You can’t write this stuff.
Talk about a story book day for Matthew Tkachuk. The Flames tell him in a teasing way that he’s staying and not heading back to London and then several hours later the kid scores the Flames second and third goals in a clutch 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
The production is nice, the kid has skill and he will be a productive NHLer, but the small details have paved the way to his NHL employment as puck management, playing physical, and driving the play hasn’t gone unnoticed in either the coaching or management room of the Flames.
The Flow
If you were to think up the worst possible recipe for a road game in San Jose it would probably include a string of penalties to start the game, yet that’s exactly what Calgary got with two minor penalties to kill in the game’s first four minutes. They killed them both off however, and then another one to boot in keeping things scoreless with the Sharks through the first period. Penalties of too many men on the ice, a Chiasson head shot, and a Kulak high stick could have been a disaster but their kill was effective and they live to fight another day, er period. Shots goal, even at seven.
The Flames were in the backseat to start the second with the home side push coming from the Sharks, perhaps remembering the Flames have handed it to them in recent matchups. The Flames weather the storm though and then slowly take the momentum back in the latter half of the period. They’re rewarded for their efforts when Troy Brouwer opens the scoring on his fourth goal of the season, a pretty passing play set up by Sam Bennett through the legs to Micheal Ferland who pulled the old Kent Nilsson pass going behind the net to Brouwer. A few minutes later the Flames doubled their lead when NHL confirmed Matthew Tkachuk took a pass from Derryk Engelland and wired one past Martin Jones off the stick of a defending Shark player; as if the kid didn’t have enough to grin about in his hotel room in San Jose tonight. Calgary takes a late penalty but is able to hold off the Sharks and exit the period up 2-0.
The Flames fell flat in the third period. They give up a quick powerplay goal to make the game tight when Brent Burns wires one from the point through a maze and past Chad Johnson. Just like that you have an interesting third period. The Flames continue to get out played and the game is eventually tied when Tierney gets his stick on a point shot, tipping it down with the puck bouncing over Johnson’s pad and trickling in. From there you had that “lets just get a point” feeling for the Flames as they were hanging on. But then it all changes … a quick puck movement quartet of Flames set up Matthew Tkachuk for his second of the night without about five minutes to play and just like that you have a regulation victory in San Jose and a road trip evened at 1-1-0.
1. Matthew Tkachuk:First goal was a good quality NHL shot, but his second goal showed he can find the seems and get himself in position to find that game breaking goal, best night in the NHL in a young career.
2. Chad Johnson: Quality start from a back up goaltender, exactly what the Flames signed up for when they brought the Calgarian home this summer. Stopped 26 of 28 shots to pick up the win.
3. Brent Burns:11 shot attempts and scores the goal that gets the Sharks rolling tonight.
Big Save
With 30 seconds left on the clock Joe Thornton tries to center the puck but it hits Jyrki Jokipakka and rolls towards Chad Johnson in the Flames cage. The goaltender’s positioning was key as he kept the puck from slipping either through him or under him preserving the Flames win.
The Goat
Odd to give a game star and the goat, but Brent Burns handed Matthew Tkachuk that second goal, the game winner. With defense partner Paul Martin closing in on Michael Frolik Burns’ job was to hold down the fort in front of the net, but instead he also chases Frolik creating the opening.
Mr. Clutch
Michael Frolik. Battling the flue he scores the Flames only goal in Chicago, tonight he picks up two assists including a great pass to Tkachuk for the game winner.
Odds and Ends
Don’t think anyone is all that surprised that the Flames chose to keep and play Matthew Tkachuk past the nine game mark in his 18th season, the way he was deployed and the way that he had played dictated it was the only way to go. I do think however, that today’s decision is far from making it a guarantee that he will be here on January 4th, the Flames 40 game mark that would trigger one of his 7 RFA seasons. To me that’s the bigger line anyway as that would give the Flames 7 more seasons of Tkachuk control, plus if he’s sent back perhaps give them more leverage when it comes to his next contract. Sending him back before tonight could have been followed by three great seasons at ages 19-21 and potentially a much bigger bridge contract to follow. … Great to see Brett Kulak back in the lineup tonight, he sat too long. Wideman has played reasonably well however, but the move helped get Giordano and Brodie back on the same pairing, something the Flames need to do to compete night in and night out. The key now is finding that fourth defenseman to elevate to make the whole thing work. … Loved the video of Matthew Tkachuk getting the news that he was to stay past the nine game mark. Read the story on the Flame’s site earlier today but the behind the scenes video was a good look into the Flame’s family. … With what looks like an injury to Kris Versteeg, the Flames will likely have to summon a farmhand given their only healthy scratch forward is Freddie Hamilton. Versteeg has been playing well so you hope it isn’t serious, but he’s also plugged into scoring lines meaning the call will likely go to a player with some skill. The good news is the Flames suddenly have a whole host of options on that front with Mark Jankowski, Hunter Shinkaruk, Morgan Klimchuk and Andrew Mangiapane all off to great starts for the Stockton Heat. … Another great game from Derryk Engelland as he picks up two assists and was just a horse in the Flame’s zone. How many people in Calgary owe this guy an apology for all the nasty things said about his contract a few summers back? He’s gone from a bad contract to someone that should potentially be retained.
Next Up
Talk about a tough weekend. The Flames are in Los Angeles to play the Kings on Saturday night, and the Ducks on Sunday. Game time on Saturday 8pm on Hockey Night in Canada.
Lines:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Chiasson
Versteeg – Bennett – Brouwer
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Bouma – Stajan – Ferland
Giordano – Brodie
Jokipakka- Hamilton
Engelland – Kulak
Johnson
