All season I was asked, “can they keep this up?”, or “is this for real?”
And all season I said likely not, but if they can just keep going the young guys are going to learn, the franchise is going to take leaps forward, the foundation will be set. I added, if they can just take this thing into the final few weeks, maybe even making that last home game worth something the season will be a massive success in my mind.
The Flames made the game worth something alright. They made it worth a playoff spot as the unlikely Calgary bunch hacked and whacked their way to a 3-1 victory over the LA Kings on Thursday night, clinching a playoff spot, dethroning a cup champion, and making the West powerhouses instant Flames fans.
Well unless they meet the Flames in the playoffs that is.
May not be wise to under estimate these guys any longer.
The Flow
The first period was literally three periods in itself. The Flames came out very much the confident of the two squads, pushing the play and generating a few early shots. First five minutes … Calgary. The Kings wrestled control and owned the play for a good eight minutes right after, with the Flames collapsing down low and keeping them to the outside. A few good saves by Hiller, but nothing point blank. Then the third act of the first period with the Flames taking control for the final 7 minutes, scoring twice (Gaudreau and Hudler) and taking a pretty important 2-0 lead after one.
The second period featured the obvious push back from the Stanley Cup Champions, leaning ever so slightly on the ropes. The Flames bent but didn’t break, which has to be their motto for the season. They kept things to the outside, chipped pucks out, chipped pucks in, and weathered the storm the best they could. LA gets lots of shots, lots of B quality chances, but the Flames blocked shots and when they didn’t Hiller stood tall, well as tall as you can stand when you’re on your knees the whole night, keeping the score at 2-0 Calgary after two.
Third period more of the same. The Kings get closer when the King’s fourth line of all things brought them closer when Nolan hit the board, exactly five minutes into the period. The Flames spent the next four minutes on the ropes before finding their legs and evening things out for the middle section of the period. Clearly the Kings wouldn’t go away, and they didn’t as they continued to push, their best chance when Kyle Clifford got in alone but was turned aside by Hiller. The minutes tick down, and the Flames find the empty net when Monahan dishes the puck up the wall to Hudler who scores his 31st of the season, and the Flames walk away with the 3-1 win and a clinched playoff spot. Unbelievable.
Three Stars
1.Jonas Hiller: Ex-Duck was signed to be the last line of defense for a rebuilding Flames team, and he came through in a huge game with 33 saves and the game’s first star.
2.Jiri Hudler: Jiri Hudler has been simply amazing this season, so it only makes sense that he’d help the club clinch a playoff spot with two goals and an assist.
3.Johnny Gaudreau: If you had just an inkling that Gaudreau was a big game player this week turned those thoughts into facts. Scored a goal and added an assist on the empty netter. Was dominant in the first half of the game.
Big Save
With the Flames clinging to a 2-1 lead Kyle Clifford inexplicably found himself alone with eight to play in the third period, but Hiller stood tall to steer the puck to the corner and keep the Flames ahead.
The Goat
A lot of the King’s star players weren’t great in this one, but Dustin Brown was a -2 in a game that his team needed in order to survive. Doughty was a -2 as well, but did a lot more to generate offense for the Kings.
Mr. Clutch
Thought Joe Colborne was a force tonight. No goals, no assists, no shots, even on the plus/minus, but lead the Flames with six hits and a lot of zone pressure. Great game without a huge game sheet presence.
Odds and Ends
Tells you what an oddball season its been when fans heading to the biggest game in 5 years for the Flames are nervous Nellies over the loss of Lance Bouma. I don’t know if he’ll ever replicate a 16 goal season, but who would jump in front of pucks both five on five and killing penalties? That jam is pretty tough to replace. … I like rebuilds! Ok that’s obvious but I did like the idea of a rebuild heading into this season, the fact that the clock got moved up to the extent where a night like tonight can happen is pure gravy. Amazing experience. … Michael Ferland was a close second to Colborne for impact tonight, thought he handled himself very well moving up to the third line. Great hit tonight on Nolan, some scoring chances, skated well, never a liability. … Think Hiller thought he’d be in a playoff series this year when the musical chairs of free agent goalie chasing had him landing in Calgary? Me neither. He took this job to prove he could still be a number one goaltender, likely thinking he’d be traded in season two. Now he’s playoff bound in a series that the Flames might just win. … Is Jiri Hudler the best free agent signing in Flames history? Has to be getting close if he’s not. He may need a few huge playoff goals this and next season (there I said it) to move Martin Gelinas out of the way. … Thought the Wideman/Russell pair looked really jittery in the first 25 minutes of the game. Handled the puck like a hand grenade and really showed nerves. They settled down as the game wore on. … Speaking of jitters, still wondering why the Flames didn’t try Wotherspoon with Potter sitting all season and not playing. The gravy game in Winnipeg should give the team the chance to make some roster changes. Have to wonder what they will do in game one against Vancouver if Wotherspoon and Bennett look great in Manitoba. … Vancouver? Seriously? Doesn’t this feel a lot like 2004? Vancouver fans picked Calgary over LA by 89% in a poll this week, and I don’t blame them. Now that they’ve gotten their wish however you’d have to think that cold realization of playing a team with nothing to lose is on the horizon. Fun.
Next Up
One more game in the regular season, an afternoon game in Winnipeg on Sportsnet, at 1pm. And much to my surprise, the Flames don’t need it!
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond – 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
