POST GAME: Lehner Down, Into Darkness

The Flames, in what I can only interpret as a performance art project that skewers our narrow-minded ideas about what defence is, surrendered six goals to the Buffalo Sabres tonight and moved one step closer to NHL Absolute Zero.

The Sabres won 6-3, come read about it if you’re some kind of sicko:

In the first few minutes of this game, the Flames were completely D.O.A. The Flames got into some penalty trouble in the first and even killed off an extended five on three which, given the fact that the Flames penalty kill is absolutely god-awful, was an accomplishment in and of itself. However, with the penalty trouble the Flames were in, they were unable to register a shot until a power-play of their own with 2:56 left in the first. It is hard to win without getting shots, that’s my analysis.

During the famed power play where the Flames recorded their first shot, Sam Bennett received a hit from Mark Pysyk which was called for interference. Bennett went down the tunnel after the hit and the Flames got a brief five on three of their own that they failed to convert on. The first ended with the shots 8-4 for Buffalo. It was a painful period all around. 

To start the second, Swedish god and friend of the nation Mikael Backlund put the Flames up 1-0 with some nice board-play before bringing it to the front of the net. A goal scorers goal for his twelfth of the season, six back of his career high. It’d be great if he could reach that in his final 18 games of this season. Garnet Hathaway earned an assist on the play which was his first NHL point. Not bad for a kid from Brown University with a career high of six goals in the NCAA.

However, mid way through the period, burgeoning Flame killer Rasmus “better than Nurse” Ristolainen evened the game at one during a fire drill in front of the Flames net. It was a rough moment for Jakub Nakladal and Jyrki Jokipakka who had looked pretty strong in last game’s action and in the preceding minutes. That is Ristolainen’s fourth goal against Calgary this season and he only has nine in total. Thank God he’s in the East. 

Then, a very strange power play occurred. After Brodie got uncharacteristically caught flat-footed, Marcus Foligno snapped a puck top-shelf for a short handed goal. It was pretty nice though Brodie will be seeing that in his nightmares for the next forever. Check it out at your own peril:

Seconds later, Dougie Hamilton answered right back. The recipient of a nice cross-ice feed from Sean Monahan, Hamilton found a postage stamp worth of space glove side on Lehner and tied the game at two. 

But, because the Hamilton goal meant that there would be momentary relief from misery, the Sabres re-took the lead. Nic Deslauriers took advantage of some more truly awful defensive zone play from the Flames and beat what I can only suggest was Jonas Hiller’s best attempt at goaltending to put the Sabres in front 3-2.  

To start the third, a bit of a scramble play and some nice hands from Sean Monahan resulted in the Flames drawing even and Garnet Hathaway recorded his second assist of the game, playing on a line with Monahan and Gaudreau (their separation didn’t last too long). By the way, both Hathaway assists were primary assists as well. 

The defensive horror show continued about mid-way through the third when Johan Larsson found himself alone in front of the net and beat Hiller to put the Sabres in front again. It is amazing how often Hiller has been beat this season up high once he has gone down to the butterfly. Something has gone terribly wrong in his technique but I have no idea what precisely it is. Perhaps his timing? Who knows. It sure is ugly though.

The final nail in the coffin came following (another) successful five on three kill when Jack Eichel was able to go shelf from the point with only a one man advantage with six minutes remaining in the third. That was it for the Flames who thoroughly deserved to lose this game after leading 1-0 and being tied twice. 

An empty netter made it a 6-3 final. To the Buffalo Sabres. This is our lives now Flames fans.

With an honourable mention going to Garnet “the rock” Hathaway, recording his first two NHL points in his third NHL game, I am going to go with Dougie Hamilton. Hamilton and Hathaway were the only Flames players not minuses on the night (if ya like that sort of thing) and Hamilton had a goal and an assist on the night. 

The goal was Hamilton’s 10th, tying a career high in goals. For all the talk about his slow start (which wasn’t even really that bad), Hamilton has had a good season counting numbers wise. I think there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be representing team Hockey Babies at the upcoming “2016 Sportsnet Presents: Let’s Try to Wean You Off the Olympics.”

Not great folks. Or wait, this is great! Can it be both? I don’t know what to believe anymore. Next game is Saturday afternoon against the Penguins. That… might go badly.