Jonas Hiller & Johnny Gaudreau Lead Calgary Flames To Win

I wonder how times the Calgary Flames need to beat the Colorado Avalanche for Jarome Iginla to come back home?Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Experts say the Colorado Avalanche iced a better team Sunday night in Colorado and our Calgary Flames beat them.  Those same experts say our Calgary Flames iced a better team Tuesday night in Calgary for the re-match.  The better team won 2-0 as the Calgary Flames swept the home-and-home preseason series with the Avalanche.

1st period Firewood

The Flames top three lines were:

1. Hudler-Monahan-Baertschi
2. Gaudreau-Colborne-Glencross
3. Ferland-Reinhart-Jooris

I understand that won’t be the opening lineup on October 8 when the curtains are pulled open for the 2014-15 NHL season but each line was dangerous in the first period.

Johnny Gaudreau earned himself a lot of hype with his game tonight but I’m going to shine the 1st period light on Joe Colborne.  Twice Mr. Colborne had highlight reel opportunities to score.

Colborne’s first opportunity came when it seemed that the Avalanche defenseman would force him around the net.  Instead Colborne hit the redline, cut to the front, stickhandled the puck around the Avs goalie and was narrowly stopped.

On Colborne’s second opportunity, this time on the power play, Colborne pulls the puck back between his legs and flips a shot on net.

2nd period Firewood

I’m going to guess one of the next Calgary Flames cuts will be prospect defenseman Brett Kulak.  Kulak led the Flames in turnovers but  I’m here to give him credit for starting the play that translated into the Johnny Gaudreau goal. The score sheet will not show an assist but it was Kulak who originally sent Gaudreau flying down the ice with a nice pass.

Sven Baertschi  had the classic “try hard, no results” period.  I can’t fathom the pressure on the young man to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL but IF he plays every period like he played that second period, this kid’s gonna make it.

The line of Ferland-Reinhart-Jooris was solid, all three prospects earned at least another game!

The back-to-back thunderous hits delivered by Lance Bouma and Brandon Bollig made me smile.

3rd period Firewood

After struggling mightily through the first two periods, Bill Arnold had a strong third period.  I’m guessing Mr. Arnold will be in the next round of cuts made by our Calgary Flames.

Jonas Hiller must know the penchant of his new club for one goal games and brought his “A” game into the third period.  With under six minutes remaining Hiller twice had multiple save sequences securing the shutout and the win.  As I have been saying all along – – Jonas Hiller, Calgary Flames 2014 best free agent signing.