Clearly any playoff spot will do, and I won’t suggest for a moment that the Flames need to be picky.
However, if they should so desire settling into the third spot in the Pacific and a flight to Vancouver would probably be wise, given the two wild card spots will get dates to Anaheim and perhaps St. Louis. The Flames haven’t won in Anaheim since I had hair, and the St. Louis Blues have now out scored the Flames by a 12-2 margin in three games this season, including tonight’s 4-1 victory over the Flames in game four of their five game road trip.
Why set yourself up for punishment?
The Flow
The Blues took it to the Flames from the drop of the puck and really didn’t let up much throughout the first 20 minutes of play. They took an early lead when Jaden Schwartz took the puck out of the corner and caromed the puck in off of Hiller short side, a goal that Hiller would love to have back. Calgary found their legs and settled down a little but a late silly play by Brandon Bollig resulted in a 5 minute powerplay (after 2 minutes served by the Blues it was a 3 minute powerplay), taking the starch out of the rest of the period.
Things don’t start well in the second with the Flames on the penalty kill. Mikael Backlund loses an edge advancing the puck through center, giving the Blues a 3 on 2 that they convert to make the score 2-0 St. Louis. The marksman, Paul Stastny, his 15th of the season. The Flames getting out played and out shot badly make a game of it when Gaudreau and Hudler combine to set Sean Monahan up for his 30th of the season. Monahan cruised through the slot with his stick on the ice and knifed in the slap pass from Hudler, leaving Gaudreau to scoop the puck out of the net for his teammate. Mason Raymond hit the post on a powerplay, and Hiller made several solid saves, but the game stays 2-1 St. Louis through 40. Calgary within a goal on a tough trip is about all you’d hope for after wins in Nashville and Dallas.
The Flames as expected, posted their best period of the night in the third, their season long time to play. The Flames get two powerplays, have a Monahan offering go off the goal post, but in the end come up short as the Blues score late and then hit an empty net to take the game by a final score of 4-1. In the end the right team came out on top, but for a good chunk of the third period the Flames looked very much the team about to tie it up and steal a point.
Three Stars
1.Jaden Schwartz: Scores the Blues’ first goal just over a minute in and adds an assist. Great young hockey player.
2.Paul Stastny: Not sure he’s worth that huge off season ticket, but tonight he scores, adds an assist and wins a stone cold 64% of his draws.
3.Jonas Hiller: Tough start once again, but without the work of this man this game is on ice after 30 minutes with people switching channels all over Alberta.
Big Save
Loved Hiller’s first period save on Goc, when he got a glove on a mid air line drive, but the save of the game has to be his breakaway stop on Backes in the third period with the game still hanging in doubt at 2-1. Great save.
The Goat
Brandon Bollig. Play tough, play rough, get under the skin of your opponent. Put pucks in deep, finish your checks, take short shifts, go up and down your side of the ice and play an honest game. That’s basically the recipe for a fourth line player. Running a guy from behind to draw a five minute major in the first period of the team’s 5th last game in a playoff chase? Stupid.
Mr. Clutch
Johnny Gaudreau. Thought the rookie forward was generally creating offence every time he had the puck on a rush, lots of chances, lots of great zone entries, a positive player in all three periods.
Odds and Ends
If Sean Monahan can always score 10 more goals than his age I think he’ll have a solid NHL career. Seriously though, what a season for the 2nd year player. I’ve said it a million times since October, a much more dangerous offensive player than I was expecting. … How do you get Jonas Hiller ready to play hockey? The guy has been amazing in many a game in the second and third period, holding the Flames in contests, but the weak goal to start most games is just killing me to watch. Can you start a playoff series with a guy that can’t get ready until the game is an hour on the world clock old? … Will be interesting to see how Hartley reacts to Bollig’s foolish first period penalty. The guy only played 3 minutes in the game because he was tossed for a brutal hit from behind on Jackman. Puts his team in a pretty tough spot when you give the opposition a 5 minute powerplay in the first period. Dumb. … Well it’s Sam Bennett decision time as his Kinston Frontenac’s were swept in the first round of the playoffs. With the way Kingston was lighting it up and climbing the standings with Bennett’s return I never imagined the Flames could have Bennett back as early as Saturday night in Edmonton. Will be interesting to see what the Flames do with Bennett in the next couple of days. With the Flames playing two relatively soft, weak opposition teams in Edmonton and Arizona seems to be the table is set to try Bennett out before two intense games against playoff battling rivals for their final two games. Clearly its Calgary or Adirondack as I don’t see him getting shut down given how little hockey he’s played this year. … The St. Louis off ice crew was a little stingy on their blocked shots counter, but Kris Russell did finally get credit for two hits to set the record for the most blocked shots in a season in NHL history. With 4 games left on the schedule he could easily add another 20! … I get they were gassed, but the Blues third goal looked bad when you see both Backlund and Russell standing there and not picking up the wide open Blues player. One of them gets over and the game stays in doubt to the final buzzer.
Next Up
One more game left on the Flames 5 game road trip, a Saturday HNIC second game match up in Edmonton against the West Spoiler Oilers. Game time 8pm Sportsnet.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – Paul Byron
Mason Raymond – Markus Granlund – Joe Colborne
Brandon Bolig – Matt Stajan – Drew Shore
TJ Brodie – Deryk Engelland
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
David Schlemko – Rapha Diaz
Jonas Hiller
