THE GUEssinG GaME
Inconsistent Flames keep things interesting
CALGARY — Every time it appears the Calgary Flames are going to zig, they zag.
Their unpredictability has gone a long way towards explaining how they lost control of their playoff destiny.
On Tuesday the lads responded to the possibility of being humiliated and essentially eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers at home by piecing together their most complete effort of the season.
Conventional wisdom suggested they’d falter. Again.
But this team and this season have been anything but conventional.
A 1-0 win did plenty to help the players mentally, as they overcame well-documented struggles at home and against the Oilers in one fell swoop.
Several relieved players were walking around the dressing room after the game, playfully jabbing mediatypes for constantly reminding them they had lost seven in a row to the Oilers and had just one regulation win at the Dome in their previous 11.
They responded to the challenge at a time when they needed to the most, which is another positive sign for a team criticized all year long for not being able to rise up for the big games.
Even their coach suggested as much earlier in the campaign following losses to Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto (twice) before Christmas.
How they follow up their emotional win Friday against the visiting San Jose Sharks is anyone’s guess, but what buoys confidence for the lads is the way they won.
Simply put, it’s the way they were designed to win games ever since defenceman Travis Hamonic was brought in to round out one of the league’s most envied top four.
“I think so,” said Hamonic of the theory the Flames should be winning more lowscoring affairs than they have.
“If you talk to the coach I’m sure every coach probably wants to win 1-0 or 2-1. The fans, not so much. But this time of year those are the type of things you have to do to win. We talked before the third period how we wanted to prove to ourselves we can win those type of games.
“I haven’t played 100 games in the playoffs but I’ve played enough to know that’s how you’re going to win.”
Especially when the goaltender behind them has returned to the MVPtype form he displayed before his injury to carry the Flames on his back.
“We’ve created a lot lately, but having that feeling with Smitty is going to help our group,” said coach Glen Gulutzan, whose club has thrown 135 shots on net the last three home games.
“That just gives your team a little bit of confidence moving forward.”
Something they were lacking when Smith was injured the last month. Understandably.
Sam Bennett did well to duplicate the type of emotional effort for which injured winger Matthew Tkachuk can typically be relied upon. He led the team with five hits, had three blocked shots and spearheaded a motivated group of forwards who focused on defensive play all night long.
Although Connor McDavid was the most dangerous player all night long, the Flames used a fiveman approach to keep him off the scoresheet.
Not enough is being said about the clutch, second-period goal Johnny Gaudreau scored to ultimately win the game.
The pass from Sean Monahan to set Gaudreau up alone was equally as impressive, especially considering the Flames’ top centre is clearly playing through a significant injury he won’t soon divulge.
The Flames were given the day off Wednesday and will likely only skate for 20 or 30 minutes Thursday as they gear up to host San Jose in yet another crucial divisional game with 11 contests left.
Until then, they’ll watch the NHL scoreboard with hopes the handful of teams clawing for the final playoff spots up for grabs won’t make good on their games in hand.
On Tuesday the Flames got help as the L.A. Kings lost in a shootout and the Dallas Stars lost in regulation.
They’ll have to count on such breaks continuing, while also taking care of their part of the equation.
A team as inconsistent as the Flames have been this year is always looking for reasons to believe they can build momentum, which is exactly what Tuesday’s monumental win should do.
Whether they’ll follow up a zag with a zig is still anyone’s guess.
“We talked before the third period how we wanted to prove to ourselves we can win those type of games.” Flames D Travis Hamonic