Offence ignites in blowout win over Canucks
Giordano scores pair as Calgary outshoots Vancouver 38-17
Their their penalty kill needs work, their power play is still dreadful but, at the moment, the even-strength play of the Calgary Flames is the one good thing they have going for them.
In a bounce-back performance from Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the Nashville Predators, their offence exploded for five even-strength goals — four of which came in the second period to chase starting netminder Jacob Markstrom — as they capped off the season series against the Vancouver Canucks with a 6-1 victory at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Meanwhile, back-up netminder David Rittich made 16 saves but saw his bid for his first career NHL shutout thwarted by Markus Granlund, who scored at the 6:43 mark of the final frame.
“I don’t really care about that,” Rittich said. “For me, it’s more important the score after the game and it was 6-1 and we got two points. Yeah, I know a shutout would be nice but it didn’t happen.
“They played like they didn’t need a goalie today. I just said, ‘Thanks guys.’ ”
Although he was not tested often, Rittich was consistent and battled adversity, particularly on one play when he tried to clear the puck but sent it straight to Nic Dowd in the slot. The Canucks centre gloved it down and shot it at a startled Rittich.
Rattled, he sent his stick flying towards Thomas Vanek on the following chance and was handed a “throwing the stick” penalty (yes, that is the official name in the NHL rule book). They survived 40 seconds of it before Daniel Sedin was whistled down for tripping. It mattered not. While the Flames’ penalty kill was scored on in the third period, Vancouver’s lone goal of the game, their power play prepared for another silent night until Micheal Ferland’s third period dagger.
Speaking of which, Calgary scored its first power-play goal in six games to end an 0-for-23 drought (including four scoreless man advantages on Sunday) dating back to Dec. 6 at Toronto. Prior to Sunday’s game, the power play was three-for-37 in their previous 11 games.
With seven seconds left on Dowd’s delay of game penalty, the winger bashed in a rebound on a makeshift unit of Ferland, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, TJ Brodie, and Dougie Hamilton.
One reporter, sarcastically, quipped that their problems were solved.
“Yeah,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan replied dryly.
“Only took us five tries.”
On the other side, the Canucks are missing a large portion of their top players and, to make matters worse, they lost up-and-coming rookie Brock Boeser, who blocked a shot and suffered a foot injury in the second period.
But in the NHL, there is no time to feel sorry for anyone — and especially the Flames, who despite the win still have problems of their own.
Leading the scoring brigade in the second period was Flames captain Mark Giordano, who had a pair of goals, Matthew Tkachuk (who snapped a three-game pointless and goalless skid) and Bennett (who had a four-point outing) as Calgary peppered Vancouver with 38 shots.
“I think even though the last three games where we haven’t got a win, we were playing good hockey, we just weren’t getting rewarded,” Bennett said. “It feels good for everyone (tonight).”
Mark Jankowski put the Flames on the scoresheet 5:45 into the first period of the second half of the back-to-back, a beauty setup by line mates Garnet Hathaway and Bennett to make the goal happen. Hathaway, the resident mucker, drove to the net and took Troy Stetcher and Ben Hutton with him while Bennett battled behind the net to feed the puck to Jankowski.
He ended the night with three points.
“Lots of guys needed it,” Gulutzan added.
“This is a stick-with-it league. We had some guys step up from the beginning. Gio. Janks’ line was playing hard. Benny had a great game. We had lots of guys going and we need to continue with that.”
The Flames now prepare for the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet 960 The Fan) and welcome the Montreal Canadiens on Friday (7 p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 960 The Fan) before the Christmas break.
I think even though the last three games where haven’t got a win, we were playing good hockey, we just weren’t getting rewarded