Playoff teams avoid skids.
Three, four and five game losing streaks can take the wind out of what looks like a good season, rendering a good stretch balanced out with other teams earning points and taking away playoff spots. With that the Flames were out to end a two game losing streak, albeit the last one with a shoot out that earned the team a point.
So with a great response and a thorough pounding of the Florida Panthers by a 5-2 score all is well in Flames land again, as a potential three game losing streak is wiped out, giving the team points in three of the last four instead.
The Flow
The Flames got off to a good start, unlike their last home start against the New Jersey Devils where they were an abomination out of the gates. Unfortunately a turn over in the neutral zone led to a marginal turnover and a quick goal by Vincent Trocheck, a goal that Chad Johnson would likely like to have back as it beat him short side high without a screen. The Flames tie it up three minutes later when Sean Monahan takes the puck into the Panther’s zone, dishes to Kris Versteeg who has his backhander deceive Roberto Luongo with Troy Brouwer providing the screen. The tie game didn’t last however, as Trocheck on a three on one beat Johnson in the same spot, though this one may have hit a sprawled Calgary defender. The period was very much controlled by the Flames, shots on goal finishing 10-5 Calgary, but the score 2-1 Florida.
The Flames put the pedal to the metal in the second period, dominating the play to the point the shots were 7-0 Calgary for the first six minutes of the period, with the Panthers not registering their first shot until the 8 minute mark. The Flames tie the score when Mikael Backlund does an amazing job on a zone entry on the team’s second powerplay of the period, taking the line through the middle with patience before dishing to Mark Giorano who finds the post and in on Luongo. The Flames continue their dominance, but Luongo stands tall, with the Panthers doing their best to keep the sight lines open and limit damage. The Flames get another powerplay and score once again, this time Backlund corralling a rebound off of Matthew Tkachuk’s tip attempt and pushing the puck across the line. Thirteen seconds later Tkachuk makes an amazing between his legs back pass to Backlund who scores again and it’s 4-2 Flames. The Flames looked to have added a 5th goal, a marker by Freddie Hamilton on a great board work shift by the fourth line, but the goal is wiped out when a challenge showed Matt Stajan’s skate a half inch off the ice on a play thirty seconds later when they entered the zone. Flames lead 4-2 after two.
Very methodical third period from the Flames where they give up nothing whatsoever on Chad Johnson, who just may have had the lightest two goals against night in team history. The club scores again with the fourth line looking for vindication for the waved off goal in the second period, this time Matt Stajan finding Lance Bouma who chips the puck past Luongo to make it 5-2. However another review wipes out another goal again for being off side. Tough night for the fourth line. The Flames take another penalty, and with the Panthers pulling Luongo they actually generate a scoring chance or too but the Flames kill it off pretty much assuring the win. A few moments later Sean Monahan hits the empty net to make it 5-2 on a play that had a bit of a jumble in the Flames defense pairing change, looking like it might have been called off again! But it stands and the Flames win 5-2 ending a two game losing streak but gaining points in three of four games.
Possession Pulse
First Period – Shot attempts reflected the eye test with the Flames having a 13-9 edge, overall shot attempts 17-12 for the Flames.
Second Period – Same period was all Calgary, but the shot attempts didn’t really explain the degree of domination, with the Flames having an 18-14 lead, overall shot attempts 25-14 for the Flames
Third Period – Quiet third with the five on five shot attempts only 5-4 in favour of the Flames. But if you include powerplays the Panthers had a shot attempts lead of 17-8.
Players – Only two Flames skaters finished the night under the break even mark; Lance Bouma and Jyrki Jokipakka, which begs the question; do they wipe out shot attempts after a goal is disallowed? Lance Bouma for example was on the ice for 9 shot attempts, four for the Flames and five for the Panthers. His goal and his assist were both wiped out, but were the shot attempts that went in also wiped out? On the plus side once again we have Johnny Gaudreau on the top of the list, similar to the Flames last game in Edmonton, a really good sign. He clocked over 70% tonight and was noticeable shooting the puck often. Others with big numbers included; Alex Chiasson, TJ Brodie, Matthew Tkachuk and a really good sign … Sam Bennett, all in at over 60%.
