Calgary Flames Will Not Go Undefeated in 2014-15 NHL Season
By Len Nunes
Oct 8, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks left wing Alex Burrows (14) and Calgary Flames left wing Brandon Bollig (25) battle for the puck during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Our Calgary Flames lost 4-2 to the Vancouver Canucks. The Sedin Brothers played well and the referees overturned two calls on the ice which spoiled the Calgary Flames debut’s of Jonas Hiller (32 saves) and Johnny Gaudreau.
Silver lining – – our Calgary Flames, who were the worst team in the NHL last year at taking faceoffs, won 61% of the draws tonight!
1st Period Firewood
Matt Stajan played 27 seconds. He set up Brandon Bollig for a shot on Ryan Miller. It was the last time we saw Mr. Stajan. UPDATE: Stajan was back for the 2nd period.
Deryk Engelland was noticed twice. 1st time it was when he failed to clear the zone. 2nd time is when the puck went off his skate and past Hiller to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead. That’s not good!
If Coach Bob Hartley were to crack his whip after one game, Paul Byron taking an offensive zone penalty leading to the Canucks powerplay puts a target on his back. UPDATE: Byron earned himself an apology by putting the Calgary Flames on the board in the 2nd period.
Curtis Glencross had a strong period with three good scoring chances.
2nd Period Firewood
Dennis Wideman and Ladislav Smid need to be split up for tomorrow’s game. Wideman and Smid were the defenseman burned for the Canucks second goal of the season. The only “bright” spot either of these two produced in that period was when Laddy Smid got a pass from Johnny Gaudreau for a shot on goal.
Speaking of Johnny Gaudreau – – Mr. Gaudreau played 5 minutes in the second period and was positively noticed on every shift.
You know who else is making the most of his shifts? Brandon Bollig! Another offensive opportunity for Bollig and even some time on the penalty kill. Bollig has made the most of his 6:38.
What would turn out to be the eventual game winning goal by the Canucks was originally called “no goal”. After a lengthy review and every camera angle known to mankind, the goal was deemed to be a good goal. Honestly, Radim Vrbata did make contact with the puck below the crossbar but the fact the NHL had to rely on replays from NASA to overturn the call still irks me!
3rd Period Firewood
The period started with our Flames playing exclusively in their own zone for the first three minutes. Who turned the tide around? The line of Bollig-Stajan-McGrattan. Brandon Bollig is my Calgary Flames unsung hero tonight.
At the 5:02 mark of the final frame, the referees overturned an obvious Vancouver Canuck “too many men” penalty. Seriously Flame For Thought’ers, did you realize that was a thing?
Mason Raymond and Mikael Backlund played their strongest hockey of the game in the final ten minutes of the period. Coach Hartley tried playing Backlund’s line versus the Sedin line…Backlund finished -3, Raymond finished -2.
Curtis Glencross gets my vote for most consistent Calgary Flame forward of the evening. No where near the offensive glitz of Johnny Gaudreau but Glencross’ 4 shots led the Flames and his 5 hits put him second in that category.
A fear going into the season was how much of the defensive load will Captain Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie have to bear. Tonight both Gio and Brods played over 25 minutes. With the struggles Engelland, Wideman and Smid endured at different points of the game, I’d be SHOCKED if Raphael Diaz does not draw into the lineup tomorrow versus Edmonton.