Things got very dire in Calgary in the past few days. The loss to the Flyers had the coach fired, trades coming, demotions imminent, and pundits torn apart for ever suggesting the Flames were anything more than fodder in the Western Conference standings.
But the Flames, like Bill Pullman apically stated ….
“We will not go quietly into the night!
We will not vanish without a fight!
We’re going to live on!
We’re going to survive!”
And so they did. The Flames after posting one of their best 60 minute efforts of the season last night in Toronto, gut checked a back to back in Montreal tonight, turning a 2-1 deficit into a come from behind overtime win, with who else but Sean Monahan scoring the game winner to give the team three out of a possible four points and restore some order to the roller coaster of expectations in Cowtown.
Too Many 4th Liners
With a hobbled Jaromir Jagr, and a suspended Matthew Tkachuk the Flames didn’t have their usual three fourth liners in and two fourth liners out alignment; they had all five in the lineup!
Garnet Hathaway was back on the third line with Jankowski and Bennett, Troy Brouwer moved up to the 3M line with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik, leaving Curtis Lazar, Matt Stajan and Freddie Hamilton to patrol the fourth line.
Not the strongest lineup we’ve seen this season. At least they didn’t dress Matt Bartkowski to find that floor.
However …
It might be time to elevate the status of Garnet Hathaway from “fourth liner” to “bottom sixer”, as he’s been quite impressive in his two game stint on the third line filling in for Jagr. No he’s not an elite skill player, but he is deft enough with the puck to keep a cycle going, quick enough to keep up to his linemates, and then of course his elite skill, annoying enough to make enough shifts interesting to warrant another look. He’s played well. Not sure he’s to get a place yet, but he could be in the mix if he can prove he’s a better option on a nightly basis than some regulars.
Doesn’t hurt when you pitch in with a game tying goal in the third period.
And Speaking of Tying Goals …
The Calgary Flames won a challenge! Yes they tossed the NHL version of the coach’s challenge flag and had a no goal decision reversed to tie the game in the third period. I’m not sure what Glen Gulutzan’s challenge record has been during his tenure with the Flames but if I’m guessing I have it well under 20%.
Speaking of Percentages …
Poor David Rittich’s save percentage on the season got just mucked when he came in in relief in the Edmonton game last Saturday. The official line was a loss which is bad enough, but to suffer two goals against on only six shots with neither his fault was a pretty rough way to sewer his statistics.
So tonight it was great to see Rittich stop 35 of 37 shots in the house that Roy built (not sure he ever played in the Bell Center), Rittich’s favourite player growing up. Great to see the Calgary backup post his second win in two starts, so key for a team looking to both contend and spell off their starter.
Talking Backups …
Is David Rittich starting to cement himself in Calgary?
And I ask this from two different angles; first is he this season’s back up over Eddie Lack who currently toils in Stockton? I’m no goalie expert, but clearly Rittich is way more comfortable between the pipes in his starts than we saw from either of Lack’s starts before he got sent down.
And then as an aside, has Rittich pushed ahead of Jon Gillies for the likely backup goaltender next season? Sure they’ll have a camp battle of some kind but some cache this season will go a long way to secure a job next sure I’d think.
Then there’s the rising tide of Tyler Parsons to think of …
And Once Again About Fourth Liners
Yes I rather enjoy shifts from the Monahan line, when 3M comes out, and the odd turn from a Jankowski/Bennett combination, but what I don’t get is the acrimony assigned to fourth liners and seventh defensemen in the modern stratosphere of the hockey fan.
They’re fourth liners. If they were better they’d be third liners, so cut them some slack. Guys like Matt Stajan have held value deep into their careers because although they’ve lost what made them perhaps an upper roster player at one time, their smarts and heart play a role.
Now the deviation from this theory is when the fourth liner makes too much money. This can be managed if it’s the last year on a deal and the player provided service. A recent signing that plays on the fourth line and makes too much money is an albatross however, and that brings us to Troy Brouwer. Lately the man has played his best hockey, and I support that. But can we please, when both Jagr and Tkachuk are back, please see an end to powerplay time for the player. He’s harder to play against of late, and less damaging on the fourth line, but he shouldn’t be hand grenading the first powerplay unit.
And Talking Game Winners …
Sean Monahan has been nothing but a puzzle to me since he broke in as a 6th overall draft pick of the Flames in 2013.
His pedigree said safe pick, down home kid that would play a solid two way game and be the team’s future Rod Brinda’mour. Worked for me.
Then he has shown nothing but Tim Kerr snipe-ness from the slot season over season over season. This year, and sorry folks Gulutzan gets some credit for this, he’s added possession stats to his arsenal as his line has become one that can be counted on in all situations. But who saw this goal machine coming? I certainly didn’t.
Fancy Stats
The Flames got out corsied in this one, as the Habs carried a 52% advantage in five on five shot attempts through three periods. In all situations the Flames had the lead with a 51% margin as their powerplay and work in overtime stemmed the tide. Scoring chances were 9-8 Calgary five on five and 11-10 Calgary in all situations.
Is something happening here? The Flames third pairing for back to back nights on a mini road trip were dominant as Michael Stone led the way with 67% shot attempts, his partner Brett Kulak coming in at 66%. A lot has been made about Mark Jankowski’s assecsion to NHL regular, but you’d better find a moving van out of the Weston for Mr. Kulak as well. Other guys with great nights included Hathaway at 65%, Stajan at 57%, Lazar, Jankowski and Bennett all above the 50% mark. Troy Brouwer was at the rear with 37%, joined by his frustrated linemates and the Hamonic/Brodie pairing.
