Last season in mid to late April an epic game at the Saddledome completed an improbable tale that saw the Calgary Flames steal the least probable playoff spot from none other than the Los Angeles Kings, Stanley Cup Champions.
This season those Kings are no more as they continue to dominate on the road, winning tonight at the Saddledome by a 4-1 score to sweep their four game junket and hand the Flames two straight losses for the first time in December.
Back to the books for the Flames who have to prove they are playoff worthy and the December club and not the October/November club we saw earlier in the season.
The Flow
An evenly played first period with both teams pushing back and forth through twenty minutes with Marian Gaborik the only shooter to solve a goaltender. The Flames had two powerplay opportunities; the first with lots of chances, the second not so much. Just like the Ducks, the Kings represent a big team that plays a forced outside game something the run and gun speed Flames seem to have a tough time with.
Not a good period for the Flames. They seemed to forget the slot was sacred territory giving the Kings not one but two tap in plays when they left both Lucic and Andreoff wide open to make the game 3-0 Kings. The Flames seemed to mount a good charge in the last 10 minutes but it was too little too late as the Kings completed the stanza with a 11-4 shot edge and a 3-0 lead through forty.
Calgary pushed hard in the third out shooting the Kings 10-3 and making the game closer on a Mark Giordano goal but couldn’t get any closer despite a cross bar and several in close chances. When the Flames smell it they ramp up and you could see it through the period’s middle ten minutes. A late penalty call to Sam Bennett (not a great call) essentially sealed it, and the Kings put it away with an empty net goal to make it 4-1.
Three Stars
1.Johnathan Quick: Was large in the last 30 minutes of this one after the Kings built up a 3-0 lead, almost had the shut out but was beaten late by Mark Giordano.
2.Micheal Ferland : Picked up an assist on Mark Giordano’s goal, but was a force otherwise both in getting pucks to the net and using his big body to cause havoc out front.
3.Milan Lucic: Have to admit I thought this guy was heading towards dud status, but he’s been great with the Kings and solid tonight with a goal and several physical plays.
Big Save
With the game 3-1 and the Flames pushing hard, Micheal Ferland picked up a pass in traffic in the Kings zone and fired a shot on Quick that was stymied by a quick glove save.
The Goat
The Flames top line. Johnny Gaudreau was -3, Monahan and Hudler both -2 as the club’s best were not their best in this one. Big teams require big games from big players at big times. The Flames didn’t get that in this one. Honorable mention goes to Hamilton and Russell who were both on for two goals as well.
Mr. Clutch
Mark Giordano. Scored a goal and was a plus player in a game that didn’t feature too many from the Flames side. Was victimized on a turnover for the empty net goal, but it wasn’t really his fault.
Odds and Ends
- The Kings are tough. First place tough. Rebound tough. But the Flames really needed tonight’s game to make a statement about their playoff intentions. December’s run got them back into it but now they need to win big games to not only stay in it, but move up the ladder and seize (keep) a playoff spot. Losing two in a row more than a few times in a season is a non-playoff team thing to do.
- Sean Monahan is now just a percentage point shy of the break even mark in face off win percentage. After a terrible first 10 weeks of the season he’s been on a tear, which has landed him at 49% going into tonight’s game where he went 12 for 20 to help his numbers a bit. He’s been above the break point on 8 of the last 10 games and certainly coming on. Face off wins are possession and while tonight winning the lion’s share of faceoffs did little to help the top line’s performance you have to like the trend overall.
- As I said in the first period flow, big teams that lay back seem to be giving the Flames headaches of late. That’s a big issue for the second half of the season. Free wheeling is fun, but you need to learn to break down defences that don’t come to you. Chipping pucks deep, stretch passes and shear out side speed are all keys that the Flames will need to continue their high scoring ways. The Flames almost seemed to be waiting to push the issue until the Kings scored back to back in the second to put things out of reach. Good teams dictate. The Flames aren’t there yet.
- Like it or not the Flames are sliding a bit. A big win streak at home is nice, but they are now just 6-4 in their last 10 games and now two points out of a playoff spot when they looked almost golden to grab a spot by New Year’s Eve after their win over the Oilers. Back to back losses means their game in Denver on Saturday night is huge for their playoff chances, as they have to avoid a skid that would do their great work at home in the month of December.
Next Up
The Flames have an odd one game trip to Denver on Saturday night before returning to the Dome. Gametime 8pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
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