1. Mikael Backlund: His personal second period wrecking ball performance with two goals and an assist to wipe out a Florida 2-1 lead.
2. Mark Giordano: The captain hits the scoresheet in a big way with a goal and two assists.
3. Vincent Trocheck: Shifty American sniper hits the scoresheet twice on two shots in the first period.
Big Save
With the delayed penalty coming up on the Panthers Aaron Ekblad the Flames cycle the puck around the Panther’s zone with Michael Frolik found in front of the net for a one timer that Roberto Luongo is able to squeeze with his armpit.
The Goat
Aaron Ekblad had a tough night for the Panthers with a -1 rank and two minor penalties including the one that led to the Flames tying things up and getting untracked in the second period.
Mr. Clutch
Matthew Tkachuk. The kid just goes to the right places all the time. Provides a huge screen and tip on the first Backlund goal to get things back to even, and then a great back pass to set up Backlund’s game winner 13 seconds later.
Odds and Ends
The Flames change things up in goal with Chad Johnson in the nets ahead of Brian Elliott. I thought Elliott was excellent in Edmonton in the 2-1 shoot out loss despite going zero for two on save attempts in the shoot out. Both goaltenders were a miscue away from a regulation loss but hung in and got their teams to the extra session. … The only other change is up front with injured rugged winger heading out (Garnet Hathaway) for Freddie Hamilton. Micheal Ferland was supposed to go, but wasn’t ready after missing the game on Saturday in Edmonton with an injury sustained last week. … To continue with Micheal Ferland while he’s the topic, and the expansion draft. Coming into the season I was really worried the Flames were going to lose Jyrki Jokipakka, and well now that isn’t all that paramount for me clearly. Then in October I started getting concerned the Flames were setting up to lose Brett Kulak, but that too has dissipated. So now I guess it comes down to Micheal Ferland and Hunter Shinkaruk and to be honest I’m not all that worried about either of them either. I like Ferland, I do, but I’m starting to see it unlikely that he’s upper six bound making him less of a loss all the time. Either way the Flames are in good shape compared to many other teams when it comes to the Vegas issue in June. … I get that Johnny Gaudreau gets abused and clearly he’s a special player but he’s got to learn to take the odd whack in a game without over reacting. The stick to the face in the second period was an accident with Gaudreau’s face 4 inches off the ice. Hardly a high stick in any way. Let it go dude! … Wonder if the Flames should flip flop the first and second units for their powerplay. The powerplay as a whole let the team down against Jersey and Edmonton to some degree, but from what I can remember the first unit started all the man advantages and had some bleed past the 50% mark. Tonight the powerplay scores two goals and both were with the second unit setting up and getting it done quickly. Something to consider. … Speaking of special teams, is it me or does your pulse barely register when the Flames are shorthanded these days? I just feel so confident that not only will they kill it off, they won’t really give up a scoring chance that I honestly slouch in my chair and take it as a break from action. … Love the Dome giving it to Luongo all night. The “LOOOO” pouring outs all night were really noticeable on every time he lost his stick, or his footing or even handled the puck. Old Canucks feel doesn’t die easy. … So is that the last time we will see Jaromir Jagr in the Saddledome? I thought that five years ago when he came to town with the Flyers and was proven wrong so I won’t make that mistake again. Such a majestic career. … The win moves the Flames back to 4 games over .500, a big number since the trailing Predators have that same stat in their line. The Preators, of course, visit the dome on Thursday night in a huge game. The Flames are kind of in a weird spot as they trail the Pacific playoff teams by three or more points while also being up on the Kings by three points as well. It will be interesting to see how the games in hand play out in the second half; do they teams with extra games make up ground, or does the team that has more practice time pull away? A good question in this season’s tighter schedule.
Next Up
Huge playoff implication game on Thursday as the Flames host the Nashville Predators at 7pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Versteeg – Monahan – Brouwer
Gaudreau – Bennett – Chiasson
Bouma – Stajan – Ferland
Giordano – Engelland
Brodie – Wideman
Jokipakka- Engellend
Johnson
