Games Takes: Flames 4 Flyers 1

March 19th, 2015 | Posted in Game Takes | By: D'Arcy McGrath

There are big games, then there are big games.

This edition of the Calgary Flames have had few less inconsequential than tonight with the non playoff bound Philadelphia Flyers in town on a Thursday night. With all the teams around them winning, and the club needing to halt a 2 game losing skid, tonight’s 4-1 win over the Flyers was exactly what the team needed.

Now the club can take a breath and put their energy into pushing forward on this homestand against teams they should beat. A much easier feat when you have a one game win streak to ponder instead of a three game losing skid.

The Flow

A tentative start by the Flames, but not one that got them burned as they limited the scoring chances and shots as they settled in and found their mojo. Felt the 2nd half of the period was mostly all Calgary, as they ramped up the attack and generated more of the play. The top line was activated early much more than in the St. Louis game and Johnny Gaudreau specifically showed a lot of jump, something that should bode well for the rest of the game. Scoreless after one.

Thought the Flyers reasserted themselves in the first half of the second, getting better chances, especially on the game’s only powerplay but fail to score as the game stays scoreless. The damn finally burst when Johnny Gaudreau forced a Flyer turnover leaving Hudler and Wideman broke in on a give and go resulting in Wideman’s 13th of the season. Soon after a melee broke out after a Ramo cover created a four on four situation; the Flames bread and butter. The four on four started with a great Giroux/Voracek chance but then the Flames took it up the ice with Gaudreau gaining open ice, and the puck ending up on Brodie’s stick, 2-0 Calgary. Oddly the Flyers pulled Mason after the second goal and sent Emery into the game, and he was soon tested with three great chances but held the fort and kept the game within two. That proved important as the Flames created the mortal sin of hockey by giving up a chance and a goal to Giroux in the last 9 seconds of the period, setting up a tense third.

The Flames simply took care of business in the third period. They took the play to the Flyers generating chances and call from the officials that lead to back to back powerplay goals by Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau to put things away. The goals were Monahan’s 28th and Gaudreau’s 20th of the season.

Three Stars

1.John Gaudreau: Thought I’d try on this John business instead of Johnny. A goal, two assists, and a key rub out that lead to the first goal though he didn’t get a point. Impact game from an impact player.
2.Jiri Hudler: Another two point game for the Flames veteran point leader. Took the back of a skate to his junk in the first but returned in strong fashion.
3.Kari Ramo: Didn’t have to be dominate for the win, but stopped 26 of 27 Flyer shots to earn the victory.

Big Save

Ray Emery was still getting acclimatized to Saddledome ice when a three way passing play between Gaudreau, Hudler and finally Monahan resulted in a Monahan one timer that looked like a sure goal.

The Goat

David Schlemko. Brutal cough up in the second period trying to put the puck up the middle of the ice from behind his own net resulting in a chaotic shift and eventually his penalty for breaking a Flyer stick.

Mr. Clutch

Kris Russell. Another ho hum night at the office for Russell as he picks up two assists, blocks four shots and checks in for 24 minutes of ice time.

Odds and Ends

Sportsnet had an interesting stat up before the game; the Flames are tied with Vancouver for the highest number of games facing the opposition’s number one goaltender at 55. Given that Mason started tonight the number will go to 56 with 11 games to go compared to only 44 games against number ones last year. So what does that mean? I’m guessing nothing given the Oilers are in third spot with 53. … Was looking forward to this game all day as I wasn’t nervous at all. Just love the fact that the Flames have a game on March 19th that means this much. Almost forgot what that was like to have games that matter when the snow is melted or melting. In or out this season it’s really been a fun ride, and as I’ve said before the development they’ve gained this season can’t be taken away from them regardless of how things turn out. … Retro night; just don’t get why those uniforms aren’t the clubs every day look. Love them. Would love to see the old white ones walked out as well. The topic is about as contentious an issue as you’ll see on the site, with a huge generational gap pushing it, but man I just don’t get why they don’t get to it. … The Flames have now in fact signed Kenney Morrison from Western Michigan, a right handed defenseman with size that can skate and wire the puck. He was undrafted, but well sought after by many teams. The contract doesn’t kick in until next season, but he’ll report to Adirondack on a tryout basis. Flames needed to bolster their defenseman depth so a good signing. … Quite a douche bag move by Giroux on a 2nd period face off when he used his stick to push Monahan back in the face off circle. Not sure that’s his job. I get he’s a highly skilled veteran but if I’m Monahan I put that one away in the memory banks for a few years. … Johnny Gaudreau. Pretty amazing night again for the little guy as he puts up his fourth three point game of the season, and hits the 20 goal club for the Flames. He’s now tied with Dion Phaneuf as the 14th highest rookie goal scorer in Flames history, and 9th in Calgary Flames history. Given the fact Monahan scored 22 last year, the Flames now have back to back rookies with 20 goal seasons making we wonder if that was a first? Nope. Flames have had 3 straight seasons with 20 goal rookies in Hakan Loob, Carey Wilson and Joel Otto in the mid 80s. The Flames had two 20 goal rookies in the 1988 season with Brett Hull and Joe Nieuwendyk. … In terms of points he moves past Paul Ranheim and Hakan Loob to 56 points and a share of 8th place with Willi Plett. He has the 5th highest rookie total in Calgary Flames history. … Not a lot of help on the out of town scoreboard as the Jets, Sharks and looks like Canucks will all win, meaning the only good news past the Flames win in a loss by the Wild. Calgary jumps back into a playoff spot thought the Kings have a game in hand, they trail the Jets by a point, the Wild by two and the Canucks by three. … So the Flames lines in retro terms?

Jamie Hislop – Colin Patterson – Time Hunter
Willi Plett – Trent Yawney – Lanny McMullen?
German Titov – Paul Reinhart – Jim Peplinski
Perry Berezan – Ken Houston0 – Doug Risebrough

Joel Otto – Joe Mullen
Brad McCrimmon – Rick Nattress
Frank Musil – Carey Wilson

Reggie Lemelin

Next Up

Next up an odd matinee game on Saturday on Saddledome ice when the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town. Game time 2pm on Sportsnet.

Lines:

Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Brendan Bollig – Matt Stajan – Michael Ferland
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond – Markus Granlund – Joe Colborne

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

Kari Ramo



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