Calgary Flames Lose Game, Matt Stajan and Joe Colborne
By Len Nunes
Oct 28, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Deryk Engelland (29) was a bright spot on Calgary’s defence. I’m as surprised as you. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Remember when I said Karma was going to get us back for that 2-1 overtime win in Chicago on October 15th? Karma chose October 28th for the Calgary Flames to pay her back!
After outshooting the Montreal Canadiens 38-19, our Calgary Flames would lose 2-1 in a shootout to the visitors.
Worse than Karma, the Calgary Flames lost the services of Joe Colborne in the opening half of the 2nd period AND Matt Stajan in the final minutes of the 3rd period.
When Colborne went missing in action, most assumed it was due to the shot he took off the top of the helmet while standing in front of the Habs net on a Flames powerplay. Sportsnet TV cameras showed footage of Calgary trainer’s working on his wrist/forearm when they announced Colborne would not return.
As for Matt Stajan, he took a knee-on-knee hit from Canadiens Jarred Tinordi. I don’t believe their was malicious intent, it was force of human nature to try to block an opposing player from getting past him and it happened to be his knee. Stajan was helped off the ice and while I’m hopeful he will be ready for Friday’s game, I’m worried for Mr. Stajan.
THROWING LOGS IN THE FIRE:
- There are not many game tapes that Mark Giordano‘s agent needs to burn. While the 7 shots on goal and 6 blocked shots suggest Gio was his normal solid self…he wasn’t. Both Giordano’s penalties in the 2nd period were down right stupid penalties. Let’s not forget the “embellishment” penalty was on a play he was trying to recover from giving up a 2-on-1 against.
- TJ Brodie was much more active tonight on the offense (than the past couple games) which naturally exposes him to more defensive breakdowns. You were either grasping your hair after a near miss in the offensive zone or pulling your hair watching him give the Habs a good scoring chance. Either Brodie needs to find a happy medium or I need more hats!
- Laddy Smid should be nicknamed “Where the puck goes to die in the offensive zone”. Okay, it’s not a catchy name but approximately 4 times he was passed the puck while the Flames were pressuring the Habs and all 4 times the momentum ended when he touched up with the puck. I want to scream and shout for Tyler Wotherspoon to be called up but he’s currently a -6 with Adirondack. (The only player worse is Sven Baertschi at -9.)
- Curtis Glencross was credited with 6 shots on goal and by my count about 6 more shots that missed the net. I also credit him with the BONEHEAD play of the game. With the Canadiens Eller in the penalty box, Glencross is clearly offside but touches the puck anyway and gets the faceoff moved all the way down into the Flames zone. If you are 21 (he’s 31) and make that mistake, your butt is stapled to the bench!
- Johnny Gaudreau earned a lot of new fans tonight. It scares me that on a night with 38 shots on goal, he is the only forward that stands out in my mind as a star. I’m not hating on Sean Monahan but that was not Mony’s “A” game tonight. The four times Mr. Monahan found the net, the shots were weak while his best shots were wide of the net.
- With two players down to injury, what did Josh Jooris do to Coach Hartley’s Corn Flakes to only play 7:40 in the game with zero time on the penalty kill?
For as exciting as that game was, I am not going to sleep Habby!