Like the last trip to Chicago, and the game a night later in St. Louis, tonight the Flames proved that a system shift is a very good fit for the club’s young roster.
Odd opening for a 5-1 loss no doubt but it was that kind of night for the Flames as they out hit, out shot, out chances and badly outplayed the Blackhawks despite what looked like a blowout in the Windy City on the scoreboard for the homeside.
For Glen Gulutzan and his coaching staff the message is easy, stay with it, clearly the team is picking up momentum and getting the new style of play down. The wins will come, though tonight’s outcome leaves on mouth a gaping with little explanation.
The Flow
About as good a first period as the Flames can play, as they out shot the Hawks, out chanced the Hawks but were out scored by Chicago 1-0 by the time the buzzer sounded. The Mikael Backlund, Michael Frolik, Matthew Tkachuk line was the team’s best, as they generated four of the club’s best scoring chances in the period, including a Frolik chance just seconds before Patrick Kane opened the scoring with a minute left to play. Kane took the puck past TJ Brodie, then around Derryk Engelland and fired across Engelland possibly tipping off his stick and past Brian Elliott. Hawks lead 1-0, Flames up on shots 13-6.
If you were expecting a dominant push back period by the Hawks you wouldn’t be alone, however you also wouldn’t be right. The home side took the play to the Flames in the first minute before the Flames settled in and played a great road period to match their first, a very good sign. The only goal of the stanza came shorthanded when the Flames walked up the ice on a two on two with Mikael Backlund using his speed to go wide and then slide the puck out front to a streaking (not naked) Michael Frolik who didn’t disappoint sliding past Crawford. Scored all tied through forty minutes at two, with the shots on goal 13-9 Calgary for the period and 26-15 through two periods.
Both teams came to play in the third, but it was the Hawks forging ahead once again with a powerplay 7 minutes into the period, on a questionable knee on knee call on Sam Bennett. The goal, a tip in by Anisimov was a great skill play by the Hawks forcing the Flames once again to play catch up. Some good pressure by the Flames, some B-grade scoring chances, but it’s the Hawks that hit the twine next when Motte beats TJ Brodie to the net and extends past Elliott’s pad to extend the Hawk’s lead to 3-1, pretty much putting a nail in it. The Hawks pile on adding two more on broken plays turning what was a well executed road game on the ice into a laugher on the scoreboard. Odd game.
1. Mark Crawford:Was clearly the difference maker in this one, stopping 33 shots and keeping his team in it through 40 minutes. The World Cup caddy was on his “A” game tonight.
2. Patrick Kane: Goal and two assists for the Hawks, always a Flame killer, but then given his career to date I guess he’s a “whoever they Hawks are playing” killer.
3. Michael Frolik:Fighting a flu bug, scored the Flames only goal on the night.
Big Save
Brian Elliott made it look easy, made it look like a routine save actually but his save off of Anisimov who took a feed from Artemi Panarin with Wideman floundering in front of him was a potential game saver.
The Goat
TJ Brodie’s game has come of late, no doubt about it. But he was beat badly on both the Patrick Kane and Tyler Motte goals, a huge difference maker in a game that should have been a Flame’s win in almost any measure within the game. Almost pulled Brodie out of the fire for that Giordano wide shot with the goalie coming out however! Or hand it around to many, both Gaudreau and Monahan were -3 again on the night, pushing their way to the bottom of the league.
Mr. Clutch
So easy so many nights, but Mikael Backlund. Just love this guy’s game 70 or so nights a year. Frolik scored the only goal but none of it happens without Backlund blasting up the ice. Centered the line that had the most scoring chances for the visitors. The whole line deserved better.
Odds and Ends
Lots of talk this morning about a sickness in the Flames dressing room, reportedly Troy Brouwer, sending all the forward lines to the blender. He was ready to go at game time however, so it was status quo for all four trios. It would have been interesting as the Flames had Bennett up with Monahan and Gaudreau on the top line, something Hartley tried briefly last season but only for a couple of games. … The Flames did put that trio together on the powerplay however, as Monahan, Gaudreau and Bennett played up front with Troy Brouwer taking a spin on the point with TJ Brodie. Didn’t get much done, but they did have play makers in all spots which certainly makes sense. I think a stronger dose of Dougie Hamilton on the first unit for those off side one timers is what the powerplay really needs. … Tonight’s game marks 9 for Tkachuk meaning it’s decision time if that 9 game magic line of not burning a year off his entry level deal matters to you. Personally I think he did enough in the first period to suggest the NHL is the level he should be toiling at with a physical 20 of going to the net and helping create several scoring chances. I’ve said it before, but personally I don’t see 9 games as that big of a deal as I honestly think the Flames gain in contract negotiation leverage with future star players that only get 2 full seasons to prove themselves. I’d rather have Sam Bennett negotiating this summer for example instead of next. In the short term though, it may be academic as the player went off the ice in the third period in what could be a head injury. … Said it last game, will say it again. Too many calls getting made based on the outcome instead of the foul. Monahan’s “trip” on Patrick Kane was a tap to the outside of Kane’s knee but he goes down way too easily. I’m not saying he dived at all, but he lost his balance and it wasn’t a trip, especially in a game where they missed an actual trip on Johnny Gaudreau. … Speaking of the Gaudreau call, I am starting to wonder if the league’s officials have a book on him complaining or reacting to non calls because he sure doesn’t seem to get many calls against him considering the amount of stick work he faces. Hacks, wacks, and tonight a blatant trip that would have put the Flames on a 5 on 3. Hopefully just a series of coincidences and not something to worry about. … Is there an issue with the Flame’s penalty kill leaving that guy in the middle in front of the net to tip picks in? The Capitals scored one like that on Sunday night, and the Blues scored two like that in Calgary 10 days ago. Seems like a weakness in the coverage, a seam left open. … The box score is going to show Brian Elliott giving up 5 goals on 22 shots for a pretty weak stat line but that really wasn’t the case tonight. He didn’t have a chance on any of the first three goals, and was victimized by a team extending themselves to get back in it late.
Next Up
Flames travel to San Jose to play the Stanley Cup finalist Sharks on Thursday, game time 8.30pm on Sportnet.
Lines:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Chiasson
Versteeg – Bennett – Brouwer
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Bouma – Stajan – Ferland
Giordano – Wideman
Jokipakka- Hamilton
Engelland – Brodie
Elliott
