Post-Game: Back in the Saddle

The Calgary Flames lost to Boston on Wednesday night. That loss snapped their record-tying winning streak at 10 games. It was a game they probably should have lost, both stylistically and based on how their games have been going. Boston’s a tough team on a roll.

Dallas? They’re a much easier out. The Flames were full marks in beating a team they should reasonably be expected to beat, carrying play for the majority of the game en route to an impressive 3-1 victory. It’s their 40th win of the season and nudges them closer to a playoff berth.

The game got off to a rather disjointed start, with both teams having the puck a fair amount but both failing to generate a ton. They had four shots combined by the midway point of the period. Despite all the offensive lulls, the Flames opening goal came from a familiar source: the vaunted 3M Line.

It was either a missed pass or a calculated dump-in, but Mikael Backlund got the puck into the Dallas zone, retrieved it and passed it to Michael Frolik for a wrister that beat Kari Lehtonen to make it 1-0.

Shots were 6-5 in the first in favour of Calgary, but were 6-1 prior to a late-period flurry by the visitors.

The next period began with a bit more action, as the Flames had a couple nice chances and then a monstrous shift that resulted in another goal. Mark Giordano put a puck on net after a lengthy stretch of Flames play in the Dallas zone – for reference, Micheal Ferland gained the zone originally and the Flames managed a full line change while maintaining pressure – and Matthew Tkachuk tipped it past Lehtonen to make it 2-0.

It became 3-0 rather soon afterwards, as Tkachuk’s forechecking towards an errant pass in the Dallas zone led to a turnover, a bunch of stick-work, and then a Mark Giordano wrister that had eyes. It beat Lehtonen from a distance to extend the Flames lead.

The Flames had a few more chances, but that’s all they got through 40 minutes. Shots were 13-10 Dallas in the second.

The locals were all over Dallas for much of the third, score effects be damned. They narrowly whiffed on a few chances, and Lehtonen was also really sharp on a few more. Brett Ritchie broke Brian Elliott’s shutout attempt midway through the period, intercepting a miffed T.J. Brodie pass and beating Elliott five-hole to make it 3-1. But that was as close as the Stars got. Shots were 8-7 Flames.

After losing a series of battles against Boston (and losing the game), the Flames took advantage of a tired team and won a ton of battles all night long. They caused turnovers. They made smart decisions with the puck. They held pucks in. They put pucks on net. Their game had all the nice detail work you’d hope to see when a playoff-bound team is playing one that’s not headed to the post-season.

The third Flames goal completely sunk Dallas. It was off a seemingly innocuous play along the boards, but Tkachuk crashed and banged and knocked a puck loose, and Giordano made a clean shot on net. They never looked back.

Let’s go with a collective Red Warrior for the Flames’ top line (Tkachuk, Backlund and Frolik), top pairing (Giordano and Hamilton) and goaltender. Other players were good tonight, but these six gentlemen really set the tone for the entire game.

Bennett and Stajan swapped spots to begin second period, with Bennett functionally demoted to the fourth line.

It being St. Patrick’s Day, the Flames wore wacky green jerseys in warm-up. I’m not a huge fan of ’em, but if they’re down your alley the Flames are auctioning them off on their website.

The Flames are now 22-8-1 when scoring first, 19-3-1 when leading after 20 minutes and 29-0-1 when leading after 40 minutes.

The Flames magic number to clinch a playoff spot began the night at 9. Their win drops it to 8.
Any combination of 8 Flames wins and Kings losses results in the Flames heading to the post-season.

The Flames (40-27-4) practice tomorrow, then host the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday in a gigantic game with playoff implications for both teams.