Making the playoffs in the NHL is always usually a fine line of results going your team’s way down the stretch. Many can remember the goal called back against the Flames vs. Anaheim at the end of March last year, a game, less than 2 weeks away from the conclusion of the year. That result goes differently, the Flames get an extra point somewhere else, and they beat Vancouver is the season finale instead of icing a 3/4 team, that team is in the playoffs. What isn’t recalled is those games in February going one way or another. Tonight is one of those nail biters, after a fantastic team performance for the Flames vs. SJ less than 24h ago, as they travel to Phoenix to potentially leapfrog two teams, including the opponent tonight, and possibly be in a playoff position when the night is done.
On The Line
A win in the end, nothing more, nothing less. With this being the first of 4 meetings between these teams in less than the last 2 months of the regular season, the odds are pretty good that the winner of this 4 game set will finish ahead of the other. While that still not be enough for that team to be in the playoffs, making the playoffs are usually a battle of attrition, the team that doesn’t fall apart and make stupid mistakes when the pressure is on is the one that’s ahead, and these 4 games are an epitome of that pressure to win and get/stay ahead. A lot on the line without saying, and all the Flames solid work and would result last night goes almost all away with a regulation loss tonight. However, with a total team effort last night, Flames fans hope the team can muster similar intensity which got them past the Sharks last night.
The Flow
The first period starts with the Flames looking to have that same jump and tenacity from the evening before. Early chances from the second line, first with Blair Jones with a solid shot from the slot within the first 2 minutes, and the next time that the line is on, Mike Cammalleri (his only shot of the game as it turns out) and Blake Comeau both have solid shots on Phoenix goalie Mike Smith off good line work. About 8 minutes in though, disaster. TJ Brodie makes a good move at the offensive blue line to shed his marker, but instead of taking the clear shot as he moves in on net, or finding the open man beside the net, he does neither, and skates behind the net with the puck. He continues to hold it on to it on the other side of the net, and still doesn’t release it towards the net. Finally he realizes his options have run out and attempts a a weak pass that doesn’t get to the front of the net, and the gets knocked over in the process. Phoenix goes 4 on 1 the other way and then a seemingly miss-shot from Taylor Pyatt manages to slide rather clumsily under Leland Irving, his first game since the Boston Massacre. Call it selfish, call it indecisive, but Brodie’s play was simply not good enough, and Irving has to make saves on shots like that. A few minutes later, Alex Tanguay leaks blood fairly heavily, and he was off the ice for the rest of the period . It takes another 7 or 8 minutes until the Flames get another push, this time from the 4th line for a good sequence, and then the updated 2nd line as Cammalleri moved up to the top line. With 2 minutes to go, Jarome Iginla gets a breakway from a good defensive blue line steal, but the puck never settles down for the captain, and doesn’t get a shot away. However, over the next 15 seconds, Iginla retains possession, and himself, Cammalleri and Oli Jokinen get 3 or 4 more good chances in tight to beat Smith, but the puck stays out. The period ends with the Flames looking overall the team with more jump and the much better scoring chances carrying the play, but thanks to Brodie’s massive blunder and Irving’s inability to make the save, the team is down 1-0. Shots are 12-10 for Phoenix. The good news is the Flames look fine after the quick second game turnaround.
The second period starts very quietly. Good news is that Alex Tanguay returns with a full face shield. Brodie continues he poor game to this point, taking a penalty after getting walked around by Gilbert Brule, but that is quickly negated as Scott Hannan takes a stick from Daymond Langkow. The next 10 minutes of the period certainly did not excite as a game, with chances few and far between. However, Phoenix do seem to be coming on, as the Flames no longer have the same chances and possession they had in the first. A slew foot call on Mark Giordano gives Phoenix a powerplay, which the Flames do a good job in killing. Minutes later, a questionable hit from Shane Doan on Giordano gives the Flames only a 2 minute powerplay, yet to have an excellent scoring chance in the first 17 minutes of the period. The powerplay doesn’t generate one either, and the period ends with a whimper. 10-4 shots for Phoenix in a forgettable period of hockey for both teams, really. However, outside of the individual mistakes that caused the first goal, they enter the last period 2 shots away from 2 points, against a team looking no more into the game than the Flames, so this one is up for grabs.
The third starts out well, with the Flames third line getting a few early chances, clearly fired up and ready to forget the second period. An odd sequence has Lance Bouma and Keith Yandle tangled in the Flames bench, and the result is a 4 on 4. On that opportunity, the Flames top line gains control of the zone, and within the zone. Paitenence pays off as Olli Jokinen deflects a Mark Giordano point shot in, to tie the game at 1. Over the next few minutes, one can see the flames look to be relieved by that goal. Further assistance comes with Keith Yandle tussles with Mikael Backlund, and Yandle slugs Backlund as the officals are in the process of splitting them up, resulting in a Flames powerplay. However, this powerplay provides fruitless, and the game settles into a neutral zone battle winds down over the next 10 minutes. In a bizarre sequence, the door in the corner of the Phoenix zone is forced open twice on two consecutive plays within a couple minutes. Olli Jokinen gives the Glendale Arena security hell for the first time it opens, and Micheal Roseveld is fortunate not to get hurt on the second occasion on a hit from Tim Jackman. The period, although at times a little bit more wide open and entertaining than the second period, never really produced glorious chances for either team. The Flames put together a good third period at the end of the trip, and earn the point to take to overtime. 10-7 are the shots for Phoenix in the third.
