It’s going to almost get annoying with the number of times the words “four point game” or “must win”, or “biggest game of the year” are mentioned in the next few weeks.
However you just had to feel the Flames had to have this one if they wanted to hang on to a playoff spot, and reassert themselves in the West before they head out on a seven game trek later this week.
The loss in L.A. was humbling, as the Kings thoroughly outplayed them and had to have left some doubt in their hearts and minds, but tonight’s 3-2 victory over their rival Canucks once again proved the team is always good for a bounce back performance.
The Flow
The Flames essentially owned the first period, pushing the play from the drop of the puck and generating scoring chance after scoring chance. The play of Ryan Miller was the difference as the ex-Sabre was able to flop around the crease and thwart every one of the Flame’s opportunities. The Canucks found their mojo in the last third of the period and went ahead when Kenins beat Ramo with one he’d likely love to have back to make it 1-0 Vancouver after one.
Down one but playing well, the Flames had the focus needed to get back into the game and on track, badly out playing the Canucks in the first few minutes of the period. They tie the game when Gaudreau takes the pass and attempts to beat Miller to the far side, the puck sits on his pad and crashes down to the goal line off the momentum of a sliding Canuck defenseman before Monahan pounced in and poked it across the line. Minutes later Monahan was back again, this time orchestrating the play to Hudler who returned it to Monahan to put the Flames up 2-1. Vancouver ties it late in the second when a Calgary coverage issue left Vey alone to tap in an empty netter.
Calgary presses for the lead in the third and finds their mark when a slick David Jones pass from the corner finds Lance Bouma who fires in his 10th of the season to give the Flames a 3-2 lead. Vancouver gets their chances, but the Flames do a good job of clearing rebounds and keeping the puck on the wall as they wind down the clock for the win. Two points Calgary.
Three Stars
1.Sean Monahan: Flames sophomore adds to his team leading goal total picking up two more to notch up to 19 on the season.
2.Jannik Hansen: Canuck forward picked up an assist, but could have had more points as he generated quite a few scoring chances.
3.Jiri Hudler: Set up both of Monahan’s goals with slick passes to scoring areas.
Big Save
Ramo got a little revenge on Ronalds Kenins who scored in the first on an unscreened shot. This time Ramo gets a pad on a point black tip by the Canucks winger keeping the Flames up 3-2.
The Goat
Chris Tanev was forced to play more minutes with the Edler injury, and seemed to struggle with the added responsibility. The RFA was -3, a tough stat in a 3-2 loss in Calgary.
Mr. Clutch
Was tempted to go Kris Russell and his +2 performance, but I’m going to give the nod to Johnny Gaudreau. I’ve felt he has struggled of late handling the puck, looking like the stretch drive may be weighing in his nerves, but tonight the rookie winger looked much more poised and dangerous on the ice. Picked up an assist on the first Monahan goal.
Odds and Ends
With the Flames losing two of their last three tonight’s game with the Canucks was ultra important. The Flames have to get back to the game over .500 every ten games pace because every other team around them has been winning a lot lately. The team is getting literally no help on the out of town scoreboard so these two points were simply crucial for the Flames. … Hudler’s two points puts him into top spot on the Flames with 45, edging out Giordano and his 44. Rookie Johnny Gaudreau is still my pick to be number one by the end of the season though; he now has 42 and is coming hard. … Monahan with 19 goals in 56 games this season leaving very little doubt that he will find the 20 goal mark again this season. However given his play since Xmas does he have a chance at 30? 11 goals in 26 games doesn’t seem that far out of the question. … With the win Calgary catches Vancouver in points, but sits in the final wild card spot because the Canucks have a game in hand. The Wild are two points back with a game in hand, LA three back with a game in hand. The Sharks are only a point up, but the Flames have a game in hand. I think the Flames will need to get ahead of the Sharks to make the playoffs. … So clearly the question of the night surrounds Kari Ramo and his solid performance for the win tonight. Ramo re-entering the goalie discussion can only mean good things for the Flames as they push down the stretch, as I think they’ll need two goaltenders. Does Hartley come right back with Ramo on Monday night against the Bruins? I’m guessing he does. Can’t hurt his trade value either!
Next Up
The Flames continue their four game homestand with a game against the Bruins on Monday night. Game time 7pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Joe Colborne – Matt Stajan – Paul Byron
Curtis Glencross – Josh Jooris – Mason Raymond
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland – Rapha Diaz
Kari Ramo
