When the Flames hit the ice there is little doubt that tanking is in their plans.
Tonight for example the Flames out hit the Leafs almost five to one, the effort was there, the players left it all on the ice.
Off the ice some curious moves were made however, including first and foremost the decision to start Jonas Hiller after Niklas Backstrom started last night in Montreal. Back to back games usually gets you a backup start, no doubt, but how often do you see goalies two and three with number one sitting?
As if by plan the goaltending was the difference as Jonas Hiller gave up three goals on 24 shots (.875), one his fault completely, another he should have had as the Flames go down 5-2 to the lowly Leafs. Who am I kidding, they’re both lowly.
The Flow
In a word? Not. As in no flow at all. A slow start from the Flames though they do have one shift in the middle of the period where the Monahan line reeked havoc on the young Toronto defense. The leafs open the scoring when P.A. Parentau puts a puck through Hiller’s legs after Hiller went behind the net, bobbled the puck, backhanded it and then stumbled when he tried to right himself for the shot. Not pretty. Shots 7-3 Toronto in a forgettable period.
Guessing Bob Hartley must have had a few words in the intermission as the Flames had more legs and effort in the second, staring hot and forcing the Leafs to take back to back penalties. The Flames get several chances but can’t convert past Johnathan Bernier who was equal to the task. Later in the period the Flames take back to back penalties themselves, and with Jooris off for a silly slash Matt Stajan scores shorthanded, the Flames 6th shorty in 6 games. The Leafs go ahead when Nylander takes a Gardiner pass to the slot, fans, but has the puck hit Hyman and it’s 2-1 Toronto. Calgary ties it late when Hamilton finds Giordano who banks the puck off of Colborne, all three players continuing their hot play of late.
Have to give the young Leafs credit, they came to play in the third and pretty much ran away with it. Nylander scores from a ways out on a one timer that Hiller should have had, but didn’t. From there the Flames press and get a chance or two but can’t pull even with the Leafs. The Flames pull Hiller with about 90 seconds to play and a broken stick by Micheal Ferland ends up with an empty netter quickly followed by another. Final score 5-2 Toronto.
Three Stars
1. William Nylander: Hey a points a point right? A fan for an assist and a shot that a Bantam goaltender should have had, but a three point night for the Leafs super rookie.
2. Jake Gardiner: Two assists, including a great little back pass to Nylander in the second period.
3. Jonathan Bernier: Holds the fort in the second period or the Flames likely run away with this one through 40 minutes.
Big Save
Johnny Gaudreau threads a pass through a set of skates in the crease and over to his buddy Sean Monahan who one times it on a two man advantage but is foiled by a quick like a cat Bernier with a great pad save. Monahan was stoned earlier in the night with Bernier’s glove on a four on two.
The Goat
Plenty to go around as most of the team took a beating statistically given the two empty net goals destroying plus/minus stats, but I have to go with Hiller. He fumbles the puck in the first creating a gimme and then whiffs on a long shot to Nylander for the game winner. Not good enough. He guesses like a soccer goalie.
Mr. Clutch
Garnet Hathaway. Was a machine taking the body and was instrumental in keeping the puck in when Stajan scored his game tying shorthanded goal in the second. A gutsy player.
Odds and Ends
I get that it can be tough to win in Anaheim, but Toronto? Sportsnet mentioned the Flames have only one once in their last 19 or something visits to Toronto, that’s just silly. … Nazam Kadri, just don’t like the guy. I always thought him somewhat of a chump, but the whole throat cutting gesture in Calgary, his comments about looking for Giordano tonight, then a high hit (elbow) on Gaudreau, a dive and a turtle job when Jooris comes to Gaudreau’s defense just makes him the most gutless player in the league. He certainly adds to the entertainment though. I don’t have a problem with guys not wanting to fight, but stay away from visual threats and explosive comments then buddy. Loved Jooris jumping in though. It may put you down a man for two minutes but it really sends the right message not only about yourself (Jooris) but about the team and sticking up for each other. Love it. … Dougie Hamilton with another assist tonight moving him to 38 points on the season, and now just 4 back of his career best. Without a big Bernier save off of Monahan in the first he would have had two points tonight. … Is that Hiller’s last start in Calgary? It should be, but you have to wonder if the Flames off ice decision makers are set to meddle in game outcomes by picking and choosing through the roster. I like Hartley, I do, but I’ve always wondered about some of his line change decisions in past seasons when the Flames were far from taking, so I can’t really assume he’s doing that now. But the fourth line after an icing call down 3-2 in the third? A fourth line shift with less than four minutes to play? Those are head scratchers for a team trying to tie a game. … Joe Colborne scores again, this time off his shin pad to now give him 16 on the season and an outside chance at 20. Sure it was off his shin pad, but he’s scored three goals of the six recent snipes from right in the paint suggesting maybe he’s taking his monster frame to the tough areas more readily these days.
Next Up
The Flames finish up this three game roady in Minnesota on Thursday night, game time 6:00pm on Sportsnet.
3>Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan- Josh Jooris
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik
Joe Colborne – Sam Bennett – Micheal Ferland
Brandon Bollig- Matt Stajan – Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano – Dougie Hamilton
Jyrki Jokipakka – TJ Brodie
Jacub Nakladal – Tyler Wotherspoon
Jonas Hiller
