In both games three and four the Flames carried first period leads coast to coast, winning both games and putting a strangle hold on the series.
Tonight they walked out the same recipe with a 1-0 first period lead, but this time abandoned a few key ingredients like fore-checking, push back, and keeping things simple in an enemy barn. Instead the Flames tried to sit on the lead, relied on Hiller far too much and inevitably found a way to lose the game 2-1 forcing game six in Calgary on Saturday night.
The roller coaster ride continues. Hold on!
The Flow
The Flames came out of the gates ready, clearly thinking finish the thing and get on to the next round. I had thought surviving the first five and possibly ten minutes was crucial to having any chance of taking the series in five, but they did better than that by scoring the first goal on a Vancouver turnover. The puck took an odd bounce off the boards and bounced to Jones who rifled his 2nd of the series home to make it 1-0 less than three minutes in. Calgary weathered a minor storm and then had chance after chance themselves but failed to put themselves up 2-0. The Flames kill a late penalty and get out of the first period with a 1-0 lead. Shots were 17-8 Vancouver but the chances were likely slightly in Calgary’s favour.
The second period was a larger push from the Canucks with the Flames spending way too much time in their own zone. Hiller was forced to stay square on the puck and be big often in the first few minutes of the period. Towards the middle of the period the Flames settle in and have chances of their own on Vancouver turnovers including a Mason Raymond breakaway where the puck slid off his stick. Bennett had a great chance but fired the puck into Colborne’s mid section on a play that might have beat Miller high. Vancouver ties the score when Bonino rips one to the perfect top corner blocker side on a tough angle, but Hiller couldn’t be faulted on the seeing eye shot. Shots 17-8 Vancouver again this time with the lion’s share of the chances going to the home side. 1-1 through 40 and heading for an exciting third period.
The Flames have a good start to the third period, at least the first couple of minutes, getting some chances including a Canucks’ line change that springs Backlund for a good chance. But just before the 2 minute mark Derryk Englellend loses Daniel Sedin off a face off and the slick Swede pounds home the rebound to put the Canucks up for the first time in the game. You could feel things slipping away. Calgary gets some chances towards the middle of the period including a gifted powerplay when Hamhuis is incorrectly called for putting the puck over the glass but the period had a feeling of the Flames forcing the issue individually and not letting the play develop. Lots of time in the Vancouver zone but Calgary doesn’t generate any real blue chip chances as they gas another powerplay. Flames lose 2-1, game six on Saturday.
Three Stars
1.Daniel Sedin: Best of the twins, though they were both very good. Daniel scores the game winner in the third period.
2.Jonas Hiller: Best Flame by far as he was the reason they managed to get out of the second period tied up, no fault for Hiller on either goal, another solid performance.
3.Ryan Miller: Only faced 21 shots, and didn’t have to be spectacular but he was solid in turning aside 20 and picking up the win.
Big Save
With the score 2-1 Vancouver, they easily could have put it away when Henrik Sedin found Jannik Hansen open in front of the net for a one timer that Hiller managed to get a pad on. Could have been lights out.
The Goat
A lot of Calgary players abandoned what got them here and went too individual under pressure in the third period, but I thought the worst of the bunch was Dennis Wideman, a veteran defenseman that should know better. Too many forced moves and forced passes that created turnovers or destroyed Calgary transition rushes. Sometimes you have to let the game come to you and use the skill and systems that got you there. Didn’t like Engellend’s coverage on the Sedin goal, but I went with Wideman.
Mr. Clutch
Mikael Backlund was amazing tonight, just a huge coast to coast performance. He did a great job in carrying pucks in, setting up teammates with his patience, he was strong on the wall, great in his own zone, and solid in the face off dot. Awesome performance as the Calgary 2nd line continues to out play the top line.
Odds and Ends
Earlier today I summarized the contributions from Flame’s rookies in this piece called Rebuild Gravy, but as many pointed out its not just development in terms of first year players, the Flames are chalk full of youth. Sean Monahan at 20, TJ Brodie at 24 and Joe Colborne at 25 are all soaking up big minutes and learning on the job in this first round series. If the playoffs extend further hopefully Lance Bouma (25) and Drew Shore (25) will either come back from injury or get a chance themselves to add to the youth on the job. Additionally with the Black Aces hanging around the Saddledome additional young players are at least seeing what the big club is going through and gaining an appreciation for the sacrifice. … Disappointing effort for the Flames tonight as they appeared to try and sit on a 1-0 lead for 40 minutes which is never a good idea. I have always tried to contemplate how much of a loss or a period of poor play is due to the team you cover, and how much is due to the opposition and how they play. Vancouver was expected to come get it and they did. Did the Flames wilt or did the Canucks take it away? Bottom line though, when the chips were down the Flames tried to do too much, something that’s part and parcel of a young team. Wideman as I mentioned above, but others like Gaudreau in the third have to take the simple play and not try and take the puck through 5 blue sweaters. … Convinced now that Monahan is hurt, and if he’s not then he’s pressing and under a lot of playoff pressure and cracking. He was really weak on the puck tonight and a human speed bump to his line’s ability to get anything going. I’m going with hurt. … Baertschi’s line? 9 minutes, +1, no shots, no points. No real impact. Looked nervous in the first period. … The Tyler Wotherspoon inching up in ice time watch saw the clock tick past 6 minutes tonight, so a good start in the climb towards 10 minutes. He didn’t look out of place again. It’s coming. … Thought the Engellend Brodie pairing had a tough night. Blown coverage in the first period twice on the same shift, then Engellend’s puck watching coincided with a late Brodie arrival on the game winner. Brodie has been one of the best players in this series, but not necessarily tonight. … So must win on Saturday? Or is that pressure even proper in a season that is all bonus? I like their chances, but if they come up empty I wouldn’t rule them out in the seventh game.
Next Up
The series moves back to Calgary, the Flames now with two chances to eliminate the Canucks, but only one with a leg up. Game six goes Saturday at the Saddledome, not the start time as the NHL moved it to 7pm, HNIC CBC.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Sam Bennett – Mikael Backlund – Joe Colborne
Michael Ferland – Matt Stajan – David Jones
Brandon Bollig – Josh Jooris – Mason Raymond
TJ Brodie – Deryk Engelland
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
David Schlemko – Kyle Wotherspoon
Jonas Hiller
