The Flames deserved many of their 11 straight wins on home ice last month, but in that streak they pulled a few out of the fire. They found their share of bounces, had some good fortune and some drama along the way.
Lady luck and bounces tend to even out however, and tonight the Flames were on the wrong side of the bounce once again as the Sharks, outplayed most of the way, found the back of the net often enough to hang on for a 5-4 win on Monday night at the Saddledome.
The Flames outshot their visitors by a two to one margin, and the Sharks scored two lucky goals, but in the end some weak play in their own zone cost the club dearly as they continue to sputter against their own division.
The Flow
The score may say otherwise, but the Flames played a fairly dominant first period, but when they didn’t play well it was ugly. Blown coverage with players behind the defence, cough ups and giveaways, and running around in their own zone. This litany of ugliness probably took up about 45 seconds total, however as the Flames took it the Sharks the rest of the period. Joe Thornton opened the scoring when he stole the puck off of Joe Colborne before completing a two on one with Joe Pavelski. They were up two zip when a delayed penalty call resulted in a tip in goal by Finnish rookie Donskoi. The Flames continued to push however and were rewarded when Monahan picked up a rebound off a Gaudreau cross bar and hammered it home.
The second wasn’t a good one for Calgary, at least at first. The Sharks swarmed the Flames net early but got lucky when Couture took a give away from Backlund around the net and blindly fired it towards the net, caroming the puck off Joe Ward. Things didn’t look good. Then Matt Stajan takes a stick in the mush and draws a four minute minor and the game changes on a dime. Midway through the first minor Gaudreau gets hauled down by mountain man and on the 5 on 3 Wideman scores his second of the season. Fifteen seconds later Backlund finds Bennett and the rookie goes top corner for his first goal in 18 games.
The third period was a 20 minute microcosm of the 60 minute game. The Flames outshot the Sharks 15-5 but gave up two of the three third period goals and found their way to a loss. Michael Backlund gets whistled for holding the stick and Patrick Marleau finds Brent Burns for an easy cross crease goal and the Sharks are back out in front. Later in the period the Flames pressing to tie and a turnover leads to a two on one which is played smartly by Giordano but Joel Wards shot goes off his back and past Ramo and it’s 5-3 San Jose. The Flames get a late powerplay and score to make it close when both Backlund and Ferland get sticks on a point shot past Jones. With four seconds left the Flames make a great play to Hamilton but his shot is blocked by Tierney and the game ends 5-4
Three Stars
1.Brent Burns: Big and weird, but also good and good. The Shark’s number one defenseman had the go ahead goal in the third period and added and assist.
2.Johnny Gaudreau : I think Kelly Hrudey was on to something when he suggested Gaudreau was forcing the play too much and not using his teammates, but he was very noticeable with two assists to pace the Flames.
3.Sam Bennett: Gave the city a glimpse of the near future when he played Gaudreau light to the real edition’s Gaudreau heavy. Used his body, but showed his hands to set up a lot of plays and finally scored a goal!
Big Save
Martin Jones came up huge with seconds left in the second period when he turned back TJ Brodie on a point blank chance, but I’m still going with Ramo and his first period breakaway stop on Joel Ward. A break away in a break away as they say. Ward tried to go five hole but Ramo was expecting it and closed them up to make the save.
The Goat
Joe Colborne, and it wasn’t close. Any player can make a mistake, and this one wasn’t an on the tape giveaway, but his weak play in the first to let Thornton take him off the puck and score the game’s first marker was painful to watch.
Mr. Clutch
Couldn’t decide between Bennett and Micheal Ferland for 3rd star and Mr. Clutch, but the way Bennett took things into his own hands left the sloppy seconds for the big powerforward. Goal and an assist and a great fit on the top line in his first full game spin in the role. Very good sign.
Odds and Ends
Colborne had a rough game. Really rough. The play described above was pretty unforgivable but it wasn’t his only miscue as he turned the puck over all night. I like the guy. I like his story, a story that many Calgarians have dreamed – going from Flames fan as a kid to Flames player as a young adult, but the back and forth argument over his projection got a solid check mark in the negative category tonight. He was a turnover machine. … Thought Micheal Ferland acquitted himself very well on the top line with Gaudreau and Monahan tonight, adding a third period goal certainly won’t hurt his cause (ended his own slump at 18 games). He had the big body presence of the David Jones experiment, and the work the puck down low dynamic of Hyde (not Jekyll) Colborne, but was more consistent than both. I’ve pined for the combination for weeks, but certainly can’t take credit for it as Hartley had this look out of camp, but finally they are tested for a full game. Don’t want to get too giddy on his projection but he really has that 20 goal power forward sticker written all over him …. Great to see Sam Bennett finally snap that goalless string at 19 games, and he did it in style with a top cheese snipe on a powerplay in the second. Loves his post goal reaction with the signal of pulling the monkey off his back. The broadcast crew credited Dillon with responding to the Flames momentum with a big hit on Bennett, but to me it was impressive to see Bennett stand up and actually knock the big defender down. He’s going to be tough to handle at 23 with 15 or so more pounds on his chasse. … Have to give Hartley credit for recognizing Bennett’s jump as the young player got more and more key ice time as the game worn on into the third period. … Speaking of Bennett, it was fun to see the forwards on the ice for the final minute in an effort to tie. The usual cast of Monahand and Gaudreau were present, but added to the mix were fellow young players Sam Bennett and Micheal Ferland. A clear look to the future. … Kari Ramo has been great of late and tonight he was beat on two pucks that went off his skates and backs, but the line doesn’t look great with Calgary outshooting San Jose 35 to 18. … Lost the game tonight, missed their chance to move up the standings, but man what an entertaining game. So important to remember where this team actually sits on their rebuild and how bright the future is going to be in this city. Fun.
Next Up
The Flames conclude this four game home set with a game against the red hot Panthers on Wednesday night. Game time 7.30pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Micheal Ferland
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – David Jones
Sam Bennett – Marcus Granlund- Joe Colborne
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Josh Jooris
Mark Giordano – T.J. Brodie
Kris Russell – Dougie Hamilton
Derryk Engellend – Dennis Wideman
Karri Ramo
