Do you ever get a feeling that the city of Calgary has been the victim of a very cruel joke from the hockey or sports gods?
You go through a half dozen years of misery and then like a starving man wandering the desert you are confronted by an all you can eat smorgasboard that leaves you head spinning in good fortune? The Flames miss the playoffs from 7 years then go to the cup final in 2004. Then they miss the playoffs for five years and then insanely emerge from a brief rebuild into a playoff spot.
So why stop the fun now? How about an 18 year old inserted into the lineup late and said 18 year old picking up the assist on the game winning goal with 30 seconds left? Don’t pinch yourself Calgary, the ride continues, as the Flames came from behind (this will sound familiar) to beat the Canucks 2-1 on Wednesday night.
A win that gives them a 1-0 lead in the best of 7 Western Conference quarter final series. The fun just keeps on rolling.
The Flow
The Flames played a solid road period in the first, a bit unexpected given the number of young players making their first NHL playoff experience. The first five minutes were certainly not controlled by the Flames, but they blocked shots, chipped pucks deep, and kept the Canucks to the outside, pushing the game scoreless and basically chanceless through the first ten minutes. Calgary started getting some chances off their second line with Bennett, Colborne and Backlund generating a lot of action in the Vancouver zone. The Canucks enjoyed a powerplay where they came close off a Bennett high stick, and then another late one when Ferland roughed up Dorsett late in the period.
The second was all Calgary once they killed off the Ferland minor, as the Canucks were shotless almost a third of the way through the period. Calgary gets lots of chances off the rush and through Canuck turnovers but can’t solve Lack. The Canucks score a fortunate goal when Bo Horvat bounced a puck off a skate and in to give the home side the lead. Some more chances for Calgary but the period ends 1-0 Vancouver despite Calgary holding a 10-4 edge in shots. 20-17 through 40 minutes.
Things didn’t look great to start the third as the Canucks ran up a 7=2 edge in shots and pretty much putting the Flames on the ropes. Midway through the period the Canucks get a great chance with the Sedin line getting two golden opportunities, but Hiller stones them both. And with that the game changed. Big. Calgary heads up the ice with their third line that was playing so well, forces a turnover on Michael Ferland’s 68th hit of the night, then Ferland dishes to Jones who ties it up. From there the game tilts towards the Flames and with the momentum they generate numerous chances and seemed to wear the Canucks out. The Backlund line hems the Canucks in with 100 seconds left with some great down low play by Colborne specifically. The dominance continues with Colborne leaving the ice on a line change, and reinforcements coming on to help the onslaught. Bennett plays the puck to Wideman, over the Russell who fires a snap shot through Bennett and in and the Flames complete the comeback to take a 2-1 win and a 1-0 series lead.
Is this season nuts or what?
Three Stars
1.Jonas Hiller: 29 saves on 30 shots to give the Flames exactly what they wanted when they pursued the Swiss stopper in the summer. OK they didn’t expect a playoff win, but a veteran presence was hugely needed in this one.
2.Kris Russell: Scored the game winning goal with 30 seconds left in the period and logged 29 minutes of ice time for Calgary. The team’s current defacto captain.
3.Eddie Lack: Was the best Canuck how it ended up, turning aside 28 of 30 shots. May have wanted the Jones goal back but made several highlight reel saves through the game.
Big Save
With the Flames down 1-0 in the third period Burrows takes the puck in to the Flames zone and sets up Daniel Sedin for a snapper that Hiller robs with his glove, his rebound pad save on Sedin again was just as eye popping. The set of saves gave the Flames a boost and they tied it soon after.
The Goat
Luca Sbisa had a pretty rough night for the home side, as he was on the ice for both Calgary goals in 17 minutes of ice time. A -2 night in a 7-4 game can happen, but it hurts when the score is 2-1.
Mr. Clutch
Michael Ferland was a beast tonight. An absolute beast. He hit everything that moved and was a key part of gaining momentum for the Flames on a line with Matt Stajan and David Jones. Great night from a kid that I honestly didn’t expect to see as a regular this season let alone a starter in the playoffs.
Odds and Ends
Any issues with Sam Bennett replacing Mason Raymond were quelled quickly with a monster first period for the 18 year old. He bravely weaved through Canuck defenders, taking the puck to the net three times and being quite unlucky to not score a playoff goal. He wasn’t as noticeable in the second but reemerged in the third with several great passes and heads up plays. His two passes and net presence on the game winner was beyond his years. He’s a keeper in this series, and now a factor in the outcome. If this sample size is an indication he has bolstered the Flames second line. … He wasn’t the only young player that made a good impression for the Flames tonight. Michael Ferland was a skating wrecking ball tonight, hitting everything that moved and creating havoc whenever he was on the ice. His penalty was aggressive but a great stand up for team play and should have been an even up penalty given how late Dorsett’s hit was on Russell. Then he slides a soft pass to Jones on the game tying goal? Man. Bottom line the insertion of Ferland on the third line and Bennett on the second line have drastically upgraded the Flames forward group. … We talk gravy all the time. Its just great to be here. Doesn’t matter what happens. Yeah right, I was wired all day. So I’ll add this caveat; win or lose I want the games close and the series long. You have to milk this experience as long as we possibly can for development reasons. If you lose game one you hope the series is long, if you win it you start thinking it will be short. But for Calgary their easiest path to the sidelines was a jittery bunch of young kids which apart from a few tense moments early just didn’t arise. They showed, and to anyone in Vancouver that liked their draw in the first round, I think reality has set in. Win or lose this is going to be a tough out for the Canucks.
Next Up
Game two is up on Friday night in Vancouver, same time 8pm CBC.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Sam Bennett – Mikael Backlund – Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig – Markus Granlund – Josh Jooris
Michael Ferland – Matt Stajan – David Jones
TJ Brodie – Deryk Engelland
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
David Schlemko – Corey Potter
Jonas Hiller
