Winning solves everything?
OK, that’s a huge stretch but you get the point. Sometimes when a team as a collective is gripping the stick a little tight a simple result can go a long way in releasing said pressure and getting a hockey team back to who they are.
At least that’s the lecture Gultuzan will be giving tomorrow on Saddledome ice.
The Flames fought their way to a stirring third period comeback, 4-3 overtime victory against the Sabres on Tuesday night, in a game that clearly demonstrated just how tense the locals have become. Sure systems are being adjusted too, but the number of unforced errors, bobbles and mental mistakes was staggering.
The Flow
The Flames got out to a decent, but sloppy start. There wasn’t much flow to the game, but the majority of it was in the Buffalo zone as the Flames built a 6-2 advantage in shots. The Sabres opened the scoring though when Girgensens got a stick on a hard moving Tyler Ennis centering pass through a few sets of skates. The Flames tied it up, or at least they thought they did when Michael Frolik picked up a rebound off of Brett Kulak’s first NHL point from the blueline. The goal was waved as the whistle had gone, but then was over turned after a discussion between all four officials. The Flames push a few more times, including a late powerplay but the score remains tied after one period at 1-1.
A frustrating second period for the Flames as they come out and completely own the first half of the stanza but had nothing to show for it. With about 11 to play in the period the Sabres take two penalties at the same time (one on Monahan and one on Gaudreau), and oddly enough that was the turning point of the middle frame. The Flames with a two minute five on three not only fail to score, but a ham handed neutral zone play by Giordano turns into a penalty and a complete loss of momentum for the home side. A few minutes later the Sabres get a powerplay and sure enough a point shot bounces off of Dougie Hamilton and it’s 2-1 Buffalo after two periods despite the shots being 23-10 Calgary.
The third period was well interesting. The Flames managed to score twice, which given how this season has gone, is a huge plus. But they also gave up a goal plus a myriad of dangerous chances that could have had this game end very differently. First the Flames tie it up at 2 when Micheal Ferland takes a fortunate bounce from Folingno and walks in beating Lehner with a backhander; a great reward for a pretty good start to the season for Ferland. The Sabres go right back up a minute later when Foligno scores when Engelland loses him, celebrating while still furious for the turnover to Ferland. The Flames tie it again shortly when Matthew Tkachuk scores his first career goal, a tally that energizes the kid into finishing the period with three circus hits. The Flames sag after the tying goal though and are lucky to get to overtime.
Overtime was all Calgary after a brutal giveaway that almost had O’Reilly win it. Two shifts in a row were all Calgary; first with Bennett, Brouwer and Brodie (B’s) running all over the Sabres and wearing them out. After it was the Monahan/Gaudreau combination that converted a possible crosscheck missed call on Monahan into a Gaudreau to Monahan pass and the game winner. 4-3 Flames, panic is over? (probably not)
1. Sean Monahan:Scores the overtime winner, good enough for the game star in this crazy game.
2. Ryan O’Reilly: Such a good hockey player, dangerous all night scores once, and could have had another in overtime.
3. Matthew Tkachuk: Good to see that first NHL goal off the list. Big timing too, when the club really needed a tying goal to get the season untracked.
Big Save
So many to choose from in the third period and overtime, but you have to land on that Chad Johnson save on Ryan O’Reilly during the first shift in overtime. Huge giveaway, putting Johnson in a terrible spot but he comes through with a key pad save to give his team a chance to win it.
The Goat
Man I hate to say it, but Brodano. The dynamic duo were really fighting the puck in this game. The giveaway in overtime stands out, but so too did Brodie’s bobble on the Sabres first goal, Giordano’s odd giveaway and penalty on the five on three, Brodie losing his stick and almost taking a penalty in the third. Chill out guys!
Mr. Clutch
Mikael Backlund. He just does his thing doesn’t he? Picked up another assist, was +1 and kept things as quiet as possible around Chad Johnson when he was on the ice.
Odds and Ends
No lineup changes at all from the loss in Vancouver. All four forward lines left in check, and the defense core minus Dennis Wideman was also left as is. The trend continued to the cage where Chad Johnson started his second straight game, against his teammates from last season in Buffalo. … Don’t remember the last time the Flames have had such an effective fourth line. With Matt Stajan, Alex Chiasson and Micheal Ferland the club can feel comfortable rolling the line out to create energy and even their fair share of scoring chances. Now if only that first and second line would get going … Tough second period for Chad Johnson playing his former teammates. Doesn’t see a shot through 10 minutes and then has a save on a powerplay go off of Dougie Hamilton to be trailing 2-1 with only 10 shots against. He had a sad outcome in Vancouver with a solid performance but a failure of his team to get him the win. … Said it in the opening, but you can really see now that the Flames are (hopefully were) a tight group. So many gaffs, bobbles and botches by skill players all over the ice. Gaudreau made them, Brodie, Giordano, Bennett, Monahan, Hamilton, all the Calgary skill players are just giving the puck up unforced all over the ice. That’s clearly not a good thing, but it does point to future success when they calm down and get things back on track. Tonight’s win could provide that tonic. … Just loved that third period from Tkachuk. Sure Lehner should have had that short side goal, but his lift and reaction in physical play the rest of the way was something to watch. Would love to see him pick up a point or two in the next 5 and make things interesting. He certainly has the skill to play at this level. … The Flames got worked in the face off circle tonight, winning only 45.8%, their first off night of the season to this point. Overall the Flames are ranked 7th in face offs, though playing the Oilers certainly helped on that front.
Next Up
The Flames host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, game time 7pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Versteeg
Tkachuk – Bennett – Brouwer
Bouma – Backlund – Frolik
Ferland – Stajan – Chiasson
Giordano – Brodie
Jokkipakka – Hamilton
Engelland – Kulak
Johnson
