Post-Game: Sutter’s back and the Flames beat the Habs

On Thursday, Darryl Sutter coached his first game for the Calgary Flames in nearly 15 years. It was against a tired opponent, mind you, but the Flames responded with arguably their most complete 60 minutes of hockey this season. The Flames beat the visiting Montreal Canadiens by a 2-1 score to begin Sutter’s second stint as head coach.

The first period was scoreless, but the Flames looked rock solid. They made short exit passes and avoided turnovers. They avoided odd-man rushes. They went at Montreal’s puck carriers with waves of forecheckers. Shots were 6-6 and scoring chances 7-7 in the first period.

The Flames opened the scoring early in the second off a nice shift by the fourth line. The Habs went for a line change and the fourth line decided “Hey, let’s try to do some stuff,” and went in on a three-on-two on the Habs’ defenders. Derek Ryan made a nifty pass to Josh Leivo for a tap-in at the side of the net to make it 1-0 Flames.

Late in the period, the Flames added to their lead. A forecheck pushed the Habs below their own goal line. Shea Weber’s attempted outlet pass got tipped by both Ryan and Sam Bennett, dribbling right to Leivo in the high slot. Leivo uncorked a shot and beat Jake Allen to make it 2-0 Flames.

Shots were 14-5 Flames and scoring chances 13-4 Flames in the second period.

The Flames defended well in the third period, but the Habs got one back. Juuso Valimaki blew a tire behind the net and his attempted pass blooped to Shea Weber at the point. Weber’s shot was tipped by Corey Perry in front and beat Jacob Markstrom to cut Calgary’s lead to 2-1.

Shots were 9-7 Flames and scoring chances 6-4 Canadiens in the third period.

They didn’t play a perfect game, or a mistake-free game, but a team that has gotten in their own way a lot this season by giving up too many good chances or getting too fancy seemed perfectly content to embrace the grind and make life tough on Montreal.

The Habs didn’t get too many free scoring chances, and the Flames’ hitting and forecheck had them on their heels for big chunks of this game.

It’s a joint award to the fourth line of Bennett, Ryan and Leivo, as they were superb all game.

Leivo’s second goal, the eventual game-winner, capped off a superb second period where the Flames’ forecheckers ran roughshod over the Habs all over the ice.

Data via Natural Stat Trick. Percentage stats are 5v5.

The Flames’ record when leading after two periods: 10-0-0.

Milan Lucic fought Josh Anderson in the third period.

The Flames (12-12-3) are back in action on Saturday against the Canadiens.