Both the Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun and Sportsnet.ca have made a big deal about moral victories for the Oilers of late, finding solace in playing well enough in games where the Oilers lose.
Is there such thing as a moral loss? I think not. But there is entertainment.
The Flames are two and a half years into a rebuild so we don’t have to hang on platitudes, the team isn’t staring down a decade of futility. The average hockey fan joins the club executive in being less than impressed with how this season has transpired but for my money … just entertain me.
Tonight the Flames were the better club on the ice, they played hard, they had some good chances, took the game to overtime, but came up short in a well fought 2-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night. A loss, but a way more entertaining loss than that debacle in Anaheim.
Lets leave morality for our friends up North.
The Flow
A much better start for the Flames, at least compared to their contest in Anaheim on Tuesday night. They didn’t spend the first 6 minutes penned in, in fact they took the play to their hosts and generated a few third tier chances, coming up empty. Three powerplays between the teams, two for Calgary with neither team generating much by way of blue chip chances. Bennett almost set up Backlund with a great pass from the corner, but Backlund was tied up leading to a powerplpay. On the powerplay the Flames failed to get set up until late on the chance when Hudler found Hamilton cruising in from the point, but Smith was ready for the challenge, gloving the wrister.
The Coyotes manage an early goal on a fluke to start the second when Hanzal had a puck carom off his inside skate in the slot and skitter into the open cage, a let down given a solid first period for Calgary. The Flames settled things down a few minutes later though, and then really took the play to Arizona for the rest of the period, out shooting them 9-4 in the period and 21-12 through two periods. Their good work was rewarded when they received their fourth powerplay of the night and converted when Hudler banked a puck off Gaudreau to a wide open Mark Giordano in the slot who fired it home to tie things at one.
The two teams played a careful third period, almost willing the thing to overtime in order to secure to secure a point in battle for the bottom runs of the Pacific division. The Coyotes got an early powerplay on a Russell hook, but that came up short when Sam Bennett took a butt end to the teeth, giving the Flames a chance that was equally unproductive. Final shots 5-4 Arizona and very little by way of chances.
Overtime saw the Flames with their basic MO, start Monahan with Brodie and Giordano with the hopes that if they don’t score they’ll burn up the best of the opposition leaving Johnny 3 on 3 Gaudreau to rip them a new one and tip the twine. Instead the period just marched on. We saw the Flames third fourth and fifth options for the first time since Ottawa all blanked and the game stay scoreless. With a minute to go the Coyotes push the puck deep and then feed Ekman-Larsson in the slot and it’s 2-1 Arizona final.
Three Stars
1.Mike Smith : Big stopper was good to go on 25 of the Flames 26 shots to lead the way for the home side. The Yotes didn’t have a lot going, but Smith held them in it, especially in the game’s first 40 minutes.
2.Oliver Ekman-Larsson : Logged 25 minutes and scored his club’s game winner, can’t ask for much more than that.
3.Mark Giordano : Scored Calgary’s only goal. Was -2 but was circumstantial on the game winner and on the ice for all three overall so I’m going to give the guy a break.
Big Save
Mike Smith was quick to get his glove on a Johnny Gaudreau one timer when Mark Giordano forced a turn over on a pinch and Monahan fed the slot in what looked like a sure goal in the second period.
The Goat
Another night where all of Calgary’s best were minus players and victimized defensively. Sure the Flames scored their only goal on a powerplay and gave up two 5 on 5 goals but Giordano, Brodie and Monahan were all -2, Gaudreau and Hudler both -1. Best players have to be best players. It’s a broken record but it’s true.
Mr. Clutch
Dougie Hamilton. Was that his best game as a Flame? I think it might just be. He logged 21+ minutes and had 6 shots on goal. More assertive all over the ice, and jumping up into the play with regularity. It took him 10 games or so to adjust to life in Calgary but he’s been much best in his last dozen games, and excellent tonight.
Odds and Ends
Thought the call on Ferland in the first period was a little over the top. His elbow was down, he didn’t charge, it wasn’t from behind yet they called charging on the big forward simply because Ekman-Larson had such a dramatic fall. I’d say the league should add a review for penalty calls but can’t see that happening given the issues they’ve had already. … Its interesting that Hartley has always been criticized for putting his lines in a blender, but now with the team sputtering he’s also hearing it for going back to what’s not working and keeping his lines together. I certainly understand the argument from both sides, but given the likelihood of Hudler moving on it might be prudent to start finding a new combination for that top line. They practiced with Jones yesterday, played with Raymond and Ferland of late, but then back to Hudler tonight. The two lines that shouldn’t be touched are the Stajan and Backlund lines because they’re playing well, but then too it’s a shame because it limits insertion points for Granlund, a player we’d all like to see stick for good. … Simply amazing to me to watch 19 year old Bennett casually out weight the opposition and find the open man in a scoring position two or three times a night. That kind of patience really points to some pretty amazing hockey ahead as he adds size, experience and moxy to his game. Bright future. Likely Calgary’s best player in two seasons time which says a lot with Gaudreau on board. … With Hiller set to return tomorrow, Calgary fans have to once again get acclimatized to the polar opposite European goaltenders that man the Flame’s cage. Hiller likes to get big but low and make you beat him high, Ramo likes to flip flop all over the net always challenging the shooter. Tonight he was victimized on exactly that when he over committed to a tough angle shooter leaving his net wide open for a bad deflection. … Had no idea how annoying a player Ekman-Larson was. The over fall on the Ferland hit, the pop on Wideman in the slot, and then the act like I’m dead play on Brodie after he hit Giordano from behind. The fact the man scored the game winner in overtime? Annoying. Funny though, never saw the guy as that type of player. I’m sure I’d be fine if he was on my side however. … Two points for Arizona means a dead lock with the Canucks but more wins and therefore back into that third playoff spot in the Pacific division with 25 points. The Flames are now 7 points back with even games on the Coyotes, and one more game played on the Canucks. The problem for Calgary is the fact that the Pacific Division seems to be getting back on their collective feet, pushing that final playoff spot (3rd in the Pacific) from 90 two weeks ago to 91 last week to 91.5 now. When you’re 5 games under .500 in late November that’s bad news.
Next Up
The Flames complete their three game Pacific tour tomorrow night in San Jose, Game time 8pm HNIC.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Jiri Hudler
Sam Bennett – Mikael Backlund- Michael Frolik
Joe Colborne – Matt Stajan – David Jones
Josh Jooris – Markus Granlund – Micheal Ferland
Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie
Kris Russell – Dougie Hamilton
Derryk Engellend – Dennis Wideman
Kari Ramo
