As a commodity trader you see thresholds that act as a ceiling or a floor, limiting to some degree, how far the market can go in a certain direction. A crude price of $50 dollars, gold at $1500, or Natural Gas at $4.00. Get to that point, but you just can’t get through it either up or two.
For hockey teams that have missed the playoffs in recent seasons that threshold or line can often be seen at the .500 point. Sure with overtime and shoot out losses the .500 line doesn’t mean what it used to be, but it does provide an emotional line between struggling teams and teams with a chance.
As for the Calgary Flames, on Sunday night they reached that point with a surprising 8-3 win over the Ducks, but tonight they faced that battle to push through that limit and be an over .500 hockey club. Tonight they faced that big barrier and pushed right through it with a clutch 2-1 win over the Stars giving the club a 9-3-1 record in their last 13 games, essentially re-writing the script in a season that looked lost.
The Flow
About as good a road period as we’ve seen this year as the Flames literally had zero panic in their game, and seemed to control the play for most of the period. The Flames seemed to control the territorial edge in the play, and had an easier time gaining zones and setting up the forecheck. The Stars open the scoring though on one of the period’s only mistakes when TJ Brodie puts a puck into McKenzie’s skates creating a two on one for the Stars which was converted when McKenzie beat Chad Johnson short side for a 1-0 lead. Some back and forth from there but the score remains at advantage Dallas after one period.
Good jump by the Flames to start the second period as the Backlund line has a strong shift led specirically by Michael Frolik who was a horse down low creating zone time and a chance or two. The Flames get a powerplay but squander it on two Mark Giordano turnovers leading to a slashing penalty by Brouwer. At four on four the Flames send out Gaudreau and Bennett and fans are treated to back and forth track meet with three chances for Calgary and two for the Stars including a Johnny Gaudreau breakaway … but no scoring. Derryk Engelland gets penalized but the Flames manage to kill it off and get the best chance for themselves when Matt Stajan breaks in alone but has the puck roll off his stick. The Flames finally tie it when Gaudreau and Chiasson get in all alone, the team’s second two on zero in two games and their fourth breakaway of the period, and this time make no mistake as Gaudreau converts from Chiasson to tie the game at 1-1. The Flames looked to have gone ahead a few minutes later when Mark Giordano fired the puck from the point, a play that might have been tipped by Chiasson, but a review showed Chiasson was off side entering the zone. Calgary gets another golden chance when a Jokipakka shot from the point is tipped by Micheal Ferland into Lehtonen who makes a great save; 1-1 after two.
Both clubs play it carefully in the third period with the Stars having the edge in play over the first half dozen minutes or so. The Flames play it smart and keep the shots from the outside but it’s the visitors that look to be playing for a tie. Calgary gets their chance however, when Matthew Tkachuk pushes the puck deep and gets held by Ritchie creating a powerplay. The Flames make no mistake when Kris Versteeg enters the zone, finds Johnny Gaudreau behind the net who relays to Sean Monahan who buries his rebound and the Flames have their first lead of the night. Dallas certainly holds the pressure late in the game including a review of a kicked in puck that was called no goal for up three reasons, and the Flames hold on for a 2-1 win.
Possession Pulse
First Period – The shot attempts were as close at the game itself in the first period with Dallas having a 18-17 edge. Scoring chances were 6-4 Dallas, a good example of the eye test matching the underlying statistics.
Second Period – Shot attempts in the second were still close though the Flames had the top five or six top chances. Shot attempts at 15-14 Flames, and scoring chances at 12-4 Calgary.
Third Period – Not even close in the third period as the Stars dominate the last ten minutes and run up 26-8 advantage in shot attempts, scoring chances were 22-20 final and 12-4 Dallas in the third period.
The Players – With the Stars push late there wasn’t a single Flames player over the 50% mark in for five on five corsi, TJ Brodie sat at exactly 50% to take the lead for the visitors. Calgary’s fourth line had the hardest time running an average of 35% apiece, as did Mark Giordano and Derryk Engelland.
1. Johnny Gaudreau:Second straight game as the first star, and second straight game with a goal and an assist. Huge difference to add an impact player.
2. Sean Monahan: Continues his point streak to five games (8 points) with a goal (game winner) and an assist. He’s not firing on all cylinders but he’s getting hot nonetheless.
3. Chad Johnson:30 shots for the Stars and 29 saves for Chad Johnson who just keeps it rolling. Quite a streak.
Big Save
You can pick either breakaway stop on Johnny Gaudreau in the second period for the much maligned Jiri Lehtonen. First time in he stones Gaudreau with the paddle down as Gaudreau tries to go five hole. The second time he stretches out his right pad and keeps Gaudreau from taking it around him and stuff it in the corner.
The Goat
Not a goat game at all. TJ Brodie made a mistake on the Dallas goal, but he was one of the better defenders the rest of the way, so I’ll take a pass tonight on looking for a culprit.
Mr. Clutch
I liked Dougie Hamilton’s game tonight. He continues to look like a top pairing defenseman and was a difference maker in his own zone, calmly using the outlet to his partner Giordano to slow things down and lead the rush when the opportunity arises. Chad Johnson has been the show in the last 10 games or so but a close second is Dougie Hamilton.
Odds and Ends
As you’d expect from a team with three straight wins and points in 6 of the last 7 there are no lineup changes for tonight. Micheal Ferland who left the game early after a fight with Kevin Bieksa seems to have recovered enough from his hand injury so that he can go, meaning no changes to any of the forward or defense combinations. Chad Johnson started again in goal, his 11th start in the last 13 games. … In a somewhat dubious battle the game pits the NHL’s two worst minus players against each other in Calgary’s TJ Brodie (last place -16) and Jason Spezza (-15). Brodie got off to an early lead with that first period turnover leading directly to the Star’s first goal, clearly he knew what he had to do to keep that lead. … Speaking of TJ Brodie, is he not the least likely top player to struggle for a third of the season? I could see Monahan as he always starts slow. I could see Gaudreau and Monahan with the big contracts. I could see the likes of Brian Elliott and Troy Brouwer coming to a new team. But TJ Brodie? Didn’t see that coming at all. His style of play was so consistent last year, he doesn’t read like a defensive liability. Perhaps he’s had the toughest time adjusting to Gulutzan’s new style. … Says a lot for a late free agent signing when you worry that a rib injury may keep him out of the game on Thursday, but that was my thought when Kris Versteeg took a cross check from McKenzie to the same ribs he hurt when Brouwer ran over him. The guy can flat out play, you don’t want him out of the lineup. … Gaudreau is such an interesting study right now. Two straight games off the injury that are clearly his best two games of the season. Said it last game but you have to wonder if its two things; 1) the team doing well without him taking the pressure off and 2) watching the game from a distance like he did for that one game in his rookie season before getting untracked in Winnipeg. Either way, quite an add. … Monahan. Closer, much more productive, but not quite there right? The guy is a finisher without a doubt but he still turns the puck over a lot and is the dead stick on his line. It’s coming though. Patience. … The standings are an odd thing right now. The Flames win and move into 3rd spot in the Pacific division on points, but they are far from a playoff team in points per game. But they’re getting closer. A few weeks ago they were the 29th ranked team in points per game average, now after a good run including four straight wins they are moving into that 17th or 18th spot and charging hard. Essentially the team is back into that wildcard spot as predicted at the beginning of the season.
Next Up
The Flames travel to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. Game time 7pm on Sportnet.
Lines:
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Versteeg – Monahan – Brouwer
Gaudreau – Bennett – Chiasson
Ferland – Stajan – Hathaway
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Hamilton
Jokipakka – Engelland
Johnson
