Penguins 2, Flames 4

March 5th, 2016 | Posted in Game Takes | By: Jeff Enns

March of the Flames.

(Read in the voice of Morgan Freeman for full effect)

There are few places harder to get to in this world.  But there aren’t any where it’s harder to live.  The temperament here at the bottom of the standings is frigid at best.   That’s where the Calgary Flames live.

It wasn’t always like this.

The team used to be one of the hardest to play, teeming with effort and skill.  But then things started to drift south.  And by the time it’s done drifting Calgary might very well find themselves alone at the bottom.

This location used to be reserved for the Edmonton Oilers.  They’ve lived here for what seems like thousands of years.  This is their home.  But now it’s being challenged.

This is a story about sadness.

 It is March.  The season is nearing it’s end for the Flames.  And another long eventless summer is nearing.

The Flames have been floundering on the ice for months.

The final result is usually the same. The journey to get there, however, is not,

Sometimes its the lack of offense. The team bumbling their chances, unable to make a simple pass from one to another. By the time they do recover the puck it is too late. The play is dead.

Sometimes it’s the defense. Looking lost and confused as they waddle around the ice. Unable to find their man.

Often it’s the goaltending. Jonas Hiller tired of standing on his feet. Sliding around on his knees like a seal on the bank. Or Ortio gliding on his belly as the puck sails past.

Each day the fans mood drops a little further. But the apathy has started to set in. Acceptance of their fate.

As April approaches soon the playoffs will be here. And once again the Flames will not take part. But there is hope. The younglings continue to grow stronger and soon they will lead the team to grander destinations.

They will march the team back to playoffs. And escape this desolate location. Last place. The harshest place on Earth.

On The Line

The Penguins are marching toward another year of postseason play, which will make it 10 in a row for them.  The Flames are just looking to snap their dismal losing streak.  Which currently sits at seven games.

The Flow

Didn’t have to wait long for some opening goals.  Just 30 seconds in and a shot by Crosby hit Hornqvist, ricocheted off the end glass, back in front, off a retreating Ortio’s skate, off Monahan’s stick trying to save the puck, off Ortio’s other skate, and into the net.  But the Flames were quick to respond.  1:28 later is was Joe Colborne angling his skate at the side of the net to redirect a Sam Bennet backhand past Marc-Andre Fleury and knot the game at one a piece.  The teams settled in and played a relatively calm frame the rest of the way, the biggest highlight being an old school pokecheck to deny Backlund all alone in front.

The second period followed a similar script.  First it was a goal for the Penguins, Crosby gaining the zone and circling to the side of the crease where he expertly tipped a Hornqvist slapshot top corner over the glove of Ortio.  The Flames would respond soon after.  A nice feed by Backlund cross-ice would find the stick of a streaking Giordano and he ripped the wrister over the glove of Fleury. The play would settle down until a scary incident would change the game’s complexion.   Tom Kuhnhackl was battling with Jakub Nakladal (same their names together five times fast) down the side boards when the blade of his stick crept under the visor of Nakladal and found his eye.  Nakladal would leave the ice with a towel over his eye, and the Flames would convert on the four minute powerplay, Backlund perfectly angling a slap-pass from Hamilton past a helpless Fleury.  A 3-2 lead for the Flames heading into the third, rare territory indeed.

An early boarding penalty from newest Flame Jyrki Jokipakka seemed like it would spell the end of the lead for the Flames.  Their abysmal penalty kill still sitting dead last in the NHL.  But the Flames managed to kill it off and would later pad their lead with a nice feed from Joe Colborne.  The lanky forward was battling in front when he found the puck and calmly fed it backwards through his legs to a wide open Bouma.   The Flames would defend the two goal cushion with relative ease the rest of the way.  A late slashing penalty from Dougie Hamilton would make things a little nerve-wracking but Joni Ortio would shut the door to collect his first NHL win of the season and finally snap the Flames seven game losing streak.  4-2 final.

Three Stars

  1. Mikael Backlund: Very strong game from the Swedish centreman.  Instrumental in the tying, and game-winning goals.
  2. Sydney Crosby:  You can tell the superstar is back on his game.  A goal and an assist, that really should have been his goal as well.
  3. Joni Ortio: First win of the year earns him his first star.  Hopefully he’ll get the bulk of the starts moving forward to make off season decisions a little clearer.

Big Save

Ortio was solid enough, no spectacular saves on this night.  Fleury’s old-school flopping pokecheck on Backlund in the first was the flashiest save of the night.

Big Hit

Carl Hagelin was caught in the traintracks as he cut across the Flames blueline with the puck and found a bellowing Josh Jooris.  He bailed low at the last second, leaving a trail of carnage comprised of bodies and sticks.  Hagelin took the greatest brunt, but he was able to make it to the bench and would later return to the game.

The Goat

Gaudreau, Monahan.  The duo haven’t been very effective since they lost Hudler and Jones.  Invisible on this day.  Along with their linemate Frolik they wore the only minuses.

Mr. Clutch

Joe Colborne.  I’ve ridden him all season.  But two really strong plays this afternoon led to two goals.  His shootout success proves he has the hands.  Today he clearly showed he has brains.  Obviously he has size.  If he could somehow put it all together he’d be one heck of a hockey player.  Which is why I think he keeps getting chances from Bob Hartley.

Odds and Ends

  • Joni Ortio finally gets that first win of the season.   He’s certainly improved from his shaky start last fall.  The goaltending situation next year is hot topic among Flames fans right now.  Interesting to see if Ortio will be part of the picture.
  • Lance Bouma’s goal was only his 2nd of the season.  It’s been a tough year for the tough forward, with the contract dispute, the late arrival to practice with Gaudreau and Monahan that led to the team-imposed suspension, and a huge drop in his offensive production.  four points this year in 29 games, after a career high 34 last year.  You can see Brad Treliving was wise to be cautious with the contract offer.
  • Fun to see new faces in the lineup.  Hopefully Nakladal is okay after taking the stick to his eye area.  He’s been a pleasant surprise the last couple weeks.  Wouldn’t mind seeing a few more auditions before the season ends in the place of Bollig or Jooris.
  • The new lottery odds make quite a difference on tanking this year.  Before a last place finish would offer a great shot at the #1 pick and worst case you were at least picking second.  Now a last place finish offers only a 20% chance at Auston Matthews and not even a guarenteed top 3 pick.   Best case for the Flames you’d figure is to finish ahead of the Oilers in the final standings but land a higher draft pick, ideally in the top 3.   But you get the sense that with Edmonton’s lottery luck, picking ahead of them at the draft is an impossibility regardless of the final standings.

Next Up

The Flames return to Calgary to open a homestand of their own.  It begins Monday night when they host the San Jose Sharks.  Puckdrop 7 pm on SNW.

Lines (To Start):

Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Michael Frolik
Micheal Ferland – Mikael Backlund – Garnet Hathaway
Lance Bouma – Sam Bennett – Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Josh Jooris

Mark Giordano – Deryk Engelland
Dougie Hamilton – T.J. Brodie
Jakub Nakladal – Jyrki Jokipakka

Joni Ortio



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