Games Takes: Avalanche 3 Flames 2

March 14th, 2015 | Posted in Game Takes | By: D'Arcy McGrath

I’ve had this opening all ready all season.

You just can’t spot teams leads every night and then expect to come back. This message has been put on delay because the Flames again and again have proved this logical thought wrong but tonight it finally caught up with them with the Avalanche hanging on and I mean hanging on to best the Flames 3-2 in Denver on Saturday night.

Flames fail to gain a point for the first time in seven games, but hold on to a playoff spot again because the Kings lose while the Jets and Canucks win.

The Flow

Through ten minutes of the first the Avs are clearly the better team, but the Flames keep it simple, avoid giving up more than a handful of decent shots and carve their way into the proceedings. Flames go to the powerplay on an undisciplined Monahan rub out by Lendeskog, but the Flames generate next to nothing, game remains scoreless. Calgary really finds their legs in the last 5 or 6 minutes of the period, take the play to the Avalanche and almost score late when the Raymond/Colborne/Jooris line gets into a wild scramble in the goal crease resulting in a waived off goal, and two head lock take downs. Scoreless tie through 20, shots 12-6 Calgary, which was surprising given the way the game started.

Solid start for the Avs in the second as they force Ramo to make a couple of good saves, but the hosts are generally carrying the play. A sketchy too many men on the ice penalty gives the Avs the powerplay and Tanguay makes good by banking the puck off Ramo and in from the corner, a play that Ramo has to have. Soon after Tanguay sets up O’Reilly who makes a power move to the net and catches Ramo sneaking off the post shortside, 2-0 Avs and the Flames either in trouble or having Colorado exactly where they want them. Calgary gets a late powerplay but literally does nothing with it and meekly head to the room down two and needing another big come from behind push.

Calgary looks pretty good to start the third, generating a few chances to kick things off but are foiled by Varlamov. A bobbled play defensively results in a breakaway for the Av’s Denis Eversberg but Ramo stretches out with a pad save to keep it 2-0. Calgary gets a fortunate bounce off of Jone’s skate to make it 2-1 but spirits are quickly dampered when Mitchell beats Ramo short side again to put the Avs back up by two. But wait! The goal fury continues when Jones finds Bouma sneaking across the line and Bouma goes bar down to bring the Flames back to within one. Buckle up! The teams settle down and watch the clock tick by for several minutes before a dive or not dive by Jones creates a late powerplay for the Flames. After a few failed attempts the top group sets up well and generates great scoring chances culminating in a great glove save by Varlamov off of Diaz. Calgary continues to be the aggressor running up chance after chance in the last three to four minutes and look to have tied it when Gaudreau takes the puck to the net with less than ten seconds left. Varlamov makes the save and Lance Bouma can’t corral the rebound. 3-2 final. Calgary finishes up in shots 31-26.

Three Stars

1.Alex Tanguay: Ex-Flame was deadly tonight with a key goal and assist in the second period to really set the game up for the Avs.
2.Mikael Backlund: Picks up two assists to continue his point streak to eight games. Quietly!
3.Sergei Varlamov: Simply amazing down the stretch, stopping 27 of 29 shots on the night to preserve the win.

Big Save

Given the time of the game, I’m going with Sergei Varlamov on Johnny Gaudreau with just ticks left on the clock. Gaudreau takes the puck to the net and fires a shot that Varlamov gets a pad on and with that the Flames somehow manage not to come back in a game. How does that happen?

The Goat

I hate “goat-ing” goaltenders, but I think you have to dislike all three Av goals in this one. He made some great saves especially in the second when the Flames were on their heels, but one bank goal and two shortside goals was the difference in this one.

Mr. Clutch

David Jones. Goal and a very key assist finding Bouma open and cruising into the Av’s zone. He’s been a pretty important player in Calgary this year after sputtering through last season. Still pricey for his contribution but not to the extent I would have guessed.

Odds and Ends

I guess one thing I didn’t take into account when Mark Giordano went down was the possibility of the Flames first line anchored by two young players would absolutely explode and carry the team. I said it after the Anaheim game, it seemed like Gaudreau and Monahan found a new plateau that night in the second period, realizing they could control the play at the NHL level. Nobody plays at the A game level every night, but when a young player finds a new level they often set their standard against it going forward. Very good sign both this season, and many to come. … Flames were smart to run quick shifts in the first period as a way to combat back to back legs. The Flames have been great in back to back games however, likely do to managing the team like we saw both tonight and last night when the team got up big on the Leafs. … Imagine coming into this season that the Avalanche would “need” a game the Flames would “like” to have in mid March, and that Roy would be matching lines hard to keep O’Reilly on Monahan at all times. … The guy may have been a disruptive marshmellow in the dressing room, but Alex Tanguay can really pass the puck. Still so slick dishing the puck in the offensive zone. … Flames were really showing their back to back legs on zone entries tonight, either gliding and standing still or holding the puck too long and resulting in off sides or forced plays that resulted in nothing. … How the hell does Mikael Backlund go 8 straight games with points so quietly in Calgary? That streak included the last 5 games of that monster trip, both games in Calgary and again tonight. All kinds of fanfare for the top line, but meanwhile Backlund is red hot on the second line. … Here’s an oddity: The Avs outblocked the Flames by a 26-14 margin tonight. Flames? Getting out blocked? Crazy time! … Hartley was pretty choked at the too many men on the ice penalty that lead to the Avs first goal and the momentum shift in the second. He was visibly pissed right after the play and chose his words carefully again after the game. … Calgary hangs on to third in the Pacific with the Kings loss, keeping the Flames one point up on the Jets, and two up on the Kings. Its going to be a fun ride!

Next Up

Back home to open up a 5 game homestand, a stand that will be critical to the Flames solidifying a playoff spot in the West. Up first is the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night, game time 7pm Sportsnet.

Lines:

Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Brendan Bollig – Matt Stajan – Drew Shore
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond – Josh Jooris – Joe Colborne

Deryk Engelland – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Dave Schlemko – Rapha Diaz

Kari Ramo



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