Teams that are out of it have two distinct paths in which they can follow.
One can embrace the tank, and fitfully search for a way to drop as many games as you can in order to get a high pick and turn your franchise around. Or a team can play spoiler and compete hard every night, creating fits for the opposition hunting down key points and keep pride within your organization. With wins over the Penguins, Predators and tonight a 7-4 wild encounter with the Blues in the last week and change the Flames are making it oh so clear what path they are following.
Two years ago a spirited finish set the table for a magical 2014-15 season, now in a lost season the Flames seem to be doing the same for 2016-17. Well played.
The Flow
There is no way I’m going to describe 11 goals, tonight’s return to 80’s hockey has me appreciating how this section would be a thing of the past if tonight’s style of game was the norm, and not the exception. The first period honestly had the feel of a St. Louis pull away. They erased a 1-0 lead (Colborne goal into an empty net off an odd bounce off the glass) with two of their own and looked to be cruising. Instead a late shorthanded breakaway from Michael Frolik sent the game to the first intermission tied at two.
The Blues got off to a good start in the second, generating the first three shots on goal before the Flames found their legs and literally ran the table for the rest of the middle frame. Sean Monahan put them ahead when he took a Gaudreau pass and wired one past Allen. Giordano made it 4-2 on a reviewed powerplay goal that had Colborne making contact with Allen. Then Monahan again to make it 5-2 on a breakaway pass from Dougie Hamilton. The game looked on ice after 40.
You just knew the Blues would push and they did. Two goals to close the gap and then a powerplay that had the makings of a tie score and the Flames holding on for dear life to get to overtime to salvage a point. Instead Frolik breaks in again shorthanded to score his second shorty of the night and then adds another into an empty net to give the Flames a crazy 7-4 win; his second hat trick of the season and his career.
Three Stars
1. Michael Frolik: Scored two shorthanded goals, a third into an empty net, but was also set up twice by Kenny Agostino and could have had 5. Crazy night for the free agent signing.
2. Sean Monahan : The kid is playing very well of late after a very stoic middle section of the season. Scored a great wrister over Allen for one, then another through Nilsson’s legs for his second. Gave Frolik the hat trick on an unselfish play.
3. Dougie Hamilton: Picks up three assist, his first three point game of his Flame career and gets a star on his great pass to Monahan for a breakaway alone.
Big Save
In the second with the game in the balance a solid centering pass by Robby Fabri is tipped by ex-Capital Troy Brouwer short side but is stoned by Joni Ortio reaching back with his right pad.
The Goat
I’m going with Ken Hitchcock for pulling Allen after Giordano’s goal. You knew the Blues were going to push back but that fifth goal was the one they couldn’t give up they wanted to salvage points in Calgary. Going to Nilsson essentially put the game in jeopardy. On the ice both Tarasenko and Schwartz were both -4 as the Blues top line got meat grinded by the Flames.
Mr. Clutch
Johnny Gaudreau. Would have been a game star on most nights but his 3 assists were very much on par with the three Hamilton picked up. The Flames top line shredded the Blues in this one.
Odds and Ends
Tonight’s game was the first clear indication that either a) the Flames now have Joni Ortio in their plans for next season or b) at very least they want to make sure that he hits the games played to trigger RFA status instead of turning him into a UFA and losing him out right. He sat out in Buffalo despite playing considerably better against the Bruins that Hiller played against the Flyers so I was wondering if surrendering three to the Coyotes might get his but stapled to the bench. Would have to think his start tonight is an indication of owning the net down the stretch and I doubt giving up 4 to the Blues in a winning effort will take much away from that … Had a twitter conversation going on the weekend about the early returns from three “Underlying stats” trades that happened at the trade deadline. On one hand you have the Flames playing better possession hockey without Kris Russell, but on the other hand you have Russell himself being the best relative corsi player in Dallas through 7 games. Meanwhile Mikael Boedeker who was supposed to be a boat anchor when acquired by the Avalanche has been excellent in relative corsi terms, but advanced stat darling Shane Prince has been disappointing so far. It could suggest it’s only early. Or it could suggest that individual play is only part of the underlying numbers and things like systems, quality of linemates and usage may factor at least as much. For the record I’m not an anti-advanced stats guy at all, just looking for balance, and I found the attacks on players like Russell at the deadline a little frustrating so it’s nice to see him answering his critics. Hopefully he does so all the way to the Conference Final and the Flames get their draft pick upgraded to a first. … The Blues defense were caught watching for four breakaways tonight making me wonder if their defense minus Pieterangelo and Bouwmeester are a little slow of foot. It’s one thing to miss a guy in behind the defense, but they just got out raced a few times. Frolik had two breakaway goals, Monahan had one, but Ferland and Backlund were also in all alone. I’m sure Hitchcock was throwing chairs after the second period. … So a guy won the Ford tonight when Giordano scored a goal in the second within the minute alloted. My question; did Ford ok powerplay time for this promotion? To my recollection I’ve never seen a guy get said minute on a powerplay. What a gaff if that was spelled out as a no no in the promotion. The fact that the goal went to a review was a classic add to the situation. … Thought Agostino played a solid game though he didn’t make the scoresheet he set up Frolik twice with very deft passes from traffic, and made a lot of smart plays. Hope he gets more time to show what he can do..
Next Up
The homestand continues with another clash of the crud when the Winnipeg Jets come to town on Wednesday night. Game time 7pm on Sportsnet.
3>Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan- Micheal Ferland
Kenny Agostino – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
Lance Bouma – Joe Colborne – Josh Jooris
Brandon Bollig- Matt Stajan – Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano – Derryk Engelland
Jyrki Jokipakka – Dougie Hamilton
Jacub Nakladal – Dennis Wideman
Joni Ortio
