Make it an even 25!
With the game clock winding down and the Ducks winning 3-1 the Anaheim crowd took over and pretty much put an exclamation point on the proceedings with a great summary of the evening by way of a chant of “you can’t win here!”.
Clearly the length of the streak isn’t lost on the Californians either, as the Flames blew a 1-0 lead and dropped their 25 straight game in Anaheim, in a wild one that featured a boat load of penalty minutes in the third period.
The streak continues, but perhaps the Flames and Ducks will meet in the playoffs, giving them a chance to at least put another asterisk, like the 2006 playoff series, in the way of something that doesn’t seem to want to end any time soon.
The Flow
A great period by the Flames as they limited the Ducks to only one shot on goal through the period’s first 11 minutes, and the Flames running up 7 of their own in that time frame. In that frenzy we saw some great chances including Sean Monahan in close, Michael Frolik ringing one off the cross bar, Johnny Gaudreau trying to beat Gibson on the glove side on a breakaway, and numerous other chances off the cycle that were turned away by goaltender John Gibson. The Flames open the scoring when the 3M line sets up down low and Mikael Backlund jumps on a rebound and beats Gibson to make it 1-0. Calgary could have been up a few, but its 1-0 Flames after one period in a close one.
Curse busting takes bounces, and the Flames didn’t get many to start the second period. Early Matt Stajan wins a face off though both he and Getzlaf got a stick on it, the puck bouncing off of the blocker of goaltender Brian Elliott and the rebound lies open out of the reach of Derryk Engelland for Patrick Eaves to make the score 1-1. Just like that the Flames seemed to lose the edge they had built up in the first period and things sort of fell apart. The Ducks have the play, but the Flames hang in there until a weak shot by Kevin Bieksa gets through Elliott and into the cage and it’s 2-1 Anaheim. Shots even in the second, with the Flames making a late push.
The third period was pretty much an alley fight from the get go, a spirited period with about 100 penalty minutes, numerous fights, and a rough finish for the Flames. First Mark Giordano slamming into Cam Fowler, a play that had the Ducks crowd in a frenzy, though in my mind it was a body check with a knee on knee contact more just incidental. Fowler leaves the ice with help and you just knew it wasn’t good. Right after Giordano is jumped by Josh Manson, the fight going to Manson with an upper cut at the end. Right after that the Ducks with momentum get a great feed out front to Wagner who makes it 3-1 Ducks and the game pretty much felt over at that point. The Flames get a two man advantage but fail to score and then the game deteriorates into an 80s game full of fights and face rubs.
Possession Stats
1st Period – All Calgary in the first period with shot attempts at 17-10 for the Flames, and scoring chances at 11-6 for the visitors.
2nd Period – Big push back by the Ducks in the second as they take hold of the game which is seen in shot attempts with a 21-14 edge, and scoring chances at 9-7. Through two periods shot attempts were even but the Flames were up 18-15 in scoring chances.
3rd Period – Third period has the Flames up 13-12 in shot attempts, but the Ducks up 7-6 in scoring chances, to pretty much even the scales on both accounts.
Players – A very topsy turvy night where the Flames best possession players were junk and their boat anchors were stars, just what you want when you’re heading towards the playoffs! Number one on the corsi list was Alex Chiasson with 65%, followed closely by Matt Bartkowski, Derryk Engelland and Sam Bennett. At the bottom of the pile was Micheal Ferland, Michael Stone, Matt Stajan and TJ Brodie, but Michael Frolik was under 50%, and the Hamilton/Giordano pairing was at 30% on scoring chances. Rough night.
Three Stars
1. John Gibson: The difference maker. Certainly in the first period and then again in the third when the penalties died down and the Flames went to work again. Didn’t steal one, but came close.
2. Josh Manson : No goals, no points, but a few big hits and a momentum tossing scrap with Mark Giordano that put the game on its ear.
3. Patrick Eaves : Scores again, becoming the modern day Butch Goring of trade deadline pick ups.
Big Save
Have to go with John Gibson stoning Johnny Gaureau on a breakaway in the first period. The Flames came to play but Gibson held them in until his teammates found their game and their emotion and got back into it. Makes a great glove save on Gaudreau in close.
The Goat
I think goaltenders need to know they are starting. When they get thrust into the net in a relief role early in the game, they’re just not the same. Brian Elliot had a share in the first Duck’s goal and owned the second one completely. He’s been great so I won’t dogpile, but he was a good part of the reason they lost tonight.
Mr. Clutch
Micheal Ferland. I love this kid on the top line with Monahan and Gaudreau. He’s not a perfect hockey player but he’s very much the Clark Gillies to Calgary’s Bossy and Trottier. Ryan Kessler knows the league. He knows who fights and who doesn’t. He targeted Michael Frolik later, but first he went after Sean Monahan knowing it would be a face wash match with no risk of a fight. But then Ferland enters the fray to keep Monahan out of it creating a mess. The kid finally knows his role.
Odds and Ends
Only line up change for the Flames was in goal where Chad Johnson stepped in for Brian Elliott, to give the Flames starter a break. Sadly that didn’t last as a shot attempt that went wide seemed to stretch Johnson out a few minutes into the game, sending Elliott back into the cage. My guess is knee or groin an perhaps a bit of a long absence. John Gillies, welcome to the playoffs? … Rough game to be at in Anaheim as it really looked like the Flames had the start and recipe to beat the Ducks from coast to coast. They were quicker, smarter and a little more on their toes but some bad bounces and a game changing hit in the third period pretty much took things away from them. From streak buster to another log on the fire in short order; sad. … Man I hate complaining about officiating, but there were so many inconsistencies in tonight’s game. Why is Ferland a menace for protecting Monahan, but Holzer ok to blind side Ferland for going after Kessler? Why can Josh Manson start a fight with Mark Giordano when Matt Bartkowski can’t do the same when Matthew Tkachuk gets hit? Why can Kessler punch Michael Frolik with Frolik still having his gloves on, resulting in Derryk Engelland getting a game in coming to the rescue? Are the Flames that cheap? … The loss pretty much gifts the Ducks the division much to the chagrin of Calgary’s neighbors to the North, but it also puts the Flames in a bit of a gripper with the Predators to avoid the Sharks. But given the history of the curse et al, do the Flames really want to play the Ducks instead of Chicago? By team I’d say the Hawks are stronger, add in the fact that Vatanen and Lindholm have been on the limp and Fowler was hurt tonight they do seem to be an easier matchup, no? … So am I off base with the Giordano call? I know we had a debate here. Knee on knee penalties occur North/South and this was a hit from the side. He stuck his knee into Fowler but in the course of a hit, not in a way to blow somebody’s knee up. I just don’t see it. Thoughts? … Loved how the Ducks broadcast team showed one penalty box then the other all night. One would elicit a cheer the other a boo, added to the game, great idea.
Next Up
Two more games on the schedule, as the Flames visit the Kings on Thursday and then the Sharks on Saturday. Game time vs the Kings is 8pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Gaudreau – Monahan – Ferland
Bouma – Stajan – Brouwer
Versteeg – Bennett – Chiasson
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Stone
Bartkowski – Engelland
Johnson/Elliott
