Post-Game: Stars outshine Flames

The Calgary Flames seem like a fragile group. At even strength, they’re a solid team and get their chances. But once they take a penalty, it seems like all is lost these days. The Flames played a pretty even, tight-checking game against the Dallas Stars tonight. But a couple bad penalty kills and a couple Stars power play goals spelled doom for the Flames as they dropped a 2-1 decision to Dallas to drop them below the .500 mark.

It was a game played primarily in the neutral zone, filled with errant passes, missed shots and two teams that looked liked they could use a confidence-building win.

The opening frame was not good hockey. Unless you like many icings, lots of stick-work uncalled (for both teams) and teams wildly missing the net. Neither team scored, despite the Flames somehow getting an odd-man rush with the fourth line because a Dallas defender fell over…and then missing the net entirely. Shots were 11-8 Calgary, but scoring chances were 7-5 Dallas.

The second period was very similar to the first, with fairly sloppy play and miscues at both ends. Mike Smith was definitely the Flames’ best period, with nice saves on Devin Shore and Martin Hanzal. The Flames finally broke the deadlock midway through the period off an odd-man rush that they finally decided to shoot on. Leading a three-on-two, Johnny Gaudreau whirled down the right wing and put a shot over Kari Lehtonen’s shoulder to make it 1-0.

The lead didn’t last terribly long, though; with Travis Hamonic in the box for a behind-the-play slashing call, Esa Lindell scored from the point through traffic on a late period Dallas power play to tie the game up at 1-1. Shots were 11-9 Flames, but scoring chances were 8-6 Dallas.

A pair of power plays were the tale of the third. The Flames had a man advantage midway through the period and generated no dangerous chances. Dallas received a power play a few minutes later and capitalized. Alexander Radulov was left unattended at the side of the net, received a nice cross-ice pass from Devin Shore and potted it over top of Smith to make it 2-1. The Flames pressed late but couldn’t score. Shots were 8-7 Flames, but scoring chnaces were 6-3 Dallas.

Here’s a stat that will tell you a lot: On Dallas’ power plays, the Flames generated a shot (and a scoring chance). On their own, they generated a shot (and two scoring chances). Calgary is woeful on the power play right now and they can’t kill a penalty to save their lives. This was the third game in a row where they allowed two power play goals. You won’t win many games doing that unless you’re demolishing the other team at even strength. The Flames couldn’t generate many chances off the rush the way this game was played by Dallas in the neutral zone, so their special teams sadness sunk them.

Let’s go with Smith, who made several nice saves. And an honourable mention to Gaudreau, as he scored the lone goal with a really nice shot under the crossbar.

The Flames third period power play and then Radulov’s goal on Dallas’ power play. Calgary generated nothing and then were back on their heels during Dallas’ advantage.

Adam Ruzicka had a goal and an assist in Sarnia’s 6-3 win. Dillon Dube had a goal and an assist in Kelowna’s game with Tri-City. Stockton beat Bakersfield 3-0; Jon Gillies had the shutout, Marek Hrivik had a pair of goals and Andrew Mangiapane had two points.

“We need to get a kill. Three games in a row we’ve spotted two goals. Five on five in the last three games we’ve given up, I believe, two goals in the last three games five on five. So our penalty kill, and our power play, need to start helping us.” – Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan on his team’s performance the last few games.

“I thought it was a pretty even game tonight. Both teams had their moments. The bottom line is we are getting our looks, we just have to put them in. It starts with myself. I had a few and they don’t go in and I think after that we started passing too much looking for that extra play. We have to pound pucks to the net.” – Flames captain Mark Giordano on the loss.

The Flames (5-6-0) practice tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. as part of the Red Rally event. Then they host the Washington Capitals on Sunday night.