That dreaded first game back from a long road trip. The fans know it’s coming. The home team tries to say all the right things to avoid falling into the trap, but inevitably that slow start happens.
And happened it did tonight, as the Flames fell behind two goals in the game’s first three minutes before finding their mojo and besting the Ducks 6-3 on Wednesday night at the Saddledome.
The Flow
You couldn’t map out a worse start for the Flames. Lose the opening draw, get hemmed in a bit in their own zone, look to have an easy outlet, but then David Jones hands the puck to Ryan Getzlaf to walk right in and make it 1-0 in the first minute. Then a stupid penalty by David Bollig results in a Duck powerplay and boom, Getzlaf and the Ducks have a quick two goal lead. Calgary finds their legs off the momentum of a failed powerplay and gets on the board with Matt Stajan’s second goal since his return. Calgary looks to have tied it but Gaudreau’s tip is deemed above the shoulders and waived off. Gaudreau is back minutes later though, chipping in a back hander to tie the score and complete a bizarre first period.
The Flames start the second with better legs and take it to the Ducks in the first three minutes. The Ducks answer back with a monster two minute shift against the Backlund line, resulting in neither a goal nor a penalty shockingly. Then Calgary starts rolling; three straight goals from Stajan on Ferland’s first NHL assist and point make it 3-2. Then Monahan turns a turn over into a top corner snipe to make it 4-2. Later Gaudreau takes the line dishes to Wideman and then gets it back to one time his second of the night, 5-2 Calgary. Both clubs take a penalty late in the period creating a four on four and a late Duck goal on a Diaz turnover to make the third period much more interesting.
Bit of a dicey start to the third, but Ramo was equal to the task and settled things down. Monahan gets pulled down creating a powerplay but the Flames fail to convert and put the game away, keeping the game in doubt. The Flames fall back into that smart zone coverage thing they do that freaks fans out but keep the blue chip chances away from Ramo. The Flames ice it when Gibson messes up a play on the post leaving Hudler to bang one in and make it 6-3.
Three Stars
1.Johnny Gaudreau: All kinds of zip off the hop and didn’t get down when he whiffed on two early chances. Ends up with two goals and a lot of magic.
2.Kris Russell: Almost 27 minutes of ice time and three assists, oh and two blocked shots.
3.Matt Stajan: Two goals for the veteran fourth line center, giving him three goals and assist since returning from the birth of his child. Great story.
Big Save
With the Flames flying, and up two in the second and needing a big save Kari Ramo simply stoned Andrew Cogliano with a point blank pad save midway through the second.
The Goat
Tempting to pick John Gibson for giving up six goals, but a lot of the goals were wide open or with huge crease presence. Besides my other option is Ryan Kesler and his -3 tag and you have to go with Ryan Kesler.
Mr. Clutch
Dennis Wideman would have been a game star on most nights but he was edged out by his defense partner. Two assists, a plus one, on 26 minutes of ice time. Sean Monahan deserves mention as well. Monster game again.
Odds and Ends
I’m sure Brad Trelving et al aren’t reconsidering their decision to send Sam Bennett back to the OHL given his 2+ points per game pace. I’m guessing they expected to do well, but this well? Regardless, it bodes well for next year’s camp. … Its odd, with the number of games this team has come back, and the fact that they seem to get down every game, it almost seemed comfortable to get down two early. Why not get it over with and give yourself the whole game to push back? … A guy that simply shouldn’t go unnoticed is Deryk Engellend and his play in Giordano’s absence. He’s now played 6 games totalling 106 minutes and has an assist and is even. Even! Never saw that coming. … Thought it was interesting this week to hear Gaudreau’s comments about how it was good to be home and sleeping in his own bed and playing in their home rink. Given the fact that he just completed a home coming trip that really says he’s acclimatized to Calgary. … Almost medically worried about Bruce Boudreau. Man doesn’t look healthy at all on the bench. Blotchy, puffy, red faced. Yikes. … Good to see the Flames powerplay come to life of late, its made a big difference to the bottom line. Even more exciting is the reason the powerplay is clicking, that is the play of young players specifically Gaudreau and Monahan. Starting to quarterback the unit together and make it their show. … Was anyone else nervous heading to the third with memories of that last Duck third period cruising through your grey matter? … Sometimes a hated player from a rival team moves on then you kind of like them. Then there’s Ryan Kesler. … Not sure if the Flames had some jump, a new game plan, or if the Ducks rebuilt defense is still feeling each other but I haven’t seen many games this season where the Flames had easier zone entries. Consistently took the line through the middle or up the wall. … Such a massive win for the Flames given the game was the Flame’s third most difficult left on their schedule. Two points against the Ducks likely means they only need to win 8 of their final 15 to secure a playoff spot, and possibly only 7. … The win moves the Flames two ahead of the Kings (King with a game in hand), within one of the Canucks (Van game in hand), but most importantly in my opinion, one up on the Jets with even games. I still think the Jets are the team Calgary needs to beat out.
Next Up
Calgary’s brief two game homestand ends on Friday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs horror show comes to town. Game time 6pm, Sportsnet.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Mason Raymond – Josh Jooris – Joe Colborne
Brendan Bollig – Matt Stajan – Michael Ferland
Deryk Engelland – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Dave Schlemko – Rapha Diaz
Kari Ramo
