Friday night, the Flames blew a chance at 2 points due to terrible defense and terrible goaltending. Just 24 hours later, they played significantly better defensively, and got an all-star performance in net as Joni Ortio turned away all 36 shots that he faced. The Flames finally won in Vancouver, for the first time in a little over 3 years. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was a gritty and well deserved road victory.
Hartley put Backlund and Gaudreau together, along with Jones, and the line was dangerous all night. Backlund seems to be the C that is cerebral enough to be effective with Gaudreau. They seemed to have instant chemistry.
The Flames, led by a Finn, a Swede and a Yankee, finally beat the Canucks!
The Flow
The game started somewhat tentatively, as both squads looked like they were coming off bad games and looking to play better defensively (which was, of course, the case). Despite the fact that the shots were 10-1 in favour of the Canucks at the half-way point of the period, the Flames had the lead because that one shot was a really nice passing play from Gaudreau to Jones to Backlund, who potted his 3rd goal and 5th point in just his 3rd game back from injury. In fact, that line looked dangerous on pretty much every shift, even though they were regularly up against the Sedin line. Shots were 15-6 Nucks in the first, and they definitely carried the majority of the play. Ortio was very solid, but none of the shots were really all that threatening, and the Flames chances were probably at least as dangerous. Monahan had a post and almost scored on a late tip in.
Flames started the second on the PP and had some good jump and quality chances but couldn’t convert. Then some sloppy defense resulted in a couple chances and a couple posts for the Nucks. I don’t know what it is about second periods, but the Flames just stop skating and can’t seem to make a clean pass. A couple good shifts from the 4th line, but the Canucks carried most of the play. Ortio was solid again, shots were 28-14 after 2, but still 1-0 Flames.
Flames were better in the 3rd, but still spent too much time in their own zone. However, they blocked shots, played the body, kept the Canucks to the perimeter, and in the end played a solid road period to seal the deal for the shut-out. Shots were 9-8 Flames in the period, and 36-23 overall.
Three Stars
1.Joni Ortio: No doubt about this one – a 36 save shut-out on the road against your hated rivals who you’re in a tight playoff race with is an automatic first star performance. He was poised and solid throughout.
2.Mikael Backlund: Scored the only goal of the game and put his full, 200-foot game on display all night. Had a shift late in the 3rd where he single-handedly moved the puck out of their zone, down the ice, and killed half a minute off the clock.
3.Johnny Gaudreau: The Flames weren’t dominant, so it seems off to give them all 3 stars, but I felt that individually, these were the 3 best players on the ice tonight. Playing with Backlund, and meshing with him quickly, Gaudreau was dangerous all night.
Big Save
Late in the second, still 1-0 Flames and the Sedins really pressing, Daniel was set up right in front but Ortio stoned him.
The Goat
In a 1-0 road win, hard to pick a goat. How about Burrows for being Burrows at the end of the game?
Mr. Clutch
Mikael Backlund buried his chance for the only goal of the game. He also won a key defensive draw with about 2 minutes left, then carried the puck down the ice and spent the whole shift in the offensive zone. He has been nothing short of fantastic since returning from injury. (Yes, hard not to give it to Ortio, but none of the 36 saves were really of the stellar, highlight variety, just consistently solid, so I thought Backlund deserved the nod).
Odds and Ends
The Flames entered this one sporting an horrific 2-9-4 record in their last 15 trips to the Rogers Centre. Their last win was Dec 23rd, 2011 when Leland Irving posted a 3-1 victory… Flames never took any penalties, which was a key to the victory. However, their power play continued its recent troubles, going 0 for 4… Monahan hit a post, which seems like the 4th or 5th game in a row… Wideman took a shot off the ankle and really seemed to struggle the rest of the way – he’ll be glad they have 4 nights off… Stajan has been really solid for the past few games and played well again tonight. Thanks largely to him, the 4th line has been vastly improved. Tonight – especially in the 2nd period – the 4th line provided some key shifts with some really good forechecking when the Flames were spending too much time in their own zone… After a terrible start for the first 5 games or so, Ortio has been terrific all year. He was rewarded with an invite to the AHL all-star game, and then an even better reward with the invite to Calgary. While no one really expected him to get any starts, a poor game by Hiller against the Panthers led to his opportunity. And did he ever take advantage of it! It wasn’t just that he turned away everything that the Nucks threw at him, it’s the way that he makes you feel confident with him back there because he is just so solid and always square to the shooter. It is also amazing how much he reminds one of his hero and home-town compatriot, Miikka Kiprusoff… The win leaves the Flames one point behind the 8th place Kings, and 2 points behind the Canucks, Jets and Sharks. This road trip – with games in Arizona, San Jose, LA and Anaheim – could go a long way in determining whether or not they are going to be a factor in the playoff race…
Next Up
The road trip will take a break back in Calgary before heading to Arizona and the Coyotes on Thursday and then the 3 California teams.
Lines:
Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Johnny Gaudreau – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Lance Bouma – Markus Granlund – Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Paul Byron
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engellend – Rapha Diaz
Joni Ortio
