FLAMES KEEP STREAK ALIVE
Burn Habs for 8th straight victory
It’s been quite some time since a 5-0 win has caused this much concern.
The celebration following Thursday night’s Calgary franchise-tying eighth win in a row was muted somewhat due to the loss of two of the Flames’ most important players.
Two weeks after shoring up the biggest hole in the lineup by adding defensive depth, the Flames lost Dougie Hamilton and Michael Stone Thursday with injuries.
Hamilton, who leads all Flames blue-liners in points, left late in the second period when he was hit along the boards by Andreas Martinsen and appears to have either had the back of his left ankle cut by a skate or potentially injured his right ankle/knee when it buckled upon contact.
Stone left five minutes into the third when he came up lame in his own zone, grasping his left shoulder as it hung lifeless while he skated in some distress to the bench and went straight to the dressing room.
It didn’t look good, ending a two-point evening for the 26-year-old who earlier got his first goal as a Flame.
So much for being the team’s good luck charm.
It was Stone’s arrival from Arizona that coincided with the Flames’ swanky streak.
Neither returned, leaving the Flames with four defencemen, including a second pairing of Matt Bartkowski and Deryk Engelland against a Montreal team the Flames dominated.
The guess here is that Stone is done for a while with a shoulder separation.
If Hamilton was cut, he can be back soon.
If it’s more of an ankle or knee sprain, it could be lengthy.
“It’s tough, they’re two important players obviously,” said captain Mark Giordano, who was brilliant in a 25-minute outing, scoring the game-opener.
“But we don’t know the extent yet — you don’t know until the next day when they get looked at. Hopefully, they’re not significant injures and they get back in soon. Again, we rely on depth and we believe in each other in here and we have to do it as a team.”
Optimists will point out both could have been kept out as precautionary measures as the game was well in hand.
Pessimists will suggest the depth on which this team managed to power itself to its eightgame streak is now in serious need of upgrading … again.
The official word from the team: the ever-vague lower and upper body injuries.
“I don’t know the injuries yet but obviously to have them out there it’s being a little bit cautious,” said Sean Monahan, whose club unanimously agreed it was their best game of the season.
“(Matt Bartkowski) and Stoney came in and have been playing great, and (T.J. Brodie) has stepped up in a big way, too. If they are in or out, regardless of the situation, someone is going to have to step up.” Enter Dennis Wideman? Brett Kulak? Tyler Wotherspoon? Surely you don’t want to bring up 20-year-old rookie Rasmus Andersson for his first taste of the NHL at this juncture.
Or is the new guy, 31-year-old Mike Kostka, who was acquired in the Curtis Lazar trade, a possibility?
The Flames only have four recalls available to them between now and season’s end.
Keep in mind the Flames lost Giordano late in the season two years back, ending his Norris Trophy-like campaign, prompting many to figure their slim playoff chances ended there.
Instead, the team rallied around his absence and pushed through. Even won a series.
Coming off reconstructive knee surgery last summer, Stone’s play has elevated the play of Brodie to the point he is playing his best hockey of his season.
With Brodie’s assist Wednesday, the two have combined for three goals, seven assists and a plus 18 rating in their eight games as the team’s second pairing.
Tough to replace, as it would seem the obvious return of Wideman would give Brodie back the partner he struggled alongside earlier this year.
Stone was so good Wednesday he was named one of the game’s stars despite playing just 13 minutes on a team that played its most complete game of the season.
“I haven’t heard anything about their injuries — even if I did you know I can’t tell you,” chuckled Bartkowski. “I hope they are all right.” Every fan in the city concurs.
Hopefully, they’re not significant injures and they get back in soon. Again, we rely on depth and we believe in each other in here and we have to do it as a team.