FLAMES DRAW FIRST BLOOD
The Calgary Flames celebrate their 2- 1 comeback victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 1 of their playoff series in Vancouver on Wednesday night.
No matter which way you cut it, rookies ruled this night.
From the dash of Ronalds Kenins to the scoring of Bo Horvat.
From the jam of teenager Sam Bennett to the smash- happy Michael Ferland.
But it was left to veteran Kris Russell to play hero. With 29.6 seconds remaining in the third period, the Calgary Flames veteran defender whisked a wrister into the Vancouver Canucks’ net ... to cap another third- period comeback and lift the travellers to a 2- 1 victory in NHL playoff action Wednesday at Rogers Arena.
Horvat had opened the night’s scoring in the second period, a deflected backhander that eluded Flames netminder Jonas Hiller.
Eight minutes into the third period, the Flames countered — on a great bit of work from the Matt Stajan line.
Stajan, twisting out of the offensive zone, then back, stayed onside, and the Canucks turned it over.
Ferland — enjoying a wonderfully destructive night, happily took over — setting the table for David Jones, who snapped it past goalie Eddie Lack.
The Flames had seven forwards making their NHL playoff debuts.
Ferland and Bennett, in particular, were noticeable. Both picked up third- period assists.
“Being here, being around the guys … it’s the Stanley Cup playoffs,” Bennett was saying before the game. “It’s the most exciting time of year. There definitely is a lot of young guys in here … and some veterans with a lot of experience. They’re going to help all us young guys. I think the young guys can bring a lot of energy and excitement. I think that’ll help.”
Sean Monahan, too, was noticeable — for his obvious not- rightness. Through 40 minutes, he’d lost all eight faceoffs.
Despite ( perhaps understandable) insistence from everyone on the team that the kid was fine, he certainly was not.
“I felt great,” Monahan announced after the morning skate. “And right now the focus is on the start of the game. I’m excited for Game 1. I feel ready and we’ll rested. I’m fresh. Whatever happens, that’s what I’m ready for.”
Both sides, though, figured to be stoked.
History had not been kind to either.
One team has made it past the first round only once in the past quarter- century — that’s the Flames.
The other side had dropped 10 of its last 11 playoff dates, including six in a row on home ice — yes, the Canucks.
The pace, no surprise, was remarkable.
Shortly after a hit- heavy shift by wingers Jones and Ferland, Bennett took charge. With speed and moxie, he rushed behind the net and neatly set up his centre, Mikael Backlund.
Twice, Bennett blasted fearlessly through traffic, carrying the puck into the crease area.
Not long after, following another drive to the net, Bennett was called for high- sticking at 12: 12.
The hosts got one good chance on the power play — Radim Vrbata’s rising shot that caught goalie Jonas Hiller up high ( one of the forward’s five first- period shots) — but the Flames survived.
Ferland enjoyed a frisky opening period, collecting three hits. But with 12 seconds remaining, he took exception to Derek Dorsett’s hit on Russell. He dropped his gloves, but got no satisfaction — only a crosschecking penalty.
The Flames defused the Canucks’ power- player to open the second period.
Meanwhile, the visiting youngsters continued to push. Ferland knocked Burrows down. Then net- barrelling Bennett, on a feed by T. J. Brodie, nearly sliced in the night’s opening goal.
Ferland, with a back pass from behind the net, put Jones in the clear. For good measure, he again belted Burrows.
But at 8: 16, Johnny Gaudreau flung the puck over the glass, a nono. The short- handed crew, again, did the job.
But the faithful didn’t have to wait much longer.
Capping an all- business shift, Horvat coerced a backhander — which glanced off a defender’s skate — through the wickets of Hiller, opening the scoring at 12: 08.
The Canucks’ fourth- liners got out there against visiting primetimers — and counted.
Horvat had been relishing the challenge.
And Monahan was no stranger to him.
Geography conspired to keep them apart as teenagers in the Ontario Hockey League — Horvat with London in the Western Conference, Monahan with Ottawa in the Eastern Conference — but they did rub shoulders.
“Every time we did play against him, that was my job, to shut him down,” said Horvat. “It was definitely a tough task, he’s a great hockey player and he’s proven it here at the next level.”