Its crunch time for the Flames for their season. With tonight their 20th game of the campaign it’s time to prove that some improved play of late is a sign of the team settling down and learning Glen Gulutzan’s system, and not just a brief intermission from what has largely been a first quarter of inconsistent hockey.
Tonight with a game in Detroit they started a six game road trip that could essentially write off their season. A 1-4-1 type of trip would put them too far behind. Winning the first one on a long trip can do a lot to build momentum and set up the trip for a season turning success, something thy managed to do with a 3-2 win over the Red Wings on Sunday night.
The win gives the team 3 wins in their last four games, and given the effort in the loss to Chicago on Friday one could argue they should have four in a row.
Great start to the trip.
The Flow
The Flames got off on the right foot on their six game road trip having a solid set of shifts to start the game but failed to convert on their best early chance; a nice play by Sam Bennett taking the puck to the net on Jimmy Howard. The Wings opened the scoring when the Flame’s top line (Brouwer/Bennett/Monahan) got caught running around in their own zone for over a minute, the puck ending up in the net when Tatar wheeled around and slid a weak one through many sets of skates and through Chad Johnson’s legs. The Wings get another powerplay chance but this one did very little and with that momentum seemed to shift in the favour of the Flames. Back to back shifts by the Backlund and Hamilton lines had the Wings flummoxed but Jimmy Howard stood tall and weathered the storm. Shot attempts 21 to 17 Calgary in the first period.
The Flames carried that feel from the first into the second and tied the game early when the Freddie Hamilton line got the job done by getting the puck deep and winning puck battles. The goal was scored by Garnet Hathaway, his first NHL goal, when a board battle sprung the puck to the point where Dougie Hamilton’s shot hit Hathaway and deflected by Howard. The Flames kept pouring it on, with the Backlund line leading the way, and they drew a penalty sending the Flames to their first man advantage of the evening. They failed to score, but had decent control in the Wing’s zone for the first half of the two minutes. Both teams have their chances on giveaways but neither club is able to score the go ahead goal to complete the second, 1-1 after two. The Flames up 35 to 29 in shot attempts.
Great road third for the Flames as they kept it simple, winning battles, getting pucks to the point and jamming the net. They go ahead when Matt Stajan tips in a Dougie Hamilton points shot to put the Flames up 2-1. From there they had numerous chances to add to their lead, but failed to convert or were stoned by Howard. The Wings made them pay for their lack of finish when Derryk Engelland got caught pinching creating a two on one that had Mantha shoot wide. He corralled the rebound and took it to the slot and beat Johnson short side to tie things up, changing the complexion of the game. Calgary bounced right back however when Mikael Backlund took the puck up the ice, slid it across to Frolik and then went to the net to convert the rest of the give and go. The Flames got a late powerplay when Howard fired the puck over the glass and that was pretty much it. Flames win 3-2, their third win in four games, and a great start to a 6 game road trip. Final shot attempts were 53 – 44 for the Flames, scoring chances 18-15 Detroit.
1. Dougie Hamilton:Assists on all three Calgary goals is a pretty good night at the office.
2. Anthony Mantha: Strong third period for the Wings, creating chances scored the 2nd goal for the Wings.
3. Mikael Backlund:Scored the game winner and his line was a force all night, giving the Wings fits in their own zone.
Big Save
A heinous giveaway by the Wings in the first period resulted with the puck on the stick of Michael Frolik all alone in front of the Wing’s cage. The red hot Jimmy Howard was equal to the task however, getting a blocker on the puck to keep the game 1-0 Detroit.
The Goat
Calgary’s top line. On for both of the Wing’s goals, both five on five, and were stuck in their own zone far too often on the night.
Mr. Clutch
Matt Stajan. Guys is just a true professional. Scored his first goal of the season tonight, was 70% on faceoffs, and continued to add to his very strong first quarter for the Flames. We all know the story on his contract, but with all he does off the ice he’s not as overpaid as one might think.
Odds and Ends
Only one small lineup change with Hunter Shinkaruk replacing Linden Vey on the fourth line with Matt Stajan and Alex Chiasson. For Shinkaruk it’s his first game back in since the Rangers game last Saturday, a game in which I felt he looked his best this season despite the deployment on the fourth line. I do think he should be returned to Stockton however if that’s where they play him as it doesn’t really give him a chance to play his game. … Another hostile game from Micheal Ferland again tonight, something that’s becoming way more of a regular occurrence compared to last season. Have to wonder what or who finally got to him? He’s a different player if he plays angry and is engaged physically on every shift. … The new top line had a rough night in their own zone. They were victimized for the Wing’s first goal, but were hemmed in nearly every time they were on the ice, something that can’t continue if they want to keep the Monahan/Bennett/Brouwer trio together. In all fairness they were solid against Chicago, so perhaps it’s the matchup with the Wings. All three players got skewered in underlying stats, recording 25-28% corsi nights, which is atrocious … The first ten games for Matthew Tkachuk were very good, but a little up and down. However since he was sidelined with a cut wrist he’s been a different player. Have to wonder if watching a few games from the pressbox game him a different perspective of things for when he returned. There’s not a game now that doesn’t feature him working the puck well on the wall, going to the net and having the opposition punching him in the head. He’s a factor.
Next Up
The Flames are right back at it tomorrow night when they travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres. Game time 5pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Bennett- Monahan – Brouwer
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Ferland – Hamilton – Hathaway
Shinkaruk – Stajan – Chiasson
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Wideman
Kulak – Engelland
Johnson
