This isn’t your father’s Detroit Red Wings, a play on the classic Detroit based Oldsmobile commercial of 20 some years ago. It used to be that the Detroit Red Wings were the dominant team in the circuit, they’d come in to Calgary and run the club through the wringer before easily escaping with two points.
Today’s club is struggling however, looking to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 1989-90 season, a run that just seems unbelievable by today’s standards.
Tonight however that all should be put aside, as the plucky Wings were anything but defeatist in a 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames, the Flames 6th straight win in their push to a Western Conference playoff spot.
The Wings may be out, but they clearly aren’t going down without a fight.
The Flow
A bit of a quiet start for the Flames as the two teams settle in to a back and forth neutral zone affair with little happening either way. The Wings open the scoring when Helm takes a pass a the blueline, uses the Flames defense as a screen and then wires one off the post and in past Bryan Elliott. The Flames get a four minute powerplay a few minutes later and waste no time as TJ Brodie floats a pass across the blueline to Kris Versteeg who wires one home to tie it up at one. The Flames come close on the second half of the powerplay again when Mark Giordano finds Sean Monahan in front of the net and Monahan deflects it but Mrazek is ready and makes the save. The Flames go ahead when Matthew Tkachuk intercepts a Red Wing defender mistake and takes it past Mrazek on the back hand to make it 2-1 Calgary. Dominant period for the Flames as they out shoot the Wings 16-8 and lead the game 2-1 after one.
If the Flames were dominant in the first the Wings were a subdued version of the same in the second. Sure the chances the Wings had in a period where they outshot the Flames 14-1 were from the outside and lacked the blue chip variety that you’d aim for, but they held a territorial edge and came up empty. Elliott, in the zone seems to make almost any chance look easy these days as he’s doing his best impression of Mikka Kiprusoff on most saves and making it look easy. Not an impressive period by the Flames but they keep their lead going to the third.
Looked like a back in win didn’t it? The Flames actually got off to a solid start in the third carrying the play and likely deserving a two goal lead, but Mrazek was equal to the task. The game wound into a chess match from there with not a whole lot going on for the most part, seemingly heading to a rather tranquil 2-1 win. The Wings press with the goalie pulled and get rewarded when Zetterberg finds Tatar open off to the side who makes no mistake forcing overtime with a short side snipe to tie it up. Game tied at 2-2 after three.
Calgary carries the overtime period with the best chance a breakaway by Johnny Gaudreau, but he loses control of the puck off the end of his stick and play goes on. Ironically they win it with their prevent crew on, a forward pass to Mikael Backlund who buries his 20th of the season short side on Mrazek who seemed to have lost his net; Flames win 2-1 in overtime.
1st Period – Calgary dominates the first period to the tune of 22-15 in shot attempt and 13-2 in scoring chances.
2nd Period – The Wings push back in the second with a 18-10 shot attempt edge and a 7-4 lead in scoring chances.
3rd Period – Third period has Detroit up 11-8 in scoring chances however the Flames had the third period lead in scoring chances by a 3-2 margin.
Players – At the top of the list is Lance Bouma with a 62% night followed by the usual suspects of Hamilton, Frolik, Giordano and Backlund all at 58%. At the downside was the third line of Sam Bennett, Kris Versteeg and Troy Brouwer who all came in under the 40% mark.
1. Bryan Elliott: Huge difference maker tonight, turning aside 35 shots to post yet another win. The Flames have had numerous games this season where they’ve won despite their goaltending, tonight however might have been a game they won with their goaltending.
2. Mikael Backlund: Scores the game winner in overtime to camp off yet another solid night at the office for the most dependable Flame this season.
3. Tomas Tatar: Scores the dramatic goal to force the game to overtime.
Big Save
Ironic that things went very bad seconds later, but Bryan Elliott’s save on Zetterberg on a one timer with 8 seconds to go in the third period looked very much the game saver before Zetterberg found the rebound and fed Tatar for another chance. The save on it’s own was huge though.
The Goat
Not really a goat night in my mind. The game was a hard up and down encounter without a single player screwing up to the degree that would suggest special mention.
Mr. Clutch
Another great game for the Flame’s captain. 25 minutes of ice time, an assist and another coast to coast example of leadership.
Odds and Ends
I certainly understand the lack of line up change for the Flames given their five game win streak. Fans love to see new players so of course the push was on to see Curtis Lazar in his first eligible game in Calgary colours, but you don’t break up a winning combination. The tight lipped, question dodging feel from the Dome on Thursday spoke volumes about the plan for the young ex-Senator; no expectations, no speculation on linemates either now or in the future. A very laid back approach to bringing him along slowly. So no changes do the defense pairs, the forward lines or Bryan Elliott starting in goal. … Huge factor for Glen Gulutzan this year having a competent fourth line. When you can use the fourth line against the opponent’s best you really free up the rest of your lines to run over the opposition on good nights. Such a change from the days of Westgarth and McGrattan on the final trio. … Flames give up the first goal for the 7th straight game, of which they’ve now won 6 and lost one in overtime; that speaks volumes of the team’s current mental state. … Didn’t like the lack of finish by the Flames tonight as they seemed way too happy to sit on a 2-1 first period lead and not go after the finishing goal that would have put this game away. They responded well in the third after a lacklustre 2nd but should never have needed overtime to beat the overmatched Wings. … Big two points though as the St. Louis Blues dropped another, this time to the Winnipeg Jets. That gives the Flames a 7 point lead on the Blues for the final West playoff spot. If you believe the projections the Flames can now go two games under .500 over the final 17 games and end up in the post season. That’s quite a spot to be in given the start to their season. … Sadly the Leafs didn’t help out all that much in California, blowing a lead last night in L.A. and losing by three goals in Anaheim tonight. The Ducks win keeps the Flames two points back in their hunt to overtake Anaheim and play the Oilers in the first round.
Next Up
A very strange Saddledome matinee game against the New York Islanders on Sunday, game time 2pm on Sportsnet West.
Lines:
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Gaudreau – Monahan – Ferland
Versteeg – Bennett – Brouwer
Bouma – Stajan – Chiasson
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Stone
Bartkowski – Engelland
Elliott
