Luck balances out over the course of a season, or so the saying goes.
Rarely however does it even out as quickly as we’ve seen in this series. The Flames had about a half dozen bounces go their way from the last six minutes of the third period to the overtime winner in game three, but tonight saw the scales balance as a giveaway, a goal post and a double minor all conspired to give the Ducks a 4-2 win and a 3-1 lead in the best of seven series.
Flames are down to their final win with this magical season. Do they have another surprise left?
The Flow
The Flames meant business from the drop of the puck tonight, posting one of their best first periods of the post season. But it was the Ducks that struck first when Jakob Silfverberg went high shortside on Ramo just 4 minutes into the game. The Flames answer 40 seconds later when Johnny Gaudreau lights up the Ducks defense going coast to coast, leaving his rebound on the side of the net for Monahan to belt home. A minute later Calgary goes up 2-1 when the returning Micheal Ferland bulls his way up the side and hammers home a slapper past Fredrick Andersen. The Ducks push late but it’s 2-1 Calgary through 20.
The second period was bound to be the answer frame for the Ducks and it was, but the Flames bent but refused to break. The Ducks have some zone time but are kept to the outside and don’t generate a lot of chances. The Ducks are given two powerplays in the period (well four if you count the two at the buzzer) but come up empty on both chances leaving one to think the Flames may escape unscathed. A Duck rush results in a turnover and a retrieval by Gaudreau who has his mind on heading up the ice. Instead he’s stripped leaving the Ducks with a 2 on 0 and Palmeri finishes to tie the game up, Gaudreau bent over shaking his head. Calgary almost goes up again when Monahan takes the puck through the Ducks defense and clangs the post, but the game goes to the third period tied at two.
The Flames start the third down a man for four minutes do to an over zealous body check by Joe Colborne as the 2nd period expired. It proved to be the difference in the game, as the Ducks scored on the first of the two minors and then held on for the win. Have to think that hurts for Colborne, a heart and soul guy that wears the logo on his sleeve. The Flames are given a 5 on 3 for a minute in the middle of the period, their best chance to tie things up but they never get untracked, their best chance going wide on a Russell chance. The Ducks hit the empty net and that’s it for game four. Series goes back to Anaheim with the Ducks up in games 3-1.
Three Stars
1.Jacob Silfverberg: Tricky young Duck scores a goal and adds an assist to pace the Ducks.
2.Kari Ramo: Maybe would have liked to have the first one back, but was solid the rest of the way to keep the Flames up through the first 35 minutes of the game. Solid performance.
3.Fredrik Andersen: A little shaky early, especially on the Ferland goal in the first, but shut the door and won his team the game.
Big Save
Late in the second the Flames look to have moved ahead again on the scoreboard when Johnny Gaudreau corralled a rebound in front of the Duck’s cage and stared down an empty net but was robbed by an Andersen glove save.
The Goat
An easy one tonight as Joe Colborne’s needless double minor with no time left on the clock in the second was the difference in this one. The face off in the Duck’s zone with 6 seconds left was won by Anaheim meaning there was little left to do in the period but take the knee and head to the room, but Colborne finishes a check with his stick up and the game turns on a dime.
Mr. Clutch
TJ Brodie again. 27 minutes, +1 and a huge role in lugging the puck up the ice, and making a difference in his own zone. He. Is. A. Horse.
Odds and Ends
So interesting to see the difference in this hockey game with the added size and gumption in their lineup in the name of Lance Bouma and Micheal Ferland. Ferland especially showed puck skill to go with his rambunctiousness, while Bouma was a little rusty with his long layoff due to a hand injury. The result though was a great trickle down effect that has the Flames move Bennett to the fourth line with Raymond and Bouma, giving the Flames the deepest set of forward lines we’ve seen this season. I like Bollig I think he’s been solid in the playoffs, but I’d go one step further and ice Jooris instead in Anaheim on Sunday. He can skate, and the Flames could roll four lines and find groove. … Speaking of Bennett, when the Ducks went ahead he was promoted to the Backlund line and Bouma was pushed down and he didn’t disappoint having his best period of this series in the third. Was good down low, created a few chances on the cycle and teased again how good he’s going to be as early as next season. … Was interesting to see Hartley protect Ferland tonight. Jackman wanted to go him in a first period scrap, but soon after he changed lines getting Bouma out to line up with the former Flame. Guessing there is something in Ferland’s injury recovery that suggests he shouldn’t drop the gloves. … Monahan had his best game of the series both with a goal and an inspired power move in the second. A good sign. He coughed up the puck late resulting in the Ducks empty netter but the game itself was a positive sign. … Thought the officiating in the game was a little odd, especially in the first two periods. Kari Ramo gets run over, Perry interferes with Brodie, Maroon slashes Colborne in the back of the legs, and a Flame gets crosschecked in front of the Flame’s bench but none of them were called. Didn’t have a problem with the Flames calls, but to give them a too many men on the ice and ignore all of those was an odd thing to watch transpire. … So here we are guys, the improbable season is down to a game. Seems kind of hopeless huh? Keep in mind this team generally never does as expected, and with their backs against the wall in a building that they haven’t won since ET was in theatres certainly qualifies as the kind of script they love doesn’t it? We’re just getting started! See you Sunday. And Tuesday.
Next Up
With the Rangers prolonging their series out East the game on Sunday has been moved back to 8pm again, Sportsnet. Dammit Rangers!
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – Joe Colborne
Micheal Ferland – Matt Stajan – David Jones
Brandon Bollig – Sam Bennett – Mason Raymond
TJ Brodie – Deryk Engelland
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
David Schlemko – Raphael Diaz
Kari Ramo
