Winning in December
(sung to the tune of Dancing in September by Earth, Wind & Fire)
Do you remember?
The 28th night of November?
The Flames were changing their name to pretenders
Hopes for playoffs had gone away
Our hearts were crying,
For all hype that we all had been buying
Had crashed in a heap oh
Remember, how we all longed for brighter days
Ba de ya, say do you remember?
Ba de ya, losing in November
Ba de ya, last place seemed here to stay
Our thoughts were so blue
Holding handles of mugs filled with dark brew
Only trade talk and drafts
Remember, how we wanted somebody to pay
Now December, found the wins
that we dreamed in September
Only win streaks and love
Remember, the good joy we share today
Ba de ya, say do you remember?
Ba de ya, winning in December
Ba de ya, never was a cloudy day
Cow bells are ringing
Our souls are singing
Do you remember? Never was a cloudy day.
and… a bunch more ba de yas.
Fair question though: Do you remember the 21st night of September (as the song actually goes)? It was the first day of preseason for Calgary Flames and they were opening with a pair of split squad games against the laughable Edmonton Oilers.
The Flames dropped both contests, the home loss being quite surprising as they iced a strong lineup against a bunch of Oiler schlubs. It was the beginning of a long stretch where the Flames just seemed off, eventually falling to last place.
Fast forward and with the Flames fresh off a tenacious triumph over those same Oilers and it feels like order has been restored. The Flames are back to entertaining, high paced hockey, and climbing the standings as we head toward 2016 and the playoff drive.
But that style was not present on this night, as the Flames encountered a plucky Duck team that was content on sitting back and trapping the Flames into submission. Calgary had no answer and the home win streak was finally snapped in one of the most frustrating games in recent time, for fans and players alike.
Certainly a cloudy day.
On The Line
The Flames are looking to extend their franchise record consecutive home wins, which sits at 11. The Ducks are floundering this year, but there’s a sense that it’s only a matter of time before they show the form that got them to the Western Conference final last season. Even if that fear is unfounded, no harm sinking them further down when you get the opportunity.
The Flow
The first was a series of bumbles by the players and mumbles from the fans over the lackluster action. Karri Ramo started things off with a weird mis-pass that became a glorious chance he needed to deny with the pad. Ducks were content to sit back in a 0-1-4 trap and prevent the Flames from carrying the puck over the blue line, which made for some tepid hockey. The limited chances were a result of giveaways and miscues from both sides, Flames the more guilty of the two, but both goalies were equal to the task.
Disjointed seemed to be the theme of the game, and it was exemplified in the second. The Flames couldn’t break through the Ducks trap, and seemed confused in their own zone on markings and positioning. The Ducks were free to set up shop behind the Flames net on numerous occasions and it finally cost Calgary when a nice feed by Rickard Rakell was onetimed topcorner by the veteran Sean Horcoff. Speaking of veterans, credit to Perry and Getzlaf who used their size and wits to bully the Flames in the offensive zone. It’s been a rough year for the former Calgary Hitmen, and it was clearly evident even tonight that Getzlaf is fighting the puck, but he still plays a cerebral game that is unmatched by most. Strangely after the goal the Ducks turned aggressive, further bewildering a hapless Flames squad who ended the period with seven shots total. Seven. Shots. Through two. Unacceptable.
Frustration and rage boiled through the veins of Flames fan’s as the woeful performance carried into the third. Flashbacks of the horrific 2006 game 7 loss to the Anaheim Ducks came into mind — undoubtedly one of the worst games in Flames history, where they generated practically zero scoring chances in an embarrassing 2-0 shutout. But led by a slick rush by Sam Bennett the Flames started attacking the Ducks’ zone trap and creating chances and buzz. Another nifty move by Brodie would force a Getzlaf penalty and hope for a tying goal. This game suddenly meant more than others, and you felt if the Flames could get one by Gibson the place would erupt in bedlam. The Flames would sustain decent pressure in the dying minutes and manufacture a couple of great looks, but just couldn’t connect. Flames fall 1-0 in infuriating fashion, snapping the win streak at 11.
All good things must come to an end. And the Flames were due for a stinker on home ice. Still disappointing to see such a great streak end in such ugly fashion.
I really dislike the Ducks.
Three Stars
- Karri Ramo: Looked like it might be an ugly game with his early foibles, but he settled in to deliver another solid performance. 20 saves and no chance on the only Duck goal.
- John Gibson: Hard to argue with perfection. Only needed to make 14 stops on a quiet night.
- Sean Horcoff: Scored the only goal. No Flame beside Ramo worthy of star status tonight.
Big Save
First period and a nice feed through the slot to Dougie Hamilton forced John Gibson to flash the leather, where he got just enough to deny an opening goal. How different the game might have looked if that went in.
Big Hit
Midway through the 2nd Dennis Wideman made one of the Ducks look like a feathered victim of Duck Hunt for Nintendo as he spiraled down into the corner off a heavy shoulder.
The Goat
The coaching staff. Or maybe the players. But the Flames were significantly stifled for more than 50 minutes with ostensibly zero adjustments made. It took a kamikaze effort by Sam Bennett to finally alert the Flames that they could try something different than the long pass tip-in to try and break the Duck’s trap.
Hopefully all the tape of this game is destroyed, as the book might be out on how to shutdown Johnny Gaudreau and the Calgary Flames, and it ain’t pretty for Flames fans.
Mr. Clutch
Bennett showed some drive and initiative when the Flames seemed completely helpless, so give him credit for that..
Odds and Ends
- Tale of the tape. Through two periods shots were 14-7 in favour of the Ducks. Flames were marked with 15 giveaways. Only two for a disciplined Ducks team. Flames managed to double their shot total in the third but it was too little too late. 21-14 at games end.
- Flames actually won the battle in the faceoff circle tonight, 26-18. It was one of the few battles they won.
- Very poor performances for a lot of the Flames. Monahan was disappointing tonight. Colborne continues to make confusing decisions with the puck. Hudler looking like a shadow of his former self. And Bollig checking back in to the lineup after a few weeks in the pressbox, but he might as well of stayed put as he was invisible on the ice.
- Patience is great. But when a risky pass makes it’s way through a flood of Ducks attacking the puck, a strike has to be made. It’s hard to watch a nice move, or brave pass be successful, only for the Flames to settle it down and recycle the puck back around the horn. In a tight checked game, any space must be exploited.
- The Ducks now move just two points back of the Flames with a game in hand. Fortunately the Out of town scoreboard was favorable with both the Coyotes and Oilers losing in regulation.
Next Up
New Years Eve tilt against division leading L.A. Kings. The puck drops 7 pm MST on Sportsnet. Hopefully the start of another win streak.
Lines (To Start):
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Micheal Ferland – Mikael Backlund – Joe Colborne
Sam Bennett – Marcus Granlund- David Jones
Lance Bouma – Matt Stajan – Brandon Bollig
Mark Giordano – T.J. Brodie
Kris Russell – Dougie Hamilton
Deryk Engelland – Dennis Wideman
Karri Ramo
