You know a hockey team is one of those ugly funks when every thing is going very wrong for every player in almost every instance. That’s certainly the case for the Flames as they drop their fourth straight tonight in Montreal to the tune of 5-1. The loss marks the fourth straight game that had them down 4-0 at some point, certainly a stat that often leads to a loss to be sure.
They can’t get finish from their top players, they can’t get mistake free hockey from their minute munching defenseman, and they can’t get a needed save from either of their goaltenders. Things are on life support for the club now, as the bottom certainly nears if they haven’t hit it already.
The Flow
For a team struggling to the degree that the Flames are, the first period was a gem, well at least until the final minute. At the ten minute mark the Flames were out shooting the Canadiens 8-2 and had the game’s best scoring chance when Alex Chiasson sent Johnny Gaudreau in alone, but as things have gone lately he was stoned by one of the best; Carey Price. The teams play a spirited period, with the only penalty to Calgary’s Michael Frolik for high sticking, but the Flames kill it off without giving up a shot. Late in the period, like real late, Sam Bennett gets caught puck watching in the slot and doesn’t pick up the high man and said high man Andrew Shaw fires one past Chad Johnson and the Habs lead 1-0 after 20 minutes.
The second is more of the same as Calgary gets two quick powerplay opportunities to start the period and generated plenty of scoring chances on Carey Price, but couldn’t solve him to tie the score. The Canadiens go up 2-0 on another Calgary powerplay when Johnny Gaudreau whiffs on a pass near the blueline sending Plekanec in on a two on one with him beating Chad Johnson through the wickets. The Habs make it 3-0 on a powerplay of their own, a goal that left Johnson with no chance as Radulov is set up with a one timer into the empty cage. Calgary finished the period up 23-12 in shots, and likely up 2/1 in scoring chances, but a lack of finish, a dose of Price and a heap of everything that could go wrong is going wrong has the Habs up 3-0 through 40.
The Flames don’t mail it in for the final 20 minutes, something that was suggested in circles in their game last night in Toronto. They keep pushing, have many quality scoring chances, but Carey Price was just having one of those nights. The best at his best is tough to best. The Habs get their fourth goal of the night when Daniel Carr finishes up a transition play after the Flames were enjoying territorial play 195 feet from their goaltender for a spell. The games goes to 5-0 when Radulov gets his second of the night on another Habs powerplay to put a little more sting in the box score. The Flames oddly enough, end their goalless drought and Carey Price’s shut out bid when Sam Bennett bends the twine with just a second left on the third period clock; 5-1 final for Montreal.
Possession Pulse
First Period – Tight period is shown in the underlying stats with five on five shot attempts knotted at 16, Montreal with the edge overall at 20-16.
Second Period – Second period had Montreal up 10-6 five on five, but down overall with the Calgary powerplays by a 18-15 mark.
Third Period – Third period all square again both five on five (15-15) and when you include powerplays 18-18.
Players – Micheal Ferland bounced around the roster tonight but in the end he led his teammates in possession as the only player to top 60% in his time between the fourth line and the Backlund line. Other guys with good marks included; Mikael Backlund, Kris Versteeg, Mark Giordano, Lance Bouma and Dougie Hamilton. Hamilton and Giordano bounced back from rough nights the previous evening in Toronto. The guys with tough games at the office tonight were Troy Brouwer (under 40%), and TJ Brodie just over 40%.
1. Carey Price: Lost his shut out as late as you can conceivably lose a shut out, but make no mistake, he was the difference maker in a game that looks lopsided on the scoreboard.
2. Alex Radulov: Scores twice in the second half of the game to turn the game into a laugher. The Radulov return experiment seems to be going better than the Semin experiment last year.
3. Tomas Plekanec: Three point night including the game winner to pace the Habs.
Big Save
I think by impact you have to go with Carey Price’s save on Johnny Gaudreau in the first period. The game is still pretty new, the score is tied at 0-0 and Chiasson sends Calgary’s most dangerous scorer in all alone but Price out waits Gaudreau and makes a key pad save.
The Goat
I’m getting sick of singling out players when the whole team is in a funk. Would be easy to pick on Gaudreau for the turn over or Johnson for giving up three goals on his first 10 shots, but the whole team is hurting.
Mr. Clutch
Alexei Emelin. Did it all for Montreal tonight defensively, logging big minutes and playing a noticeable, tough as nails game in his own zone.
Odds and Ends
Are there enough options in the club house to effect the change that Glen Gulutzan is likely hoping to implement? With neither goaltender going strong and no “weapons” on the sidelines at his disposal, things really come down to players inside the room getting it done. The tinkering is pretty much cosmetic. So just two changes for the game in Montreal tonight as he flips Chad Johnson into the starter role over Brian Elliott, and Micheal Ferland comes back in for Freddie Hamilton on the fourth line. … Good on Flames Nation’s Kent Wilson for pointing out the Flames sub 95 PDO for the month of January. A period of time with goaltenders stuck at 90% save percentage and players shooting under 5% really isn’t sustainable, it has to get better. You hate to blame bounces and bad luck, but it can be the start of a lack of confidence and the type of downhill slide we’ve seen this month. .. Not sure how I feel about the Emelin embellishment on the Frolik high stick. On one hand it’s clearly acting as he was never touched in the face with a stick, however on the other hand I’m not sure getting a stick within 2 inches of someone’s throat isn’t still high sticking. One to ponder. … The Flames have now given up the first goal in 9 straight games, and the way that seems to effect their mental stamina it looks like that streak will have to end before the losing streak does. … Was interesting to see the blender result of the line changes for the third period for Calgary. Gulutzan promoted Micheal Ferland up the roster in exchange for Alex Chiasson, something many fans have been dying to see. But what’s more interesting was the break up of the 3M line as Ferland took Tkachuk’s place on the Backlund line with Sam Bennett gaining the Flames rookie on a line with Troy Brouwer. The shake up had Monahan and Gaudreau joined by Kris Versteeg. Did it work? Pretty small sample size, but the way it’s going it might be worth a look again. … Wonder if that late late Sam Bennett goal will get the second year player going? He’s been fighting the puck and on a skid for some time, and if last year taught us anything it could be the tonic to get him loose and back to using his gifts and not squeezing the stick. The Flames badly needs some of the skill projected back in September to step forward as Bennett, Monahan, Gaudreau, and Brodie continue to struggle this season. It’s amazing they are in a playoff spot when you think of it.
Next Up
The Flames head into the all star break after a game on Thursday night in Ottawa. Game time 5.30pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Versteeg – Bennett – Brouwer
Gaudreau – Monahan – Chiasson
Bouma – Stajan – Ferland
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Wideman
Kulak – Engellend
Johnson
