It was the best of times, it was… well that actually pretty much sums up the Calgary Flames dream season of 2014/15. Projected to be in the running for the Connor McDavid sweepstakes, the Flames turned their pundits into believers as they scraped and scrapped their way back into the playoffs for the first time in six long years.
The wild ride was punctuated by a tale of two cities headed in opposite directions. The Flames would take out the rival Vancouver Canucks in an exhilarating six-game series, complete with one more legendary comeback that defined their season long find-a-way-Flames legacy.
For a team that had seemed destined for their worst season in franchise history, not even Charles Dickens himself could have woven together such a fantastical story.
But with great success comes great expectations.
The Flames knew they would have a league-wide target on their collective backs headed into a fresh season. And to his credit, General Manager Brad Treliving went to work in the summer solidifying his team. It started with the larcenous acquisition of Dougie Hamilton at the draft, and the signing of coveted free agent and fancy stat specialist Michael Frolik. He brought back Karri Ramo to create competition in crease, instilling a four-headed goaltending monster featuring Ramo, Jonas Hiller, Joni Ortio, and Kris Russell. And not done yet, he inked Mark Giordano to a favorable long term extension, locking up the captain and face of the franchise to anchor a ridiculously talented defensive core.
Add in the expected growth and maturation of the young crop of exciting forwards, the Flames certainly appear to be headed in the right direction as the 2015-2016 NHL season got underway Wednesday night in Calgary.
So what the heck happened?
The Flames certainly didn’t expect the curb stomping they received at the hands of the motivated Vancouver Canucks. Perhaps still seething from an early round exit in April, they dismantled a sloppy Calgary team that appeared completely disjointed at times, and disinterested at others. There was no area of the game that the Flames were not dominated. An embarrassing display that smothered the fire from a boisterous C of Red.
Reason to panic? Don’t be silly.
The Flames have history bumbling their season openers. Following their Finals run in 2004, and the unfortunate season-long lockout that followed, the Flames opened up the 2006 season with a messy display against the Minnesota Wild. That team would be fine, finding their groove on route to their sixth division title.
And just last year the Flames found themselves on the losing end to these same Vancouver Canucks to open up game one at home. And we all know how that ended.
So while the start is not ideal, the season is long. And so starts another adventurous tale, where the protagonists will battle hardship and adversity to make their triumphs all that much sweeter.
Certainly no where to go but up from here.
On The Line
The Flames look to pay homage and build off an incredible season. For the Canucks, a chance for a little payback as they left the Saddledome ice in April amid handshakes and salty tears.
The Flow
The gloves may have hit the ice before the puck did. George Canyon was still rumbling off that last note of Oh Canada as Micheal “Ferkland” and Derek Dorsett finally figured out how to drop their mitts in unison. Memory of Ferland’s playoff rampage still fresh in the minds of Canucks, it offered a spirited tilt to kick off the season (the fastest season opening fight in both franchises history). The Flames fed off the fuel, showing high energy in the opening minutes, throwing pucks toward — and mostly over — the Canucks’ net. Scouting report must have stated to shoot high on Ryan Miller, explaining the multitude of Flames’ blasts ricocheting off the end glass. Then a second fight. This time the Brandons facing off; as Bollig wrestled with ex-Flame Prust, looking to impress in his Orca jersey debut. This “tilt” seemed to put the Flames to sleep as they sleepwalked through the rest of the period. The Canucks capitalized, potting a couple goals. First it was Jannik Hansen with a bomb over the dropping glove of Karri Ramo. Then some impressive hand-eye as Brandon Sutter –also making his Canucks debut — batted in a puck that Ramo had attempted to steer up into the corner. Not the start Flames fans had envisioned. 2-0 Canucks.
Jack Adams trophy winner Bob Hartley no doubt had some words for the flailing Flames between periods, and it paid dividends early. The NHL’s top line of last year picked up where they left off, tapping the puck around until Jiri Hudler was left alone in front with the puck. He made no mistake, stickhandling in tight and sliding the puck through the open legs of Miller. Unfortunately that same top line had a sloppy shift to end the period, failing to keep the puck away from the Sedins. A harmless looking floater from Hamhuis would find the stick of Ramo and then the shins of Daniel Sedin, bouncing into the net. A backbreaker of a goal with only five seconds remaining. 3-1 Canucks headed into the third.
The Flames were the comeback kids of the NHL in 2014/15, so it wasn’t unfamiliar territory for them to enter the final frame down a goal or two. Could they reproduce their miraculous antics in a fresh season?
The short answer is no. As the Flames were manhandled in the third. The Canucks would add their fourth and fifth of the night, capping off an impressive evening and serving notice to those who have written them off as irrelevant.
Three Stars
- Sedin 1: Tonight it would be Daniel. Just when you think the Sedins should be slowing down, they step up and prove why they still deserve to be feared. A goal, two assists, plus three, and a team high seven shots.
- Brandon Sutter: The former Penguin impressed in his Canuck debut. Great hands on the game winner.
- Sedin 2: Strange to see the centreman on the wing. And even harder to tell them apart now. Maybe some of his nice plays were actually Daniel’s, but it was clear no Flame deserved a star tonight.
Big Save
Karri Ramo showed off his wizardry early on, using his stick as a wand as he flicked up his blocker to thwart a sure goal from the Sedin connection. Unfortunately the magic was short lived tonight.
Big Hit
The good news is that it belongs to a Flame. The bad news is it was against the Flame. Mark Giordano tested out the repaired arm as he delivered it to the chest of Sean Monahan, sending his new Alternate Captain to the ice. Welcome to the letterhood kid! Just one of many clumsy comedic errors the Flames would make on the night.
The Goat
Early on it appeared to be destined for Deryk Engelland. The lumbering defenseman spent most of the first period scrambling around his own zone. A forgettable start for himself and D-partner, Flames rookie Brett Kulak, playing in his second NHL game. But by game’s end it was clear the entire team was deserved of goat status, in equal portions. Ugly ugly.
Mr. Clutch
Once again I’ll mention the Sedins. Not that they were the only Canucks of note tonight, but it’s just impressive how the twins continue to produce year after year. Ryan Miller also was solid in net, his first meaningful start after a shaky playoffs that left fans questioning his capability to lead the franchise back to the playoffs.
Odds and Ends
The NHL kicked off the 2015/16 season with a celebration held on the grounds of Fort Calgary on a beautiful afternoon. The free festivities included a live musical performance, some Q and As with famous Flames alumni and a live broadcasting of the Flames game on the big screen. Curious how those that attended enjoyed the event…
Unmemorable debuts for both Hamilton and Frolik. Hamilton had a great chance early as he was sprung by Gaudreau for a partial break, which he fired over the net — a common theme tonight as mentioned earlier. Hamilton was most noticeable for rushing around the ice, not always in position. I imagine it will take him a number of games still to acclimate to the Flames defensive system and learn his teammates. Frolik was less noticeable in his debut. A good forecheck early caused a couple turnovers, and he had a couple whacks of the puck around Miller. I suspect there won’t be too many games where he’s flashy and stands out, but he’ll be an important steadying piece to the Flames offense…
Poor Ramo, he was shellshocked tonight. Some nice saves, but some holes in his game as well. Dropping the glove on the opening goal. Double movement is a no-no in the goaltending world. Misdirecting pucks led to the second and third goals. Goalies are taught to use their sticks to direct pucks away from the net and prevent juicy rebounds. But one thing that makes a goalie like Carey Price elite, is his ability to read the play and adapt his save to the situation. You will see Price sometimes boot the puck foward with his pad if an opposing player is lurking backdoor. Mostly it’s just bad luck for Ramo, as was the fourth goal, off the stick of Wideman looking to intercept a dangerous backdoor pass. Fifth was a stinker. I imagine we’ll see either Hiller or Ortio in between the pipes on Saturday.
Next Up
An opportunity for revenge! The Flames head into Vancouver for a chance to spoil the Canucks’ home opener on Saturday night. Puck drop is once again 8 pm MST on Sportsnet.
Lines (To Start):
Gaudreau – Monahan – Hudler
Bouma – Backlund – Frolik
Ferland – Bennett- Jooris (started)
Bollig – Stajan – Jones
Russell – Wideman
Giordano – Halmilton
Kulak – Engelland
Ramo
