When Brad Treliving was newly minted as an NHL GM he looked at his roster and wondered how they were going to score enough goals to compete in the best circuit in the league. They were thin up front, with a lot of their talent young an untested.
He was as surprised as anyone when the defense corps lead the way through the first half of the season, before finally passing the baton to the top line that featured two young players. The team scored the 6th most goals in the NHL last season.
He was right to worry, and the team he feared a calendar ago seems to be out in full force as once again the Flames turned a solid start into a lopsided loss this time 4-0 to the Islanders as their goal production continues to be as dry as the inside of my mouth after a night out in NY last night.
The Flow
I really liked the Flames start last night. They were moving their feet and causing the Islanders trouble. Late in the period the home side found their stride and ran up some shots, only to be foiled by Ortio making his first start of the season. Scoreless after one with a good percentage of the play in the New York zone.
The second was all Calgary for the first 10 minutes but despite the territorial edge they just couldn’t convert any of their chances and seize a game that was very much lying in wait to be taken. The Islanders got a powerplay when Bollig flipped the puck out of play and that was all the hosts needed to break the scoreless tie and score the only goal they’d need.
The Flames pushed in the third but once again couldn’t get that blue chip chance to make a difference. Their own powerplay sputtered and the game had that feeling of another home side goal putting things away. The Islanders were happy to oblige scoring twice in the third and putting the game away. 4-0 New York.
Three Stars
1.Jaroslav Halak : He wasn’t really tested all that much but a shut out is a shut out right? None got by him.
2.Kyle Okposo : Was on the puck all night, rewarded with two assists in the third period.
3.Franz Nielson : Scored two third period goals to put the game out of reach for the Islanders..
Big Save
Joni Ortio bailed his team out late in the first period when he managed to keep his body on the goal line with the Islanders hammering away at a loose puck.
The Goat
When your team can’t score you had better not take silly penalties, but that’s exactly what Bollig did when he fired the puck across the ice and over the glass in the second period.
Mr. Clutch
I’m going to take a pass on this category in this one. Plenty of players competed, showed up, tried hard, but no one player got things done. Your best players have to be your best players and right now they’re not. And with that you have a losing hockey team.
Odds and Ends
Took in the game at Barclay Center last night in Brooklyn. It had been a while since I’ve been in a building that new, and it doesn’t take long to see why we need a new building in Calgary. Short lines to everything, including the bathroom. Easy to get around. But a basketball arena is not a hockey rink and its tough to get past that odd wall of seats with no one in them. Talked to a legacy Islander fan, his dad had season tickets, he had season tickets, and now he’s right pissed. Doesn’t like the building’s sightlines, hates the new black jerseys and doesn’t like the tug of war between new fans and old fans. Could be interesting. … Was hoping Ortio would continue on with his play in the first two periods and establish himself as the go to guy for a spell, but his third period essentially took that away. He was a difference maker through 40, but the pin to near the balloon in the third and cost his team. Hiller did the same in Madison Square leaving Hartley with a tough decision to make for Wednesday in Ottawa. … The Flames last season were fortunate, but also good. This year they’ve basically had all that good fortune reverse and are getting no puck luck at all. The club’s PDO is 4th worst when they literally rode and unsustainable PDO to the playoffs last season. The bad play is unsustainable now, as most teams with even a bit of talent should move towards 100 and Calgary is stuck at 94. Bottom line though is time, and if this string doesn’t flip soon they’ll have a start so bad that the season can’t be saved. … With Brodie on the trip maybe he’s ready to go in Ottawa, that would certainly help as I truly think he was Calgary’s best defenseman last year. He makes things happen. If he does they should pair him with Hamilton and get the big red head turned around. Another -3 tonight, and his stat line is starting to get Nail Yakupov like.
Next Up
The Flames complete this three game road trip with a contest in Ottawa on Wednesday night. Game time 5pm Sportsnet.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Joe Colborne – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett – Derek Grant – Josh Jooris
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – David Jones
Mark Giordano – Dennis Wideman
Kris Russell – Deryk Engelland
Vladislav Smid – Dougie Hamilton
Joni Ortio
