Games like this happen every three to five years.
A tired, rebuilding team comes into town to beat a contending, well rested team on the strength of great goaltending, some rusty finishing, and a whole lot of luck. Miikka Kiprusoff turned the trick a few times over the past decade, heck even Andrei Trefilov did it to the Rangers one night back in the 90s, the Oilers had a game like that last year, but tonight was Hiller’s turn.
Hiller soundly answered Kari Ramo’s holler with a convincing 2-1 overtime victory over the Blackhawks. Quick! Buy a lottery ticket!
The Flow
About as bad as it gets to be honest. If you were to map out how not to start a game in Chicago, this would be it. Hartley, glowing about his troops after last night’s game in Nashville suggested moving their feet and avoiding penalties would be key to playing the Blackhawks. Instead they get trapped on the opening shift, ice the puck three times, and then take three straight minors putting the club and their goaltender on their heels for the entire period. Thank Hiller and luck they escaped scoreless.
The second was more of the same, sadly. Calgary spent the entire period in their own zone, took two more penalties and relied heavily on Hiller to bail them out. Inexplicably they took the lead when a Joe Colborne face off victory resulted in a Dennis Wideman shot that at least hit one player (I think Gaudreau tipped it) to make the score 1-0 Calgary. A late Chicago powerplay came up empty and Calgary lead through two periods.
You know a game is a rough one when you can boast things got better in the third period when the Flames were only out shot by a two to one margin, but sadly that’s the case. The Flames sat on the lead, the Hawks pressed, and they were finally rewarded when an Andrew Shaw tip survived a high stick review to tie things up.
In overtime the shots were actually even, and even more amusing the Flames were the team to find the twine as Mikael Backlund took a TJ Brodie pass and wired a writer past Crawford, 2-1 Flames.
Three Stars
1.Jonas Hiller: I alluded to picking Kari Ramo 2nd star in both of his starts this season, but Hiller goes one better as he stoned the Hawks time and time again on way to a 49 save performance.
2.Patrick Kane: No points, but the best Hawk on the ice in a game where all three stars should have been from Chicago. Almost 24 minutes of ice time and 6 shots on goal. Managed to stay even on the night.
3.TJ Brodie: Could have easily picked Mikael Backlund and his game winner, but Brodie missed out last night and was great again tonight. Kept springing Paul Byron on break out passes, and was the set up man for Backlund’s OT strike. Led all Flames with 27 minutes, an assist, and plus 1.
Big Save
How the hell do you pick one in a game when 50 shots were registered? Almost impossible. 50 shots! The Hawks struggled on their finish all night, but Hiller was square to the puck and did a great job controlling his rebounds. Quite a goaltender.
The Goat
Laddy Smid was doing his very best to claim this one by taking back to back minors in the first period, an absolute no no when playing the Blackhawks. However they survived it so I’m going to hang it on the Hawk’s skill players for failing to convert on a half dozen chances each.
Mr. Clutch
Mikael Backlund is back. Played really well last night and was probably Calgary’s best skater outside of Brodie tonight. Scored the game winner and could easily have had a game star so no brainer here.
Odds and Ends
Notice the cohesion forming between Calgary’s Corsi Trio? With Backlund on the ice with Giordano and Brodie the triad has developed an interesting break out play when the center, Backlund drops behind the Calgary net and when in control feeds the defenseman Brodie on the breakout through the middle. Very unorthodox but effective as hell for the Flames. I’d consider it a fluke, but they did it three times. … Wasn’t a big fan of Curtis Glencross coming into this season, but I have to hand it to him, he’s playing a more complete brand of hockey this season. Less selfish penalties, less dumb hockey. But don’t get carried away Treliving, it’s a contract year! … Anyone else think Gaudreau tipped that Wideman puck? His reaction looked like he scored it, and I think I see a slight change of direction in the replays. … The Flames were only 44% on faceoffs tonight, keeping their one good / one bad rotation this season. Oddly enough Monahan was good on 78%, and Backlund was 50%, Colborne and Stajan had tough nights. Flames now ranked 13th in faceoffs. … Want some cold reality to Calgary’s 3-2 start? Don’t plan the parade route nor give up on Eichel and McDavid just yet. The Flames are third worst in the NHL for shots against per game at 36.6. Clearly 50 tonight doesn’t help, but they were averaging over 33 against coming in. … How’s this for a goalie battle? Both Hiller and Ramo now have identical save percentages at .934, which are good for top ten appearances for both. Guessing the advanced stats guys are waiting to put a pin in the Flames soon! … Flames road trip now sits at 3-1-0, with two games to play and a .500 record guaranteed. Impressive.
Next Up
The Flames next travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets, game time 5pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Jeri Hudler – Sean Monahan – Setoguchi
Curtis Glencross – Mikael Backlund – Paul Byron
Mason Raymond – Joe Colborne – Johnny Gaudreau
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – McGrattan
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Ladislav Smid – Raphael Diaz
Jonas Hiller
