Just amazing how different a game can turn out when both clubs have a goaltender. Amazing. Not that a 5-0 deficit isn’t an interesting way to start a game in California, but tonight a different approach with both a push from the road team to start and a flawless first period goaltending performrance leading way to a much more interesting game.
Did the Flames win? Of course not, they played the highly tuned L.A. Kings readying for a return to the playoffs, but with a steady but not spectacular (he didn’t need that to stand out from the previous evening) Joni Ortio in net the Flamers were full marks for being in it from whistle to whistle in a 3-0 loss to the Kings on Thursday night. A disallowed goal here, a clanging goal post there and things could have been different.
The Flow
A scoreless first period with the Flames starting very strong in the first half but Quick was equal to the task, especially in the game’s first shift or two where the Flames had the Kings pinned and on the ropes. The second half of the period had the Kings find their game and put pressure back on the Flames and starter Joni Ortio, who was more than ready to do his part to answer Quick’s early solid work. No score between the two clubs after one.
A tough start to the second for the Flames as Josh Jooris takes a goalie interference call just 30 seconds into the period when he knocks over Quick on a forecheck. A few seconds later a shot from the point by Drew Doughty is deflected by Jeff Carter to the top corner and it’s 1-0 L.A.. A few minutes later Lucic spins and puts the puck to the net for Carter again who tips in his second of the night and the Flame are down 2-0. The Flames get back on their feet and look to have cut the lead in half but a Mikael Backlund goal is waived off for incidental goalie interference on Joe Colborne so the period ends at the 2-0 score.
Sean Monahan didn’t take the ice to start the third, but then jumped on the ice a shift later, could have been a nick or perhaps an equipment issue. The Flames get some chances early but Quick is ready to roll and then the Flames run into penalty trouble essentially stymieing any attempt at a comeback. The Flames kill them off, but burn up valuable time in the process which couldn’t be afforded down two with less than a period to play. Five on five the Flames come close when Ferland finds Bennett streaking to the net but he hits the post sending the puck the other way. On the reply the Kings get luck when a puck hits Andreoff in the skate and skids past Ortio, 3-0 Kings. The rest was academic.
Three Stars
1. Jeff Carter: Scores twice and adds an assist, not bad in a three goal night by his club.
2. Johnathan Quick: Not the busiest of nights but was huge in the first ten minutes of the game, and finishes with a shut out for the Kings.
3. Anze Kopitar: Typical night for the well paid center; two assists, 21 minutes of ice time and 53% in the face off circle.
Big Save
A second period point shot by Luke Schenn was deflected on goal by Kyle Clifford, Ortio making a deft pad save, but then Clifford corralled the rebound and Ortio had to be solid again on the rebound.
The Goat
Not really a “goat” kind of game, but if you had to pick two plays that made the outcome of this game much more clear you’d have Josh Jooris bumping Johnathan Quick and picking up two minutes that lead to the King’s first goal, or Dougie Hamilton losing Jeff Carter on the King’s second strike.
Mr. Clutch
I’ll go Mark Giordano. Gutsy performance as always, and given his contempt for the official on a late off side call he’s clearly not mailing it in late in a lost season. You need that from a captain, Calgary has it.
Odds and Ends
With both Gaudreau and Jokipakka ready to go tonight both Emile Poirier and Brett Kulak were dispatched back to Stockton, both played well in their brief stints in Calgary. They join Mark Jankowski for do or die games for the AHL club on the weekend. Don’t like their chances but man would it be nice if they could extend their season into a playoff round with the number of young guys down there that could use some development. … Odd waived goal in the second period, a potential goal by Backlund. Yes Colborne was in the paint slightly but there wasn’t a bump or a block on Quick whatsoever, can’t be what they mean when this rule was put in place. Getting it right is a noble cause, but the video certainly didn’t reinforce the call on the ice. As the guys on TV said last night, this is heading for a tough call in the playoffs most certainly. … Interesting to see what happens to Sam Bennett’s game when he gets a little puck luck. The player was pretty much invisible in the last dozen games or so but then he gets some bounces in Arizona resulting in two goals and then responds with chances in both Anaheim and Los Angeles. Earlier this season his four goal game was in the midst of a run where scored something like eight goals in six games. I look forward to future seasons when his confidence remains a little more constant. He could be a dangerous player. … With the Canucks winning last night they pull to within a point of the Flames with a game in hand, but their next game is in Anaheim so I wouldn’t count your chickens for draft spots. The two teams do play next week though. The Sabres win last night does push them 5 points ahead of Calgary making it look pretty safe that the Flames are 6th at worst in the draft lottery.
Next Up
The Flames conclude this four gamer in Edmonton on Saturday night, an epic battle for bottom spots in the NHL standings. Game time 8pm on HNIC.
3>Lines:
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan- Hunter Shinkaruk
Lance Bouma – Mikael Backlund – Joe Colborne
Josh Jooris – Sam Bennett – Micheal Ferland
Brandon Bollig- Matt Stajan – Derek Grant
TJ Brodie – Dougie Hamilton
Mark Giordano – Derryk Engelland
Jyrki Jokipakka – Jacub Nakladal
Jonas Hiller
