Mark Giordano was more than a little miffed when the media throng in Calgary suggested his club’s improbably push toward a playoff spot could be over in the absence of their captain. He might have had a reason to be ticked.
The Flames first two games without Giordano may have resulted in a split, but they were outplayed in both, and clearly outplayed in the victory in Philly, suggesting that it was only a matter of time before they slipped out of contention and out of the race.
Not so fast. Tonight the Flames beat the Bruins in a shoot out, final score 4-3, and were full marks for hanging with the Bruins and finding two points.
The Flow
Typical Flames beginning, at least of late as they came out skating in sand, letting the Bruins take it to them. The Bruins were finally rewarded when Marchand took his rebound off the back boards and tucked the puck in the far side on a slow to recover Ramo. Calgary actually tied the score when Sean Monahan took a Kris Russell rebound in the slot and pounding home his career best 23rd of the season. Tied up at one after one.
The Flames had some life in the second, actually taking the play to the Bruins for a spell, but that all ended with a listless powerplay and some players caught the ice. The tired powerplay options got caught running around in their own zone leaving Lucic all alone, 2-1 Boston. Unpredictably the Flames pulled themselves off the carpet and took the game back in the latter half of the period, tying the score on Jiri Hudler’s rebound off of a Backlund shot and then pressing the play again to finish the period. All tied up heading to the third.
Calgary goes ahead in the third when Johnny Gaudreau scores in front of his college buddies on a third period powerplay, finishing off a great effort for the club with the man advantage. Boston ties it up with eight minutes to play and then had a few other chances late to salt things away, but the game goes to overtime.
The Flames were the better team in the extra period, Gaudreau sets up Wideman, but the defender lost his angle and failed to get a shot off. Moments later Hudler gets the puck at the side of the net but is foiled trying to dish the puck to Gaudreau, game goes to a shoot out.
The shoot out isn’t a quick one, as the teams are scoreless through 6 rounds, then Bergeron and Jooris swap goals, before Schlemko shocks the city with a Forsberg move to win it. Unreal.
Three Stars
1.Jiri Hudler: Goal and an assist to pace the Flames and finally knock Ramo off his first star perch on this road trip.
2.Dougie Hamilton: Bruin defender really emerging as a top defenseman, picks up an assist and charts 23 minutes of ice time.
3.Kari Ramo: Gave up three for the first time on the road trip, but that was on 37 shots, he was a difference maker again.
Big Save
Ramo rims the wall in the third and then falls down giving Sodenberg the green light to center the puck to a wide open Eriksson for a tap in. Not so fast, Ramo dives back and robs the ex-Star.
The Goat
Drew Shore looked a little more lost in this one, then two nights ago in Philly. Part of it might have been his move to the right side at times, but he was -2 including a play where the fell into Ramo rendering the goalie ineffective to stop the Bruin’s third goal.
Mr. Clutch
Johnny Gaudreau. Great bounce back game for the rookie as he scores his first goal in 15 games, and gets his ice time back over 20 minutes. The Flames are going to need contributions from Gaudreau and Monahan down the line if they have any hope of making the playoffs.
Odds and Ends
Sven Baertschi had an assist, two shots, a failed shoot out attempt in his first game in the Canucks’ system playing for Utica last night. Someone on the site pointed out today that the Flames 2nd round pick likely picked up a few points in the OHL last night, we just don’t know who that is. Classic. … I couldn’t have been more wrong about Sean Monahan and where he would be in his game this season. Totally wrong. As I’ve said countless times I really believed his shooting percentage heroics last year would catch up with him. Great to see him surpass his goal total and keep on a pace that might net him 30. How many saw him outscoring McKinnon this season? Not me. … Gaudreau was struggling a bit in recent games, so it was good to see him hit the scoresheet tonight in front of his ex Boston teammates. I thought he looked great in MSG, decent in Jersey, but struggled in Long Island and Philly. Was interesting to see Hartley move him back up with Monahan and Hudler by the end of the game. .. The win gives the Flames a 3-2-0 record through 5 games of the 7 game trip, a big boost given they only need a point to come back .500. With their schedule evening out considerably once they get back, their effort tonight suggests they just might be in this thing to the end. The Canucks dropped an overtime game to the Coyotes of all teams and the Kings are losing with 8 minutes to play at press time. That score holds and the Flames are 2 points up on the final spot in the Pacific, but also only 2 points back of Vancouver with even games played, and also 2 back of Winnipeg with a game in hand.
Next Up
With game five of seven on the books, the Flames move on to Detroit to take on the Wings tomorrow night. Game time 7.30 Sportsnet.
Lines:
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Mason Raymond – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Johnny Gaudreau – Joe Colborne – Josh Jooris
Brandon Bollig – Drew Shore – Emile Poirier
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland – TJ Brodie
Brad Schlemko – Rapha Diaz
Kari Ramo
