Post-Game: Johnny be good, defense be bad

The Calgary Flames are a team of extremes. At times, they’re very good. At other times, they’re very bad. Both sides of the team were on display on Friday night in Dallas. Their top guns scored many pretty goals. But their defense coughed up many pucks, which led to many Dallas goals.

Despite three point performances from Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, the Flames dropped a 6-4 decision to Dallas in the fifth game of their lengthy six game road trip.

The opening period was very back and forth, though the Flames struggled to generate very much on the rush. Just when it seemed like this might be a game very similar to the Columbus outing – with the Flames hanging in there despite not scoring many goals – Dallas opened the scoring late in the period. Mike Smith collected a dump-in and passed the puck to T.J. Brodie, who hesitated with the puck and was overwhelmed by Dallas forechecks. Tyler Pitlick stole the puck and fed it to Antoine Roussel for a tap-in and a 1-0 Dallas lead. Defensive zone turnovers would become a theme. Shots were 13-12 Stars, scoring chances were 15-9 Stars.

The Flames evened things up in the first minute of the second period, with the top line establishing a second theme with offensive brilliance. Sean Monahan fed Micheal Ferland for a scorcher of a one-timer from the high slot to make it 1-1.

The visitors took a lead a few minutes later, as Dougie Hamilton’s attempted carry-in was halted by Dallas but Johnny Gaudreau yoinked the puck from Dan Hamhuis and beat Ben Bishop with a wrister to make it 2-1.

But that lead wouldn’t stand: Brodie and Travis Hamonic coughed up the puck and Tyler Seguin snuck between the defenders – neither picked him up – and tipped Mattias Janmark’s shot over Mike Smith to make it 2-2. The Flames regained the lead on the power play soon after, as Sean Monahan buried a rebound in front of the net to make it 3-2.

But that lead wouldn’t last – again – as a few minutes later Mark Giordano hammer John Klingberg with a big hit, but Hamilton couldn’t clear the loose puck and Alexander Radulov shoveled it past Smith to make it 3-3. Shots were 18-12 Stars, but scoring chances were 12-8 Flames.

But once again, the Flames regained the lead. A few minutes into the third, Gaudreau strode into the Dallas zone, back-handed a pass between a pair of defenders to Monahan for a wrister that beat Bishop blocker side to make it 4-3.

But in case you weren’t paying attention, of course the lead did not last. Hamilton coughed up the puck behind the net to Brett Ritchie, who fed Gemel Smith at the side of the net for a chip-in goal to make it 4-4. Dallas retook the lead a few minutes later as Michael Stone’s attempted bank-pass clear was snagged by Seguin, who fired one past Smith to make it 5-4. Seguin completed the hat trick with a late empty net goal to make it 6-4. Shots were 12-10 Flames and scoring chances were 9-7 Flames.

These guys cannot hold a lead. And they cannot hold a lead because they handle the puck in their own zone, at times, like it’s a live grenade. They’re both way too cocksure and way too tentative in their own end, often at the same time. Their defenders combined for four defensive zone penalties and five turnovers that led directly to Dallas goals. That’s horrendous.

Their top line has been lights out, Smith has been consistently good, and the third line has quietly generated tons of chances. But it’s hard to win when your much-lauded blueline is playing as shakily as they are.

It’s gotta be Gaudreau, who had a three point night, seven shots, and generally looked dangerous every time he was near the puck. Honourable mentions to Monahan and Micheal Ferland.

The fourth Dallas goal was pretty bad. It was the third time the Flames blew the lead, and it came off a non-chalant Hamilton turnover with very little direct pressure on him.

The Flames (12-9-1) are on a plane to the Mile High City. They play the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow night in the finale of their lengthy road trip.