It’s January, so they aren’t must wins, but when you’re one of 7 teams within 5 points, fighting over 3 playoff spots, they’re all big games. And with the Minnesota Wild in town, a team chasing the Flames and desperate to start climbing in the standings, it was another big 4 pointer. And both teams played like it as the tempo was extremely fast all night.
The Wild are a difficult team to figure out because, on paper, they look like a really deep and dangerous team. Goaltending has been a big problem for sure, but it isn’t just that, as many of their big guns have been pretty quiet. The acquisition of Devan Dubnyk may be the tonic they have been looking for though, as they are 3-1 so far with him in net.
And he gave them stellar goaltending again tonight, turning away 30 shots for his 4th win and 2nd shutout in 6 games with the Wild. It was fast paced and very intense, with plenty of quality scoring chances at both ends. But in the end, it was a lone goal by Zach Parise off a turnover from Giordano in the first period that stood up as the difference. The final score was a frustrating 1-0 for Minnesota.
The Flow
The Raymond-Jooris-Colborne line picked up where they left off on Tuesday night with good early pressure on their first couple shifts. That got the tempo rolling and for the first 10 minutes the Flames held the play and had the better chances. However, Giordano coughed up a terrible turnover to Parise on a clearing attempt and he beat Hiller from alone in front to give the Wild the early lead. That gave the Wild some momentum and they held the majority of the play the rest of the way. All in all a pretty even period and both teams had two or three good chances. The difference was that Parise had the Wild’s best chance and Byron had the Flames’. 1-0 after a fast paced period, shots were 14-8 Minny.
The second started off a little choppier. The Flames had an early power play, but it was its usual, anemic self. The period was the mirror-opposite of the first as Minnesota controlled the first half and the Flames took over for the back half. But despite several quality chances, they couldn’t beat Dubnyk. Shots were 14-10 Calgary and, according to Sportsnet, scoring chances were 12-12 after two. Still 1-0.
More of the same in the 3rd. The Flames had several good chances. Gaudreau got off a real good wrist shot that Dubnyk gloved, Monahan was set up right in front by Hudler but went to the backhand and missed the net. Then Byron got his nightly breakaway, but we all know how that turned out. The Wild had their chances too, as they waited for turnovers and tried to pounce. But Hiller was solid at his end too. The Flames continued to press and had plenty of chances, including several with Hiller on the bench, but they couldn’t beat Dubnyk. Shots were 8-8 in the third and 32-30 for the Wild overall. Final score was 1-0.
Three Stars
1.Devan Dubnyk: Easy one – 30 save shutout, including several beauties.
2.Jonas Hiller: He was solid as well, and couldn’t be faulted on the lone Parise goal
3.Deryk Engelland: For one simple play – he drilled Matt Cooke into the boards in the third period. Also, I don’t like Parise.
Big Save
About 7 minutes into the 3rd, still 1-0 and Byron tips it to Gaudreau at the Wild blueline. Johnny goes in one on one and cuts across the d-man to the forehand for a quick wrist shot labeled for the top corner, but Dubnyk flashes the leather and stones him.
The Goat
It’s hard to even write it as he has done so much for this team this year. But Giordano had a horrific and uncharacteristic giveaway, right to Parise (who else), who potted the only goal of the game.
Mr. Clutch
With the Flames buzzing in the final minutes with the extra attacker, Dubnyk remained calm and solid, turning aside several good chances, including a quick leg save on a rebound. He stared down Byron on a breakaway, and he frustrated Gaudreau on several chances.
Odds and Ends
Tough night in the standings, as Dallas and of course, Minnesota won, and San Jose looked on their way to winning as well, while the Flames suffered a regulation loss. Only 5 points separate Vancouver in 7th and Minnesota in 12th now. There won’t be any more easy games this season… The Wild actually had more blocked shots than the Flames (16-11), but the Flames outhit them 11-7 and face-offs were unusually tight at 27-26…Early in the second period, Gaudreau drew a tripping penalty. It seems like he draws a penalty every game. In their recent announcement about tracking more stats, the NHL statement listed several new stats including ‘penalties drawn’. I look forward to that one, and it will not surprise me if we see him among the league leaders in that category… Bettman was in town today, and met with the mayor apparently, generating speculation that an announcement might be forthcoming on a new arena. However, there have been so many false starts on the front that it is hard to get even remotely interested at this point. We’ve heard them cry wolf before… Speaking of Wolf – are we going to see his debut in Calgary soon? After a loss, Hartley may be more inclined to change the lineup. And IMO, Raymond, for one, did not have a good game. Would love to see Wolf throw his body around against the Oilers on HNIC…
Next Up
The home stand continues Saturday night on HNIC when the mighty Oilers make their 3rd and final visit of the season.
Lines:
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond – Josh Jooris – Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Paul Byron
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Daryk Engelland – Rapha Diaz
Jonas Hiller
