Oct 2, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (23) celebrates his second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
You know it’s a good day to be a Calgary Flames fan when Sean Monahan scores two goals and it’s not the most impressive part of the game. Our Calgary Flames defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 Thursday night despite going 0-6 on the powerplay and taking 4 penalties in the final six minutes of play.
The line of Johnny Gaudreau–Sam Bennett(who really struggled on his side of center the first two periods)-Josh Jooris was patched together at the beginning of the 3rd period and were dominant. Whether it’s October 8, 2014 or October 8, 2015 that threesome deserves some time together during a regular season game.
1st period Firewood
The over-reaction is to cancel TV timeouts (especially when the game is not on TV) from the NHL. To stress the difference between the first 7:15 and the final 12:45, I will use the simple stat of “shots on goal”. First 7:15 the shots were 6-1 Flames. Final 12:45 the shots were 6-4 Jets.
The Calgary Flames had two powerplay opportunities in the opening half of the period. Sven Baertschi created scoring chances on both powerplays. Both powerplay opportunities came after hard drives to the net. The first penalty was drawn when Josh Jooris was around the Jets net looking for a rebound. The second penalty was drawn when Jiri Hudler broke through the defense and went in on a partial breakaway.
Coming back from the TV timeout, the forward line of Setoguchi-Bennett-Byron got hemmed into their own zone but a post would save the Flames. Sam Bennett had a tough period in his own zone as on the next shift he twice couldn’t clear the puck.
2nd period Firewood
On the opening shift of the period, Curtis Glencross sent a pass straight into Brian McGrattan‘s butt which leads to a Winnipeg Jets 2-on-0 and a hilariously wide miss of a yawning cage. That pretty much sums up how the period would go for both teams!
On the 1st shot of the period, at the 8:20 mark, our Calgary Flames opened the scoring. Johnny Gaudreau with a burst of speed that leads to Sean Monahan banking the puck into the net off of a Jets defender. The goal happened the shift after TJ Brodie got his pocket picked trying to charge out of his own zone but was bailed out by the Jets going offside negating a 2-on-1.
Karri Ramo made his first save of the period at the 13:08 mark of the period. At the 14:16 mark, the Jets scored to tie the game. Sam Bennett tried to deke the Jets Scheifele in the neutral zone but instead lost the puck and then helped Ramo fish the puck out of his own net.
If there is a player having a tougher night than Mr. Bennett, it’s Devin Setoguchi.
Johnny Gaudreau, Sven Baertschi, and Josh Jooris continue to impress!
3rd period Firewood
2 goals 40 seconds apart! Sounds like a perfect bumper sticker!
Johnny Gaudreau with a spin-o-rama out of the corner and Josh Jooris with a nice move to make it 2-1. Sean Monahan makes it 3-1 after wiring a shot home just inside the post from just inside the blue line.
Josh Jooris would score his second goal of the period just after the Flames failed to convert on their 6th power play goal of the night. Coach Hartley has been rewarded handsomely for putting Gaudreau-Bennett-Jooris at the beginning of the 3rd period. One more note on Josh Jooris, he has had another solid night on the penalty kill.
It took until the 13:42 mark of the 3rd period for the Winnipeg Jets to register a shot. TJ Brodie took a penalty on the play. 17 seconds after Brodie stepped back on the ice, Brian McGrattan took a minor penalty. 24 seconds after McGrattan finished his minor penalty, he chirped a penalty call on teammate Sven Baertschi and our Flames would finish the game shorthanded. Karri Ramo would stop 3 of 4 Jets powerplay shots.
Josh Jooris (86) earns my Calgary Flames first star in the Flames 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports