I think I finally figured this soul sucking start to the Calgary Flames season out! The club is brilliant.
Saddled with expectations that feel uncommon, odd, itchy, scratchy and unfamiliar the team is out of its element, they don’t feel themselves. The atmosphere isn’t Calgary Flameish enough.
But by losing five of their first six games, including tonight’s 6-2 drubbing by the Washington Capitals the Flames have finally captured back that feeling they love so much. Now everyone thinks they won’t make the playoffs.
Well done guys!
The Flow
Not a bad start to be honest as the Flames pushed the play early and had some chances before the game’s first five minutes. Some spotty play in their own zone however the Flames survive and open the scoring when Sean Monahan takes a pass from Gaudreau and hammers one home just nine minutes in. The Caps push back and tie things up when a Wideman turnover results in a Burakovsky goal seven minutes later. The Flames settle down and have a late chance or two including another great Monahan chance leaving the score tied at one after one.
The second has been a nightmare for the Flames, tonight? A nightmare in a coma that you just can’t wake up from. The Flames got completely outclassed in the second period giving up three goals and getting out shot 13-4 in a frame that put a giant exclamation point on the Flames woes this season. A short handed chance or two from Calgary that was fuddled, Hartley pulls Ramo for Hiller and the slumbering red beast sleep walks their way into the third with the outcome all but decided.
The Flames probably put their best 5 or 6 minutes of the night together to start the third getting this writer all ready to write the “sure but that doesn’t count because the opposition is on cruise control and not pushing the play”. After Giordano made it 4-2 the Caps found a way to add to their lead anyway so the hollow win the last period argument can be saved for another night. In all honesty the Flames did play pretty well in the third but didn’t bury their chances and Hiller was beaten twice by going to his knees too early.
Three Stars
1.Evgeny Kuznetsov: Another great example of being patient with young players, this young Russian dominated with three assists, all the spectacular variety.
2.Nicklas Backstrom: Has been overshadowed by Ovechkin for years, but a slick slick hockey player in his own right. Put up two goals tonight to pace the Capitals.
3.Alex Ovechkin: He had a milestone so you knew he’d find it against Calgary, tallying a goal and an assist to reach 900 points in his career.
Big Save
Before getting pulled Kari Ramo slid across the crease and completely stoned Alex Ovechkin on his patented powerplay one timer, getting his pad on the play and for the time being keeping his team within two.
The Goat
Denis Wideman’s gaff in the first period had him fitted for goat horns, but the second period and a -3 rating had Dougie Hamilton wrestle control of the honor and ride it into the sunset.
Mr. Clutch
Cap skill. The best players for Washington were their best players, they all showed up to play. The Flames simply can’t say the same this season for more than a handful of minutes. They have a well paid blueline that carried them last year, but this year they are carrying them to a cliff. Am I down on Dougie Hamilton? Nope. The whole team is playing like junk right now, I don’t see a point in focusing on any one player. But he’s certainly not part of the solution right now.
Odds and Ends
It will sure be interesting to see what Brad Treviling does if this early season skid carries on much further. In his first season the team was supposed to be terrible but wasn’t. This year improved but not. The former is all smiles, the latter tension, frowns and day to day stress. The goaltending mess has carried on through three weeks of October, the team is in total disarray; it will be interesting to see what if any moves that Treliving has in mind to either correct or shake up his hockey club. … Speaking of change. The loss tonight gives them a 1-5-0 record for two points in 6 games. Its early, big time early, but 2/6 games means they likely need 96 points in their next 76 games which is a .631 win percentage or the equivalent of a 104 point team. In other words this is getting serious quickly. I know the next argument coming; the Flames lost 8 games in a row last season and made the playoffs, and I can’t disagree with that. However losing 8 straight to give back a great start is a lot different than winning say one of their first nine and then having to dig out of a hole for the rest of the year. So what does all this gloom mean? At some point in the next two weeks if this continues to slide I’d imagine the Flames braintrust will start thinking rebuild, and turn their focus to moving both Hudler and Russell by the deadline. If the mathematical situation doesn’t look good it would sure give the team a leg up in structuring salaries for the next wave of new contracts coming their way. This is still a rebuild, and a hiccup doesn’t takeaway from a solid foundation. … Speaking of foundation you’d have to think we’ll see Ortio for the Red Wings game now that both goaltenders struggled in the same outing, though I guess time will tell. I do understand why Hartley may be attempting to save Ortio from a poor coverage Flames team, but maybe Ortio can save the team himself by making a few of the “tough ones” and giving them some confidence. … Joe Colborne returned to the roster with a -3 night, likely not what he was looking for. … I thought Sam Bennett had good jump again tonight, always a fun player to watch when he’s on the ice. … Good to see Mark Giordano hit the scoreboard for his first goal and point this season.
Next Up
The Flames conclude this brief three game homestand with another tough test, as the Detroit Red Wings are in town on Friday night, game time 7pm Sportsnet.
Lines
Gaudreau – Monahan – Frolik
Bennett – Backlund – Hudler
Bollig- Stajan – Jooris
Ferland – Colborne – Jones
Giordano – Hamilton
Russell – Wideman
Kulak – Engellend
Ramo