The overtime starts again with the Flames having an early chance for a 2 on 1, but again, a bouncing puck is unable to be controlled by Iginla in the end, and the opportunity fizzles out before the Flames can capitalize. Ray Whitney gets a very good chance, but Leland Irving does not fall for the fake/patience of Whitney, and makes a crucial save. Down the ice again, and after missing out on picking up a rebound, Backlund takes an incredibly lazy penalty on Daymond Langkow, hooking him behind Phoenix’s net. Inexcusable. Phoenix sets up on the powerplay, and Blair Jones takes a point shot blast in the side of the leg early, which hobbles him. The Coyotes maintain control and move the puck around 4 on 3. Jones slides into one of the back positions to defend, but when the Coyotes work the puck down low, Jones cannot even extend his stick out as part of the triangle, and the puck goes through the three Flames defenders cross ice, and one timed by Shane Doan, past a helpless Leland Irving. Coyotes win 3-2, move into 8th, and Calgary, although gaining a point, is left to wonder what is, and, is in a 3 way tie for 9th, 2 points behind Phoenix. Shots end 36-23 for Phoenix.
Three Stars
- Shane Doan: In a game with few stars, the guy that gets the game winner gets a first star. However, debate can continue whether he should’ve been around to play OT after a dangerous hit on Mark Giordano earlier in the game.
- Mike Smith: At the beginning of the game, beginning of the second, beginning of the third, and beginning of OT, the Flames had the jump and freshest legs of the period, and had many of their best scoring chances. Smith was there to make the key saves in each occasion, a game where it was clear early that one goal was going to be the likely margin of victory.
- Jay Bouwmeester: Never given the credit for the amount of ice time and effectiveness as a defender. Over 28 minutes of ice time out of the 63 minutes played.
Big Save
Mike Smith, at the beginning of each period, had to deal with one timers from the slot…any one of those chances goes in, and the Flames may well have ended up victors, not the home team.
Big Hit
The two hits which popped open the door in Phoenix’s end. Neither were of the big variety, but the fact that it happened right away, means it was a faulty situation from the start. Such a hazard is very dangerous to player safety, it goes without saying…ask the sidelined Curtis Glencross. Why is that door even there? The teams exit through the benches.
The Goat
This writer usually never hands out goat horns in these write-ups, as minor mistakes usually aren’t worthy of calling a player a goat, but without question tonight, in such a key game, key situation, and at the end of the road trip against a team you’re neck and neck with, it is most certainly going to be given out. What in heaven’s earth in Backlund thinking of accomplishing by poking his stick out at a retreating Daymond Lankgow, 202 feet away from Calgary’s net? Cost the Flames the point, despite the valiant effort from the team to battle back after an exhausting game the night before, and, the effort Blair Jones, who hopefully will be ok after blocking that shot trying to save Backlund’s hide. If there is any sort of accountability under this Flames regime, Backlund should feel it’s wrath for his selfish, lazy unfathomable penalty which effectively cost the team the game and that precious extra point.
Odds and Ends
Chris Butler, the other half of the Flames top pair, with almost 25 minutes of ice time. 9 minutes of total ice for Tanguay, after the blood gushed out on the inside of his visor and 150 feet down the Glendale arena ice. He never really looked comfortable in the final two periods as he tried different equipment to protect his face. His absence would’ve been a perfect chance for Cammalleri to step back up to the first line and contribute. However, although 19 minutes of ice time, 1 lonely shot on net. Only 3 points since his arrival, and all on the powerplay, that is not what he was brought in to do. Olli Jokinen with continued hot play, taking over the team’s overall points lead, and doing it the way he used to do it while in Phoenix and Florida. Boyd Gordon and Martin Hanzal owned the Flames in the faceoff dot, it total, Phoenix 25 for 44 from the dot. Leland Irving let in a shaky first goal, and other times looked a little unsure, but overall bounced back ok from his last NHL game experience. That said, that one goal, with just as much blame going to TJ Brodie was something that most goalies would not have let slip past him. Blair Jones proving a lot on this road trip, somewhat out of nowhere…scoring an shootout goal vs. Anaheim, getting under the skin of San Jose’s top line like hasn’t been seen for a while by Flames fans, and having good chances tonight to score, and blocking shots all game. Flames get some help out of town, and now Calgary is tied with Minnesota and Dallas with 58 points, 2 behind Phoenix. Minnesota has a a game in hand, Dallas has two, and Phoenix has the same. A point is a point, and the road trip yielded 4 out of 6 points, but the Flames left two very attainable points on the board this trip, 4 chances to win a shootout in Anaheim, and a coin toss tonight. The Flames have more home games down the stretch (6) than road games, and some games the team wins they weren’t supposed to, and loses games they played better in and should’ve won, but a game like tonight stings, because neither team had an advantage over the other.
Next Up
Next up, Hockey Day in Canada is capped off with a raucous Saturday night tilt, as the Canucks and their often over-exuberant supporters enter the Saddledome. 8pm on CBC.
Lines (To Start):
Tanguay – Jokinen – Iginla
Kolanos – Jones – Cammalleri
Bouma – Backlund- Comeau
Kostopolous – Stajan – Jackman
Bouwmeester – Butler
Giordano – Hannan
Sarich – Brodie
