Sometimes game stories just right themselves, sometimes you have to reach and reach and reach in order to find a hook or something interesting to say in a game within 82 of a long season.
New Year’s or at least the first game of the New Year and the Flames are traveling to Denver to take on the Avalanche and their old captain in Jarome Iginla. Iginla perched on 599 goals for his career would love to right the script of scoring number 600 against his old foes. New Year’s of course is known for two things, well many things if you count expensive event tickets, excessive drinking and making out with strangers, but more symbolically the song Auld Lang Syne which translates into remembering old friends and the past and also resolutions.
Tonight the Flames were able to avoid the honor for an old friend and got off on the right foot on a few resolutions in winning the special team war, reducing goals against and pasting the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 on Saturday night.
The Flow
Getting your feet moving; it’s a bit of a cliché sure, but it’s also true to the word. The Flames started this road game with their feet moving like jack rabbits and with that they generated three calls in the first period, striking once to take a 1-0 lead on the Avalanche on a marker by Johnny Hamilton. A few break downs gave the Avs some chances of their own including a Blake Comeau chance on Ramo early on. One period down, and no markers from Calgary’s old captain Jarome Iginla.
Second periods have been a nightmare for the Flames most of the season but was far from it tonight as the fourth line led the way with two key goals to put the team up 3-0 and take a lot of doubt out of things. First Matt Stajan anticipated an Avalanche exit plan, turning the puck over which resulted in a tip in goal by Josh Jooris. A few minutes later Stajan tipped his own home and the Flames were off to the races. Later Micheal Ferland beat Tyson Barrie wide and set up Michael Backlund and the Flames chased Varlamov from the cage.
A scoreless third period, but not for lack of trying as the Flames ran up a 12-1 shot count on Pickard in in relief, but couldn’t solve the young Avalanche goalie. Flames win 4-0 and Kari Ramo picks up his first shutout of the season.
Three Stars
1.Matt Stajan: Simply a great game for the quiet Flame’s vet that plays well every game, but is often unnoticed. Should have had an assist for his work on the second goal and scored the third for Calgary.
2.Micheal Ferland : Second straight game as my second star. He was a beast tonight with an assist and lots of chances.
3.Kari Ramo: Sure he got twanged three times off the post, a shut out is still a shut out.
Big Save
Varlamov was quick to get a redirection from Markus Granlund in the slot when he took a Sam Bennett feed on a first period powerplay. Great positioning, great hands from Granlund and excellent puck tracking from the Avalanche goaltender.
The Goat
John Mitchell was about as big a problem as anyone in the Avalanche slow start as he took three minor penalties in the first half of the game. Hard to get untracked when your best players are stapled to the bench and watching.
Mr. Clutch
Josh Jooris. Great way to make an impression on your coach when getting reinserted into the lineup by scoring a goal and adding an assist. Was a big part of the Flames effective fourth line tonight.
Odds and Ends
Bob Hartley appears to have set combinations up front for duos, leaving him only to experiment on the right side looking for trios to get things going offensively. Monahan naturally patrols with Gaudreau. Granlund lines up with Sam Bennett, Backlund has had Ferland on his left side the last few games out, and Matt Stajan and Lance Bouma have been fused at the hip. Hartley would dearly love to find that magic right winger to complete the to line, but has come up empty with Jiri Hudler’s struggles. … Speaking of Hudler he only played 5 minutes tonight leaving HNIC to wonder if he as benched or doghoused. In the end it was reported that he left the game with a lower body injury, adding to a season of woe for the Flames veteran. Would be nice if he continued his story of last season as it would have given the Flames a great trade chip at the deadline, but if you want a silver lining his struggles have also kept the Flames from talking or thinking contract extension for the winger. He’s been less productive, but also largely ineffective and disinterested most of the time leaving me to wonder if it’s a chronic injury, or if his leg speed has finally caught up to him. … Ferland was a beast tonight. This and the game against the Kings were much more reminiscent of his effort against the Canucks in the playoffs last year. It’s been said over and over that you can’t play that way over 82 games or you’d burn yourself out, but you certainly can’t mail it in for 82 either. Tonight he was great with his size, but also with his speed and hands as he orchestrated numerous scoring chances beyond his assist on the Backlund goal. Maybe it’s time to try him on the right side with Monahan and Gaudreau again? … When is Hartley going to give Dougie Hamilton first line powerplay minutes. His push towards the hash marks is giving defenders fits as it’s unconventional as a powerplay set up. Great reads. Speaking of Hamilton, twice tonight he had amazing cross crease passes go off the end of sticks on his teammates on what looked like sure goals. First Ferland in the first period, then Gaudreau in the third bot had easy tap ins turn their blades open and go wide. Makes me think he’s passing really hard, which is great if the teammate expects it. Hopefully the Flames get wise to it as it’s an effective tool offensively. … New skate sharpening machine? The Flames had first Smid, then Smid, the Monahan, Monahan, Giordano and Gaudreau all fall on their own tonight. The Avalanche didn’t seem to be having any issues at all making me think something is seriously whacked with the club’s blades. They’d better figure it out quick. … Still grumbling about Jake Virtaned after today’s quarterfinal loss. What was the guy thinking taking two penalties on one shift in a tie game at the WJC? Brutal. Kid doesn’t think the game at all.
Next Up
The Flames now gear up for a four game homestand that begins on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, game time 7pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Joe Colborne
Micheal Ferland – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Sam Bennett – Marcus Granlund- Jiri Hudler
Lance Bouma – Matt Stajan – Josh Jooris
Mark Giordano – T.J. Brodie
Kris Russell – Dougie Hamilton
Ladislav Smid – Dennis Wideman
Karri Ramo
