Often when you’re in a playoff battle you circle the “easy ones” on the schedule coming up. The teams that have either been brutal all season or have just shed assets at the trade deadline and shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle towards picking up 2 points.
The Calgary Flames could be one of those games circled on playoff bound team’s calendar. This has proven to be a mistake.
For the second time in two nights the Flames fought tooth and nail (what the hell does that even mean?) in taking both Philly and then Boston to the wire, tonight dropping a 2-1 game to the Bruins.
The Flow
The Bruins certainly started this one playing the role of the playoff bound team (maybe) as they jumped on the Flames early and were unlucky to only be up a goal after the first period. Several odd man chances including a partial break when TJ Brodie fell down but only Landon Feraro was able to beat Joni Ortio, who returned to the nets after a one game absence.
The second was a lot like the third period in Philly last night as the Flames came out with a lot of pride/fire and took it to their hosts. Shots and territorial play they certainly had on their side, but I’d have to admit they didn’t generate too many blue chip chances, especially when a goalie the caliber of Rask is the guy the have to beat. At the end of the period the Bruins had two great chances to score on a powerplay but were foiled by a razor sharp Ortio. Still 1-0 after two periods.
A solid third period by the Flames and they’re rewarded when two of Calgary’s newest defensemen combine to tie the score midway through the period. Michael Frolik rolls the puck back to the point where Jyrki Jokipakka whips the puck across the blueline to Jacub Nakladal who one times the puck past a scrambling Rask who was in the process of taking a replacement stick from a teammate. The game looked to be heading to overtime but a late too many men on the ice call to Calgary results in a Bergeron game winner and the Flames come away empty handed.
Three Stars
1.Tuuka Rask: The Flames may not be the most dangerous attacking team but the Finnish goaltender was solid in stopping 24 of 25 Calgary shots.
2.Joni Ortio: Bounces back to his normal routine of dropping 2-1 decisions after a rough go in the third period against Ottawa on Saturday night.
3.Patrice Bergeron: Scored the game winner in the third period, won his faceoffs, and played a large roll in ending Johnny Gaudreau’s point streak at eight games.
Big Save
Joni Ortio had a super quiet 2nd period but had to be excellent in the waning moments when the Bruins got on the powerplay. First he stopped Loui Eriksson on a point blank shot, and then Krecji found Spooner across the ice and Ortio slid over and got a pad on the other Bruin winger as well.
The Goat
Whatever player didn’t go off when he should have late. Too many men on the ice penalties are killer, especially late, and even more so against a desperate Bruin team looking to stay ahead of the pack.
Mr. Clutch
Jacub Nakladal. Scores his first NHL goal and continues to take an increasing roll with this experimental club. Looked pretty comfortable with newcomer Jokipakka as the duo as both players finished +1.
Odds and Ends
Shame to see Tyler Wotherspoon sent back to the AHL, but the circumstances didn’t give the team any wiggle room. As an emergency recall he had to go back once the “emergency” was alleviated. In this case the injury to Laddy Smid created a team with only 5 defenseman, but the trade of Kris Russell to the Stars returned a healthy defenseman in Jyrki Jokipakka (I’m going to type that out as often as I can in the next few days to get used to it). His play certainly didn’t warrant a demotion, and he’s certainly put himself back on the radar for next season where he will no longer be waiver eligible. The team has three more non-emergency recalls to go by the end of the season, they could spend one on Wotherspoon at a later date if they should so choose. … Speaking of non-emergency recalls I think the recall of Hathaway yesterday (their first non-emergency recall) was a little about reward and a little about politics. Maybe I’m reading more into this than I need to, but by bringing up the energy guy the avoid making a choice on the existing offensive talent (Hamilton/Agostino) and the recently acquired offensive talent in Hunter Shinkaruk. Or it could be as simple as wanting to leave the goal scorers there to lift Stockton to a playoff spot. … Joni Ortio should sue for run support! The young stopper has really found his game with the exception of a rough 2 minutes against Ottawa last Saturday, but his other three starts in his last four have all been 2-1 losses. Tough to pick up “W’s” when you only get one goal of help. Bottom line he’s now down to 7 more starts to remain an RFA and stay in the Flame’s control for next season. … Really liked Jokipakka’s game tonight as the big, lanky Fin fit in really really well with the Flames. Good positionally, seemed to have decent leg speed, played the body, jumped up in the rush a few times proving he’s adept at Hartley video sessions, and picked up an assist on Nakladal’s goal. Great start Kevin!
Next Up
The road trip continues on Thursday with a game in Buffalo New York against the Sabres. Game time 5pm MST on Sportsnet.
3>Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Josh Jooris
Joe Colborne – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
Micheal Ferland – Sam Bennett- Garnet Hathaway
Lance Bouma – Matt Stajan – Brandon Bollig
Mark Giordano – T.J. Brodie
Derryk Engellend – Dougie Hamilton
Jyrki Jokipakka – Jakub Nakladal
Joni Ortio
