Process, process, process.
Brad Treliving has literally worn the term out in his tenure as Flames GM, but it appears the head coach and the roster itself is taking the term to heart as well as the Flames rolled out the second of back to back games where their “game” seemed to be in order; this time with a better result a 3-2 come from behind shoot out victory in Nashville.
The Flames gave up two first period powerplay goals before finding the net twice in the third period five on five to send the game to extra time. Come from behind wins and points are huge, especially in a city like Nashville, last year’s cup finalists.
The Flow
If you tossed discipline and penalty killing aside, the Flames were the better team five on five in the first period, though they exited with a two goal deficit on two Predator powerplay goals. First Mark Jankowski takes a tripping penalty on Scott Hartnell, and the Predators are rewarded with a fluky goal, the puck bouncing over the back of the net past the post to a rebound goal for Forsberg. A few minutes later Matt Stajan takes a foolish interference call and the Predators score again when Roman Josi wires one through a Hartnell screen. The Flames were the better team five on five but once again taking penalties kills them.
The second was a scoreless affair though the Flames certainly got some chances both five on five and on their powerplay opportunities. Their best chance came in a scramble that had Rinne out of his net and Irwin having to take a blast from TJ Brodie off the shin pads to preserve the shut out. The Predators were given far too many point blank chances in the period on breakdowns or blown coverage, but Mike Smith stood tall (literally) to keep the game within reach heading to the third.
The Flames were all business in the third period as they just kept rolling the lines, putting on pressure, and keeping their game simple. Through 11 minutes it looked like it was going to be a game story that featured a lot of silver linings; good chances, played well, out possessioned the opposition but a loss until Matthew Tkachuk took the puck off the half wall and beat three Predators to the slot before having his shot hit a stick shaft and flip by Rinne. A few minutes later Johnny Gaudreau found a streaking Micheal Ferland who gets off the snide to score his first of the season and tie things up. The game goes to overtime knotted at two apiece.
A very cautious overtime period with the Predators pretty much controlling the play and out shooting the Flames by a 4-2 margin; not something we are used to seeing in Calgary. The Flames survive however and win the game when Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk are money in the shoot out; Flames win 3-2.
Possession Stats
1st Period – The Preds make hay on the powerplay but it’s all Calgary five on five as they enjoy a 19-10 edge in shot attempts at even strength. By scoring chances it’s 5-4 Calgary despite being down 2-0.
2nd Period – Calgary runs up a 18-13 edge five on five in the second period as well, but has their sloppiness almost cost them as they are out chanced 6-5 by the Predators.
3rd Period – 16-14 Flames in the third period five on five, and a game total of 53-37. Scoring chances in the third were 5-0 Flames for a game total of 12-7.
Players – Only four Flames players under the high tide mark as Kris Versteeg, Matt Stajan, Troy Brouwer and Michael Stone were less than 50%. Stone’s partner Brett Kulak made the 50% mark exactly and the rest of the team was in the positive category. The leader? Sam Bennett at 73% in his best game of the season, the move to left wing clearly paying off. Dougie Hamilton and Mark Giordano were both also over the 70% mark, and five others over 60%. Mark Jankowski an impressive 59% in his second NHL game.
Three Stars
1. Matthew Tkachuk: Gets things going in the third period with a huge goal to break the shut out and then wins the thing in the shoot out with a wrister over the glove of Pekka Rinne.
2. Mike Smith : The guy made so many quality saves when the game was 2-0, I honestly lost count. I know Eddie Lack has to play at some point, but I really wish this guy was 25 and signed long term.
3. Pekka Rinne: Gives up two in 65 minutes like his counterpart and was equally solid for the Predators on the night.
Big Save
Lots of big saves for both goaltenders in this one, but Mike Smith’s rebound larceny on Craig Smith was one for the ages. Good save on Johansson and then slides above and gets a pad on the Smith rebound. Game saver. Honorable mention to any of the Colton Scisson attempts thwarted by Smith on the night, including a hay maker in overtime.
The Heel
Matt Stajan. Stupid penalty in the first period, his line was a metrics anchor all night and he was thrown out of far too many faceoffs for not lining up straight. You’d think the veteran would get the rule nuance first, not last.
Mr. Clutch
Sam Bennett. His best night of the season, and perhaps his best night in two seasons as Sam Bennett was a force. Could have easily had three or four points with some luck and finish by his line mates.
Odds and Ends
The Mark Jankowski saga has been an interesting tale from the beginning. The Flames move down and take a nobody, which was disappointing while watching the draft. They did net a second round pick that turned into a promising US defenseman in Patrick Sieloff however, giving them two horses in the race. The second horse petered out leaving just Jankowski and a very slow climb through college. Through the process disgruntled fans pointed to Olli Matta as the player the Flames could have had. To have that story end up with a guy lighting up the AHL and the fan base desperately awaiting his arrival is somewhat surprising to say the least.
The Flames called up Jankowski to replace the injured Jaromir Jagr, who is expected to be out a week and possibly three games. The winger out center in shuffle created the ripple effect to get the Sam Bennett as a center experiment at least paused for the time being. I like patience, so I give the Flames full marks in a long process to develop big league centers, but the kid needs linemates and a boost of confidence to get his game back on track. Tonight the two line up with Curtis Lazar, while Kris Versteeg stayed on the fourth line with Matt Stajan and Troy Brouwer. Brett Kulak stays in with Michael Stone in the third defense pairing.
Discipline continues to be a problem for the Flames, especially at the start of the game. Jankowski’s penalty wasn’t really even a trip, and given the legend of “Hartnell Down” you’d have to think that wouldn’t result in a guy falling for most skaters but I don’t blame them. Stajan’s interference penalty was just foolish though, insane for a veteran. Lazar’s penalty at the end had to be taken to prevent a bang bang play. This has to stop.
I get the crackdown on slashing, why have players getting injured for needless whacks and hacks to players on their hands; I get it. But was anyone really upset about face off cheating? About guys twisting their skates a bit in the dot? Not sure the gains on that rule change are worth the pain in pursuing it.
Can’t say enough about Sam Bennett tonight. Really looked like playing left wing was a freedom launch for a guy that was clearly over thinking the game. His feed to Curtis Lazar in the first was great, another one to Lazar in the second, and then Lazar hit the post on Bennett’s in alone chance in the third … if Lazar could finish Bennett would have had a three point night. The Winnipeg game this season had Bennett likely getting the third assist on three Calgary goals and tonight he was robbed; hopefully he doesn’t read into stats and just keeps rolling. Huge sign.
Have to say I’m pretty impressed with Mark Jankowski tonight. His lined carried the play like no other combination for the third line has been able to do this season, making a huge impact on the Flames over all game. If a third line with Jankowski and Bennett at left wing is oign to look like that, then the team has a decision to make when Jagr is ready to go on Sunday. Jankowski set up plays, was responsible defensively and dangerous down low. He stays.
Next Up
The two games in two nights road trip winds up tomorrow night in St. Louis with a match up against the Blues. Game time 6.30pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Tkachuk – Backlund – Ferland
Gaudreau – Monahan – Jagr
Bennett – Jankowski – Lazar
Versteeg – Hamilton – Brouwer
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Hamonic
Kulak – Stone
Smith
