Through the first few preseason games the Flames three headed snake; the battle for the net featured three goaltenders all putting up great numbers, making the decision almost impossible.
In the end the decision wasn’t made, and there are still three goaltenders in town, two of which have split the Flames first four games. Unlike the preseason though, its not a case of three goaltenders shooting lights out as the two goaltenders hover around .900 in save percentage and the Flames are sputtering.
Tonight it was Kari Ramo’s turn and he was a difference maker through 58 1/2 minutes, the likely game star. But a flubbed pluck on the game winner put the game on its ear as the Flames dropped a 3-1 decision in Winnipeg to stretch their early season record to 1-3-0.
Next on tap is the Oilers and McDavid at the Saddledome, is it Ortio’s turn?
The Flow
You just never know how a home opener will go in the NHL. The Flames, almost by script tend to lay an egg. Other teams follow suite and come out nervous and tight. Some are adrenalin baked and hammer their visitors. Tonight the Flames played a great road period in the first and carried the play to what I’m guessing was a slightly tight Jet club and took away a 1-0 lead based on a Mikael Backlund rebound on a Sam Bennett wrap around attempt.
The Flames looked pretty decent in the second, carrying on their flow from the first period when the Jets struck on a fluke goal of the skate of Bryan Little, tying the game at one. The goal did more than tie the score, it seemed to pop the balloon of a solid road start as the Flames spent the rest of the period in their own zone either five on five or killing penalties to Josh Jooris. Some good goaltending by Ramo, and some solid work down low by Hamilton and Giordano got them through the period and into the third still knotted at one.
With the second period behind them; their nemesis, the Flames were golden right? Think again, as the Jets found another gear and the Flames essentially played for the new gimmick overtime, holding on and hoping for the best. The bubble finally broke when Byfuglien beat Wideman wide after picking up a turnover from Gaudreau and beating Ramo from an angle that should never result in a goal.
Three Stars
1.Blake Wheeler: Picked up a goal, an assist and survived an almost nasty cut to his wrist off the skate of Sam Bennett.
2.Dustin Byfuglien: Have to hand it to the big dude, he has a flare for the dramatic. Charges in late and wins the game for the home side in their home opener. Doesn’t get much more intense than that.
3. Kari Ramo : Didn’t like the last goal and honestly it tarnishes the whole thing, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was the best of the Flames in a close one that he held them in.
Big Save
95% of the time you pick a goaltender for this one, ok check that 99% of the time. Tonight though I like Mark Giordano extending his reach and stick to take Ehlers out of a blue chip scoring chance and behind the net harmlessly.
The Goat
Sorry Mr. Ramo but this is an easy one. Sure Gaudreau turned the puck over late. Sure Wideman got beat wide by a guy the size of a Mack truck, but you have to get square to the shooter when he’s gone that wide and should have nothing to shoot at. A muffed shot is an oddity, but if your pad isn’t in the net that doesn’t go in. Bad goaltending.
Mr. Clutch
Mark Giordano. His best game this season, and since his season ending injury last season. Effort all over the ice, a great stick on many a play, and seems to have found some cohesion with defense partner Dougie Hamilton who also had his best game of the season.
Odds and Ends
Very odd to see Sam Bennett score an assist in the same city on the same play in the same period isn’t it? The guy has this playoff experience but his NHL career stats as far as regular season goes 5 games and two assist, and both assist on wraparound plays at the same end of the MTS Center in Winnipeg. … Speaking of Bennett his new found line with Frolik and Backlund had a good start but then went pretty quiet for the rest of the night. In all fairness the whole team went pretty quiet after the first, but you need jump from your top six and they didn’t provide a whole lot. … Frolik almost lived a nightmare in the second when he booted a puck on a Flames change creating a two on nobody late in the period. Giordano and Ramo came up big to keep the Jets from scoring on a turnover from a guy looking to anything but cause mayhem on the negative side on his return to Winnipeg. … My gut say Byfuglien was offside on the winning goal, but neither angle gave the conclusive evidence that backed that up so the right call was made. … So as I said above Ramo was very good through 58 1/2 minutes but then gave up a goal that hurt the team badly late. The Ramo / Hiller debate continues to rage on but that level of inconsistency may in the end seal his fate as far as starts for the Flames. The Flames would love to have a Carey Price, but in the meantime a guy that can pitch a .918 save percentage and not hurt you would be nice. Tonight though he was full marks most of the way. … My take on things? I had the Flames taking a step back this year. Back into the rebuild, back into the pace expected. Then they went out and bolstered the line up with the likes of Hamilton and Frolik changing expectations for even the most grounded of on lookers. Now I have to wonder if the team itself has altered their expectations and with that maybe their attitude? Too much talk about not working hard enough for my liking. The perfect tonic is the Oiler game tomorrow night. Win and you likely put the tough start behind you. Lose and you get a massive view of rock bottom.
Next Up
Desperate meets futile? Two Alberta teams on skids and tough starts. One with expectations based on last season, the other based on off ice change and a new phenom. Game time 8pm on HNIC. Something has to give!
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Sam Bennett – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
Micheal Ferland – Matt Stajan – David Jones
Mason Raymond – Josh Jooris – Brandon Bollig
Mark Giordano – Dougie Hamilton
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Brett Kulak – Deryk Engellend
Kari Ramo
