We were told it might take some time, this adjustment to a new coach, new systems and a different style of play.
In the summer that seems like a theory, lip service as to what could happen, but it all feels so far away it’s hard to raise the ire or find a concern. Well that theory is becoming pretty real now as the Flames drop their fourth game in five (one in overtime), this one 4-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in a game that featured almost zero flow, an anemic powerplay, too much individual play and a really tight hockey team that frankly seems lost.
Sure they won the other night against a depleted Sabres team, but it was a sloppy, erratic game in itself.
Change takes time, I’ll be the first to admit, but time is ticking on a “start”, we’ve seen this script before..
The Flow
The Flames held the territorial advantage in the first period, but not the results as the Cane’s scored twice and took a 2-0 lead to the room. The Flames had four powerplays in the first period, including a four minute chance when Lee Stempniak high sticked Mark Giordano, but failed to generate a single scoring chance. The Cane’s first goal came after Troy Brouwer fanned in the slot, creating a turnover and a goal by Teravainen. Late in the period the Hurricane’s scored with a two man advantage when former Hitmen Rask put the puck off of Deryk Engelland and into the top corner of the cage. Rough start for the Flames.
The second period was awful for the Flames, awful. They were out shot, out worked, out chanced, and almost out scored. The Hurricanes scored their third goal of the night just five minutes into the period putting the home team in a world of hurt. The Flames then limped through 12 minutes of bland, chanceless hockey before a broken play resulted in Troy Brouwer walking in and letting a blistering short side shot past Eddie Lack to at least give the Flames a chance heading to the third. Clearly F-Bombs in practice isn’t enough to right this ship.
And the Flames do make it interesting. A quick move over the blueline by Dougie Hamilton with a dish to Johnny Gaudreau who cuts to the net and beats Lack with a backhand and suddenly it’s 3-2 and game on. The rest of the period was a slog fest however, with not a lot happening. The fourth line had a really good spurt with about five minutes to play but couldn’t find the equalizer before back to back penalties and a late Carolina powerplay goal put things away.
1. Jeff Skinner:Man this kid has made a comeback, I thought he was finished with concussion troubles two years ago. Tonight a goal and an assist to pace the visitors.
2. Noah Hanafin: First 3 point game for the second year US defenseman, amazing to play defense at that age in the NHL.
3. Eddie Lack: Didn’t have to be lights out, but was a difference maker when he had to be to keep his team out front.
Big Save
Sure it wasn’t a big name player, and sure it wasn’t a difficult shot, but Eddie Lack squaring up to Matt Stajan on a breakaway with 5 minutes left in the second protected a shut out at the time, and avoided the Brouwer late goal from becoming a huge push for the third period.
The Goat
Dave Cameron? That might be unfair because the Flames skill players are all really struggling to create or manufacture offense right now, but the powerplay has been butt ugly so far this season, going 0 for 6 tonight.
Mr. Clutch
Easy for me tonight, Mikael Backlund. You could see it his ice time from Gulutzan that he saw his Swedish center as one of his few players really going. No points but jam up and down the ice all night for the home side.
Odds and Ends
Wonder why Glen Gulutzan would practice a set of four lines on a Wednesday only to blender things for the opening faceoff the next night in a pretty important game. Instead of Chiasson on the top line with Monahan and Gaudreau we saw Matthew Tkachuk, who was slated to be on the fourth line. He kept the Backlund line as is, but also left the Stajan line unchanged, swapping only Tkachuk for Kris Versteeg. … Brian Elliott needs a bounce. A tough rebound on the first goal, a tough tip by his defenseman for the second goal is hardly the start he was looking for having dropped his first two Calgary starts against Edmonton. … Another night where the Flames get simply owned in the face off circle, or two straight since they got through dominating the Oilers and Canucks in the dot. Tonight the culprits were Stajan and Bennett who were both south of 40%. Speaking of Sam Bennett, you have to wonder where he was tonight. Some games the puck doesn’t bounce your way, but he was simply invisible tonight in all aspects of the game. I was expecting big things from him this winter, but so far he’s really struggled to find his way with a bigger role and more responsibility. The sting of an unproductive Bennett is felt even more so with Monahan and Gaudreau struggling as well. .. If the Flames were hoping a pop up to the top line would help Matthew Tkachuk assert himself on the roster, you’d have to assume it more likely that he may head back to junior at that magic 9 game mark next week. A few shifts with the struggling top line and then he was tumbling back down the roster, finishing with only 11 minutes. Don’t think Gultuzan trusts him just yet. … Not sure who picked the stars at the Saddledome tonight but they sure had it wrong. Frolik and Giordano as stars 2 and 3 in a 4-2 loss that had the home team trailing the whole way? Don’t think so.
Next Up
Will Brian Elliott start against his ex teammates? The St. Louis Blues come to town on Saturday night, a big night for both Elliott and Troy Brouwer. Game time 8pm Sportsnet.
Lines:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Tkachuk
Versteeg – Bennett – Brouwer
Bouma – Backlund – Frolik
Ferland – Stajan – Chiasson
Giordano – Brodie
Jokkipakka – Hamilton
Engelland – Kulak
Elliott
