Sports fans are as fickle as they are reactionary, and as hockey fans we are certainly no exception.
We are a mere fifteen games into the hockey season, and yet for Flames faithful it seems much deeper than that. Judging by recent events, management and coaching staff in Calgary are starting to feel the same.
Both Ken King and Jay Feaster have been adamant that they will not stand pat and accept the mediocrity that has plagued this team for what seems like an eternity. While injuries have helped expedite the process, the recent call to the farm has all the implications of a frustrated hockey team seeking answers, and more importantly – results.
On The Line
An ominous road trip to say the least. Calgary travels to the Windy City to play the Blackhawks for the first time this season, before heading right to Denver for a divisional tilt versus the Avalanche. Sitting one point under 500 and outside of the playoff picture, the proverbial sharks have begun circling this year’s version of the Calgary Flames. Winning will help alleviate some of the questions surrounding this team; losing simply adds blood to the water.
The Flow
The Madhouse on Madison has not been friendly to the Flames recently, but the visitors came out strong on Friday evening. Mikael Backlund made his season debut after undergoing surgery on his pinky finger early in October, and made an immediate impact centering the top line. The prolific young Swede had two great chances to finish a Jarome Iginla rebound just three minutes in, but newly acquired goaltender Ray Emery shut the door. Both teams exchanged chances, but it was Duncan Keith who opened the scoring just over halfway through the first frame. Patrick Sharp jumped on a bad clear by Mark Giordano, and fired a slapshot off Kiprusoff’s blocker just inside the blue line. The big rebound hopped over two sticks before the Norris winning defenseman buried it behind a stumbling Kipper.
The Blackhawks settled into a puck possession game in the second period, and subsequently the visitors began coughing pucks over and running around in their own end. Chicago generated the majority of early chances, and kept the Flames hemmed in their own end on several occasions, before Roman Horak was called for a high stick. The Hawks previously anemic powerplay went to work almost immediately. Marian Hossa fed a pinching Brent Seabrook who buried a slapper low glove side. Kiprusoff was screened and looked as though he never saw it. The Flames pushed back late in the period, sparked by several good chances by the top line of Iginla, Backlund and Tanguy, but remained snake bitten heading into the third.
The final twenty minutes were reminiscent of the incessant frustration felt by this team (and their fan base) through the last two seasons. The Flames never dominated, but to their credit they did not quit either and Olli Jokinen finally ended their scoreless drought halfway through the final frame. After winning an offensive draw to the point, Mark Giordano skated down the left wall and gave it back to Jokinen who one timed it on the blocker side. Viktor Stalberg ended the comeback bid, however, when Marian Hossa found him streaking in with just over three minutes left. The Flames generated a few unconvincing chances before Patrick Kane added insult to injury into an empty net with just seconds remaining.
Three Stars
- Marian Hossa: The 32 year old Slovak shows now sign of showing down and was a threat all night, contributing 2 assists, while in on several other scoring chances.
- Patrick Sharp: 3 assists, and a solid night on both sides of the ice.
- Mikael Backlund: The Flames do not have an abundance of blooming offensive prospects, but the young Swede is starting to live up to his potential. He made a few glaring mistakes tonight, but also immediately bolstered a top line needing some life.
Big Save
Just after Brent Seabrook put the Hawks up by two goals, Curtin Glencross had a glorious opportunity to get the visitor’s back within one. Forcing a turnover on the Chicago blue line, the winger streaked in on a clear breakaway but Ray Emery wasn’t sold on his head fake and out waited him to maintain his team’s momentum.
Big Hit
Nothing notable in the hit department, despite the recent history between these two clubs.
The Goat
Mikael Backlund. It’s hard to give the horns to the kid after his mostly solid debut tonight. Unfortunately, he made a glaring mistake in not picking up a streaking Viktor Stalberg late in the third period, essentially eliminating the Flames chances for a comeback.
Mr. Clutch
Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. The two stand out defenseman both recorded their first goals of the season, while combining for 53 minutes of ice time and a +4 rating.
Odds and Ends
Mikael Backlund, T.J. Brodie, and Paul Byron all donned Flames silks for the first time this season. They recorded 15:49. 15:22 and 11:13 of TOI respectively. While Backlund gave the number one line an immediate injection in offense, Brodie and Byron were both solid, but did not necessarily stand out. Both of the call ups were serviceable and deserve more attention going forward… The Flames practiced their powerplay heading into Chicago, but had only one opportunity on the man advantage on Friday evening. Clearly changes have been made, and Lee Stempniak made an appearance on the blue line. Needless to say, two minutes was not enough to gauge any improvement… Call me surprised to learn that last night in Columbus was the first time that Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa have started on the same line… Despite great struggles on special teams, Chicago remains right at the top of the standings in the Western Conference. While the Blackhawks two biggest names, Kane and Toews, we’re both very good tonight, it speaks to the depth of the Blackhawks that Hossa and Sharp were the biggest contributors. Not to mention the Hawks underrated center Dave Bolland, did not suit up for the second straight game…
Lastly, today is a day for all of us overzealous hockey fans to observe a moment of silence; to say thanks to all the men and women that have served for our country. Their ongoing sacrifice allows us to enjoy the freedoms we have today, and to embrace this silly game we call hockey.
Next Up
No time to reflect on what could have been, the Flames get right back to business tomorrow night in Denver. CBC has the Flames vs. Avalanche @ 8PM.
Lines (To Start):
Tanguay – Backlund – Iginla
Glencross – Jokinen – Bourque
Stempniak – Horak – Byron
Jackman – Moss – Kostopolous
Butler – Bouwmeester
Hannan – Giordano
Brodie – Smith
Kiprusoff
