving to the net. Then Gaudreau set up Hudler right in front but Anderson made a great save. Bollig also had a great chance but Anderson had the answer. Then in the last minute, Gaudreau set up Monahan for a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal and suddenly it was 4-2 after two. Shots in the second were 13-8 Flames.

The Flames started the 3rd with good jump again and a great chance from Jooris and Jones. But they couldn’t get that third goal. The Ducks pushed back and had a few chances but Hiller came up big. Then the Flames finally had something go their way at the Honda Centre. With the Ducks on the PP, Hiller was trying to cover the puck and Palmieri pushed it – and Hiller – into the net. The ref waved it off and the review backed him up, no goal as Palmieri pushed Hiller into the net.

Shortly afterwards, Anderson tried to cover the puck behind the net but Stajan poked it free to Backlund who had the whole net in front of him, but missed from a few feet out. Consistent with the theme of the night, it went down the other way and Getzlaf buried it from the slot. 5-2 Ducks, halfway through the 3rd.

But the one thing about this Flames team is that they never quit, no matter what. Next shift after the Getzlaf goal, the Flames took it straight down the ice, and Colborne buried a rebound. That gave the Flames life and Russell had a great chance on the following shift. But they just couldn’t get that 4th goal. And then Kesler iced it with an empty netter. Final was 6-3, shots were 11-10 Ducks in the third, and 33-27 Flames overall.

Three Stars

1. Ryan Getzlaf: One goal on the night but was a constant threat.
2. Frederick Anderson: >: Every time the Flames got some momentum and looked like they might get themselves back into it, Anderson made another big save.
3. Sean Monahan: Had a goal, 3 shots, and over 20 minutes of ice-time, and extended his goal scoring streak to 4 games.

Big Save

Five minutes into the third, Getzlaf put it in front for Maroon to tip it in but Hiller (in relief of Ortio) followed the play across and made a great save. He then followed it up about a minute later with a huge glove save, again off the stick of Maroon. If the Flames were going to have any chance of a comeback, those saves kept the dream alive.

The Goat

The pairing of Russell and Wideman had a really tough first period, and were on the ice for Anaheim’s first and third goal. For the second game in a row in the Honda Centre, Russell tipped one into his own net. He must hate this rink.

Mr. Clutch

Frederick Anderson was solid all night. With the Flames pressing late, Colborne sent a cross-crease pass over to Bouma but Anderson slid the pad over and robbed him.

Odds and Ends

That was the 20th game in a row without a win for the Flames at the Honda Centre, a stretch of 11 years and 2 days. And only 1 win in 16 years… The Flames were out-shot by Vancouver, San Jose and Los Angeles on this trip, and won all those games. But they fell 6-3 to the Ducks, despite out-shooting them 33-27. What is it about this team? They seem to be a far better team when they are being outshot than when they carry the majority of the play… Anaheim’s third goal was a harmless looking wrist shot from the point that hit Russell’s leg and deflected past a helpless Ortio. When was the last time the Ducks didn’t get a fluky goal against the Flames?… Monahan extended his goal scoring streak to 4 games in a row. He now has 15 on the season to lead the team, and is only 4 points shy of his total for last year… Dennis Wideman has 2 goals and 3 assists in the last 4 games and is now only 1 point behind Brodie… Girodano is once again leading all defensemen in scoring with 40 points in 47 games. Brodie is 13th overall with 29 pts and Wideman is 15th with 28… Lance Bouma had 2 assists and now has 17 pts, surpassing his total of 15 from last season… Los Angeles lost 4-2 in San Jose tonight, so the Flames will enter the all-star break holding the 8th and final playoff spot in the western conference…

Next Up

It’s all-star weekend. Giordano and Gaudreau are off to Columbus to participte while the rest of the team has 6 days off before hosting Buffalo on Tuesday night, gametime 7:00 on Sportsnet West

Lines:

Lance Bouma – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond – Mikael Backlund – Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Paul Byron

Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Daryk Engelland – Rapha Diaz

Joni Ortio



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