Out of sync.
Seems to be the best way to describe the Calgary Flames these days, including tonight’s effort a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday night.
The work ethic is there, but the cohesion and finish have been lacking as the team continues to see its offence sputter in the first quarter of the season. Like a few nights lately they get some moral points for effort and chances, but come up empty on the scoreboard, falling below .500 for the first time since opening night in Edmonton.
The Flow
Gulutzan starts the 3M line along with Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton and the Flames get right to work. The Flames carry the play but seem to self destruct when the play develops, failing to get much by way of scoring chance or even shots on goal. A few execution issues in their own end created turnovers and marginal chances against Mike Smith but he’s able to keep the Stars at bay. The Flames get pinned in their own zone against the formidable Benn line but Mike Smith is able to get a glove on a Klingberg shot from the high slot to keep the game scoreless. The Flames are given a late powerplay but don’t get a whole lot done as the two minutes and period wind down with little happening.
The second period was quite simply the most boring period the Flames have played all season. Not the worst, as they weren’t exactly bad, but they were sloppy, the puck was covered or shot over the glass every thirty seconds, and very little happened. The Flames did open the scoring though when Mike Smith put a dangerous pass into the slot for Micheal Ferland who turned it back up the boards, with a bounce creating a three on one. Johnny Gaudreau keeps and beats Lehtonen high glove save and it’s 1-0 Flames. That lead held for most of the period until the Stars were given a late powerplay; a call after Travis Hamonic was interfered with and retaliated, clearly a weak goal. The Stars score from the point and it’s 1-1 after two periods of play.
The third period starts quite well for Calgary as they have the edge in the first few shifts but can’t find the back of the net. The Stars push back and have a few chances of their own, but the game starts to have the feel of an overtime or shoot out game as both teams settle in. The Flames get a powerplay chance mid period but only generate one shot and no real scoring chance. The game turns when Matt Stajan gets whistled for slashing giving the Stars a powerplay chance with eight minutes to play. They don’t waste their chance as ex Hab Alex Radulov beats Smith shortside high for the game winner. The Flames fumble the puck for the better part of 5 minutes but do get some chances with the goalie pulled but come up empty; final score 2-1 Dallas.
Possession Stats
1st Period – Calgary was clearly the better team in the scoreless first period, generating a 21-12 edge in five on five chances, though scoring chances were called one apiece.
2nd Period – The Flames with a slight edge in the second period five on five as they had a 20-19 edge in shot attempts, the scoring chances 3-2 Dallas.
3rd Period – The Flames weren’t sharp five on five in the third and lost the battle 13-9, scoring chances were 4-3 Flames though to knot the game at 7-7 overall.
Players – The return of Matt Bartkowski did little to help Michael Stone’s game as he finished dead last with 29% on the night. Other guys under water included Mark Jankowski, Bartkowski, Kris Versteeg, Sam Bennett and TJ Brodie. Four players were above the 60% mark including the top pairing of Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton, as well as Johnny Gaudreau and Micheal Ferland.
Three Stars
1. Alex Radulov: Second straight game the Flames have been burned by an Alex, scores the game winner in the third.
2. Kari Lehtonen : Has struggled for the better part of three years, but the Flames currently have a talent for making goaltenders look good and they did again tonight as the Fin stopped 29 of 30 shots.
3. Johnny Gaudreau: Scored the Flame’s only goal but was noticeable all night.
Big Save
The key save in this game was the Lehtonen stop on Mikael Backlund shorthanded in the second period. Backlund breaks in on a breakaway with the Flames leading 1-0 but is stoned by Lehtonen’s right pad as he worked the puck across the crease. That goes in and it’s a different game.
The Heel
I’m going to toss this one at the official that called Travis Hamonic for the slashing penalty. You have to have a better grasp on the game in that situation. Hamonic is hammered form behind without the puck and is mad, he lightly swings at the back of a guy’s skates and goes off. Send them both if you must but don’t alter the game like that.
Mr. Clutch
Mark Giordano played with all kinds of intensity tonight from buzzer to buzzer. Noticeable blocking shots, moving the puck and getting in hard on pinches. Huge effort from the captain.
Odds and Ends
More line up changes, as expected after the loss in St. Louis. Matt Bartkowski checks back in for Brett Kulak on the blueline, while Curtis Lazar steps out for veteran Tanner Glass on the fourth line.
The issue to watch going into the game however was the play of Mark Jankowski. With Jaromir Jagr apparently coming along nicely the game was Jankowski’s last chance to make an impact on the scoresheet before the wily veteran returns. Clearly you want Jagr back, no debate on that front, but would the Flames keep Jankowski up if he had three solid but largely unremarkable games during his recall? Hard to imagine him staying with his demotion being the only move that doesn’t require waivers.
So how did it go? Not well at all. The line was crushed in terms of possession and they were pretty much stapled to the bench after a second period shift fraught with turnovers. With roughly 8 minutes of ice time and little impact I’m guessing Mr. Jankowski is heading back to the AHL to light it up again. He’ll be back but I’m guessing his time isn’t now.
Second straight game where Gulutzan stared the 3M line along with Dougie Hamilton and Mark Giordano and I love it. Getting a jump in the parity stricken NHL is so crucial, why not start with your best off the hop and see if you can get a quick lead. At very least with that five you should avoid giving up many early goals. Far too many games last season (and under Hartley) featured the third defense pairing and the third line etc.
The Flames are snake bit and they’re in their own heads, that was really obvious tonight. They take three penalties again and give up two powerplay goals again, and find a way to lose because their offence just can’t seem to get it done. They had a good first, a listless second, and a decent finish to the third, but they’re still not confident enough to put together a complete 60 minute effort. Gulutzan is clearly pissed, you can see it in his face on the bench, which I like. You have to demand more from this group so it’s good to see. They’ll get it though, I’m pretty confident in that, and when they do I’d expect we will see a 7-2-1 run to put things back where it belongs. Stay patient.
Next Up
Game two of the seven game homestand goes on Sunday night when Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals come to town. Game time 7pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Tkachuk – Backlund – Ferland
Gaudreau – Monahan – Jagr
Bennett – Jankowski – Versteeg
Glass – Hamilton – Brouwer
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Hamonic
Bartkowski – Stone
Smith
