Post-Game: Flames Lose Shootout, Players

There were two major sporting events carried on Sportsnet on Tuesday evening. On the main Sportsnet feed, we had Game 6 of the World Series between Kansas City and San Francisco, with the Royals fighting (at home) for their survival. That game – high stakes – was epicly one-sided, and the Royals spanked the visitors rather handily to force a Game 7 tomorrow night.

On Sportsnet’s dedicated Flames feed – a ways down the dial – we got an absolute barn-burner of a hockey game between old rivals, as the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames played 65 minutes of fantastic hockey. After regulation and overtime solved nothing, the Flames ended up losing arguably their best game of the season, a 2-1 shootout decision against Montreal.

Oh, and Joe Colborne left the game with an upper body injury in the second period and Matt Stajan left with an apparent knee injury in the third period.

This game was just great to watch.

The first period was very much even, end to end action. Both teams got power-plays. Both goalies were tested. Neither team scored. The Flames held a slight edge in shots (9-6), shot attempts (15-12) and face-off wins (10-5, a bit edge for the team).

The ice tilted a bit more towards the Flames in the second period, and it’s when Johnny Gaudreau really began to acquit himself as a National Hockey League player. With each side short a player due to coincidental minors, Gaudreau repeatedly stole the puck, set up a scoring chance, stole the puck back, and so-on. Two minutes into the period, Gaudreau carried the puck into the zone and teed one up for Mark Giordano, who beat Price top corner for a 1-0 lead. That lead held until mid-way through the period, when a Matt Stajan clearing pass didn’t make it out, and Tom Gilbert’s shot beat Hiller to tie it up. The Flames led in shots (16-5) and shot attempts (26-15) in the second, while face-offs were even at 13 wins apiece. Joe Colborne only had three shifts in the period, and later in the game the Flames announced he left the contest with an upper-body injury.

The third was similarly end-to-end, though the execution wasn’t quite as good for the Flames. Gaudreau continued to impress, and the Flames basically rolled their forward lines throughout the period hoping for a break. Despite many many chances (see “Scoring Chances” below), no goals were scored. The Flames led in shots (12-6) and shot attempts (27-14), while the Habs held the edge in face-offs by a 8-7 margin. Matt Stajan collided knee-on-knee with Jarred Tinordi late in the period and left the game. Also, Dennis Wideman got cross-checked in the face, but still finished the game.

Overtime solved nothing, though the game was similarly high-paced. Montreal led in shots (2-1) and shot attempts (5-2) and face-off wins (2-1). Johnny Gaudreau scored on a rebound in the shootout (which is a no-no, so it didn’t count), and P.A. Parenteau scored on Hiller to end the shootout and get the extra point for the visitors.

Carey Price. The Flames played arguably their most complete game of the season – despite taking some silly penalties – but they just couldn’t solve Price.

Oh, and not having Joe Colborne for the shootout was just tremendously bad luck.

Johnny Gaudreau played his best game as a professional. He dictated the pace of play and what zone the game was played in whenever he was on the ice.

The line? 16:10, 6 shots, 2 giveaways, 4 takeaways and an assist on Calgary’s lone goal.

The Flames stay at the .500 mark, as they sit at 5-4-2 through 11 games. They will, of course, have to wait to see what happens with the health of Joe Colborne and Matt Stajan. With Mason Raymond already on the shelf (at least through Saturday, per CBA injured reserve rules), there may be more recalls.

The Flames are back in action on Friday night (Halloween) when they host the Nashville Predators. The puck drops at 7pm MT and it’s on Sportsnet West (and Sportsnet 960 The Fan).