The Flames have become poster boys for coming from behind, and they didn’t disappoint on this homestand spotting leads to Vancouver, Boston and Minnesota before pushing back and finding points in each of the three games.
Tonight its Freaky Friday at the Dome as the Flames get a 2-0 lead, then give up five straight to drop a 6-3 game to the Ducks, a tough note to head out on a 7 game road trip.
The Flow
Wow a good start! The Flames lost the opening face off, but didn’t lose the territorial advantage early, getting the puck deep and forechecking, pretty much controlling the game’s first couple of minutes. Back to back penalties to the Ducks including a cross check from behind on Johnny Gaudreau by confessed bear murderer Stoner gave the Flames a great opportunity to score early but some bad passing and shot blocks thwarted them setting up one of those missed opportunity situations. Calgary did manage to hit the board first though when Matt Stajan pounced on a rebound getting his club off to an unfamiliar first period lead.
Calgary with a solid 2nd period, that is unless you’re only watching the shot clock. The Flames score to make it 2-0 when a brutal Duck clearing attempt results in a Denis Wideman pass to Lance Bouma for his 12th of the season. The Ducks come to within a goal late in the stanza when ironman Cogliano takes a bounce off Hiller’s body off his torso and into the net before he knocks the net off its moorings. Final shots in the period 16-8 Anaheim despite the Flames spending 65% of the period in the Duck’s zone.
Who was that? The Flames play Boston Bruins in the third, surrendering five goals including four straight to go from up 2-1 do a 6-3 loss on the strength of some flat play, some bad bounces, and some Murphy’s Law. Not much left to dissect past the skeleton of this one. Pick it up and move on.
Three Stars
1.Hampus Lindholm: Best Duck on the ice. Empty net goal and an assist and two huge stops defensively.
2.Andrew Cogliano: Huge goal late in the second to set the table for a Duck’s third period. Picks up an assist as well.
3.Ryan Getzlaf: Goal and an assist for the Ovechkin agitator!
Big Save
Lindholm was the man. Thwarts a four on one and a two on one in the second period with the Flames leading 2-0 then 2-1. Game changing events that could have had the Flames pile on to a lead in a game where they eventually fold and give up the ghost.
The Goat
I won’t pick on Glencross as its likely his last home game, but a -3 with one assist wasn’t a great way to say goodbye. But I’ll go with Mikael Backlund for his brutal third period play that turned a one goal deficit in the third into fait du compli.
Mr. Clutch
Do I have to pick one? I gave stars to three Duck players so I’m sick of passing out praise. Everyone have a good weekend!
Odds and Ends
So many topics in Flameland these days. I’ve seen 15 years of topics and issues from Calgary hockey fans but I’m not sure I’ve seen too many that have created the polar opposite emotional response that we’ve seen in the last couple of days in and around Curtis Glencross. People defend him to the Earth. People can’t wait until he’s gone. Amazing the response from both sides of the fence. I certainly appreciate Glencross as a player and the fact that he’s been a good soldier in Calgary. I also am glad that the team isn’t looking to resign him and I’m even more happy that they are thinking asset management and are looking to move him before the deadline. Interesting though, and another testament to the passion of Calgary hockey fans. … The 7 game road trip is finally upon us. I for one couldn’t wait to get to this point once the Flames got to the all star game still in a playoff position. When the schedule came out it looked like a stretch that would guarantee McDavid, but since the season clearly went a different way I’ve hoped to get to it and get it done so we all can have a better idea of the club’s playoff chances. Come home with a .500 or better record and the rest of the schedule suggests they have a pretty good chance. Looking forward to seeing the results. … Can’t believe the Flames sent in four of their most dangerous players on a second period four on one and didn’t get an official shot of out the play. Who practices four on ones in practice? Confusing! … I’m not a big fan of the Flames third jersey, worn tonight against Anaheim, yet I’m even less of a fan of the new special edition Adirondack jersey that looks the same yet with an “A” on fire with the “C” fire of Calgary. Nasty. … Anyone else think Bruce Boudreau doesn’t look well? Very splotchy looking dude. Yikes. … With the Canucks losing, such a wasted chance to pull back up the standings for the Flames. Now they head out on the seven game road trip with a very tight lead on a playoff spot. … Rene Bourque. Zach Fucale may go on and become Patrick Roy, and if he does then the Habs did well in acquiring a boat anchor in Bourque three years ago. But anything short of that means win for the Flames as a solid Cammallari and a serviceable Ramo beat the heck out of the frustration that Bourque is causing fans in Montreal and Anaheim. Just don’t get it. … Will Hartley break up the top line? Monahan scored a goal, but each member of the line was a -3, and this is fresh off the benching in the Boston game. Just not a 200 foot group right now, and that will be rough without last change on a road trip.
Next Up
Road trip! The Flames embark on a briar necessitied 7 game road trip through the East starting with game on in Manhattan on Tuesday night. Game time locally 5pm, Sportsnet.
Lines:
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Curtis Glencross – Markus Granludn – Mason Raymond
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Joe Colborne
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland – Rapha Diaz
Jonas Hiller
