After enduring the trade deadline, the departure of Glencross, and the news that their leader, captain, and best player was done for the season, the question coming into the game was: how would they react? It didn’t take long to find out as they came out flying and were pretty dominant through much of the first period.
The Flyers have been playing well of late as well and they weren’t going to roll over without a fight. In fact they did something few teams have done this year – outscore the Flames in the 3rd period. However, the Flames weren’t going to be denied. They weathered the Flyers’ push backs and they did what they do – they took over the OT and got themselves a well deserved two points to even their record on this grueling road trip to 2 wins and 2 losses.
Once again, as they have shown over and over this season, the Flames showed that they will not quit. Ever. And tonight they pushed their incredible OT record to 12-4, which includes 7-1 on the road. The win keeps them in 3rd place in the Pacific division.
The Flow
The Flames started quickly and kept coming. They skated well, they caused the Flyers fits with their fore-check, and they smothered the Flyers in the neutral zone. And about halfway through the period, that neutral zone pressure resulted in a turnover by Hudler, who took it in over the line and slid it to Raymond who got it over to a wide open Monahan. He beat Mason with a nice, short-side wrister to give the Flames the early lead. The Flames continued to force turnovers that lead to scoring chances but were unable to get another goal. The Flyers managed to generate some chances of their own late in the period that evened out the shots somewhat, but it was an excellent road period for the Flames. Final shots were 12-10 for the Flames. Of note: Engelland and Brodie played over 8 minutes each, and Engelland had a really strong period – maybe his best as a Flame?
The second started off fairly evenly, but it wasn’t long before the Flames’ speed and pressure began to generate chances again. The Backlund line – who had several good shifts in the first – caused a turnover and Poirier cycled with Bouma who got it out front to Backlund. He had a wide open net from the edge of the crease and made no mistake, making it 2 nothing. That was Poirier’s first NHL point. The Flames took a couple late penalties that killed their momentum, but the PK kept it 2-0. Shots in the 2nd were 12-5 in favour of the Flyers.
The Flyers started the 3rd with a short PP where they had a few chances and generated some momentum. In fact, Couturier scored on the next shift to cut the lead in half. After a failed Flames PP, the Flyers were pressuring again. Nick Schultz – yes, the former Oiler – bowled into the crease and pushed a rebound, along with Ramo, into the net and appeared to tie the game. However, after a lengthy discussion, the refs ruled goalie interference and waved it off. But the Flyers kept coming. After Del Zotto rang one off the post, Streit tipped one past Ramo from right in front to make it 2-2 with 10 minutes left. The Flyers kept the pressure on for a while, but Ramo was equal to the task and the Flames finally started to push back. The last few minutes were more even, but the Flyers did manage to force Ramo to make a couple more big saves.
OT was just what you would expect. Monahan won the opening face-off and the Flames controlled most of the possession. The Flyers did generate a turnover and sent Giroux in for what looked to be a breakaway, but Russell made a tremendous defensive play to not even allow him a shot. Shortly afterwards, Engelland moved the puck up out of the zone. Gaudreau made a tasty little chip pass to Brodie who was flying up the wing. He went wide around MacDonald and fed it out front to Hudler who slipped it under the pads of Mason. The Flames won in OT again!
Three Stars
1.TJ Brodie: 27 minutes of ice-time, 1 shot, 7 blocked shots, 2 takeaways, and set up the game winner. He was a stud.
2.Jiri Hudler: Set up Monahan’s goal and then scored the game winner in OT.
3.Deryk Engelland: Easily his best game as a Flame. Four hits, 4 blocked shots, and 22.49 TOI.
Big Save
With a minute left, the Flyers had offensive pressure and Voracek got the puck out to the slot to Giroux who fired a dangerous snap shot but, quoth the Ramo: “No, we shall go to OT”.
The Goat
There were no goats in this game. But to choose one – and I hate to even say it – Russell had a chance to clear it and couldn’t, allowing the Flyers to get it in front for Streit’s goal that tied the game. (Russell had a really strong game and I feel shame for even saying this).
Mr. Clutch
TJ Brodie. He simply does everything you could ask and more. Oh you want more? Okay, how about setting up the OT winner?
Odds and Ends
Shots were 37-26 for the Flyers. The Flames had 33 blocked shots to the Flyers’ 12. They also had 7 takeaways to the Flyers’ 1…. Ramo started his fourth game in a row, and deservedly so – it’s not very often that a player is chosen as the 1st star in 3 consecutive games. Over those 3 games he was beaten only 3 times, had a 1.02 GAA and a .968 SPG. Yet somehow suffered 2 losses in the process, talk about a lack of run support!… One of the questions with Giordano out was: how would Brodie look without his all-world partner? Well, he was really good in the Islander game, and he was absolutely fantastic in this one. If there was any doubt before, there shouldn’t be any longer. The kid is a legitimate #1 defender in his own right and he clearly brings just as much to the best pairing in the NHL as Giordano does… Sean Monahan’s goal was his 22nd this year, which matches his total from last season. It was also the 1st time this year that he has scored in the 1st period. Prior, he had 8 in the 2nd, 10 in the 3rd, and 3 in OT… Drew Shore was called up today and his position in the lineup means that he is now waiver eligible. So it is very likely that he will spend the rest of the season with the big club because there is little chance he would clear waivers if the Flames were to subject him to them. He centred an all-rookie line with Poirier and Ferland. It was the 4th straight game that the Flames had 5 rookies in the forward ranks… Flyer goalie Steve Mason leads the NHL in 3rd period save percentage with a crazy-good .944 SPG, and he kept it going in this game, turning aside all of the Flames’ 7 shots in the period… Claude Giroux was 28-35 in the face-off dot. Yes, he had 35 FOs and won 80% of them!
Next Up
The road trip continues in Boston on Thursday night. Gametime is 5PM on Sportsnet West
Lines:
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Josh Jooris – Joe Colborne
Mason Raymond – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Michael Ferland – Drew Shore – Emile Poirier
Deryk Engelland – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Corey Potter – Rapha Diaz
Kari Ramo
