Mark Giordano 1st Star; Karri Ramo 3rd Star

Nov 18, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano (5) controls the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL released it’s “Three Stars” today for both the month of November and for the week of November 24th to November 30th.

Reeling in the honour of “1st Star” of the month in the NHL is our captain Mark Giordano.

Remember way back on late October 2010 when the Calgary Flames signed Gio to a contract extension taking him through the 2015-16 season?  Remember the grumblings around that signing?  If that’s too far back, you may remember the grumblings about Mark Giordano after the lockout shortened season in which he posted his lowest career points per game average.

Captain Giordano has all but erased those memories with the last season and two months of his play.  Giordano’s refusal to give up on plays is rubbing off on the entire team as the Flames as a whole may occasionally booble and blunder during the game but never without the effort to make a full recovery from an error.  The point per game pace Giordano may not be sustainable but the chemistry between him and defensive partner TJ Brodie allows one to dare to dream.

Here is the NHL.com write up:

Giordano led all defensemen and tied for sixth in the NHL with 16 points in 13 games to power the Flames (15-8-2, 32 points) to a 9-4-0 November record and third place in the Pacific Division. He also paced the League with a +12 rating, led all blueliners and ranked third in the NHL with 12 assists, and posted one game-winning goal (Nov. 13 vs. ARI). Giordano opened the month with points in seven straight contests, extending his overall point streak to nine games (5-9—14) and matching the longest such stretch of his NHL career (Jan. 14 – Feb. 1, 2014: 4-6—10). He also recorded his 20th point in his 18th outing of the season, becoming the fastest Flames defenseman to reach the milestone since Al MacInnis in 1993-94 (6-14—20 in 18 GP). Overall, Giordano found the scoresheet in 11 of 13 November games. The 31-year-old Toronto, Ont., native leads all defensemen with 19 assists and 25 points in 25 outings this season. He also is tied for second among blueliners with a +14 rating.

Reeling in the honour of “1st Star” of the week in the NHL is our zero-hero Karri Ramo.

Back-to-back shutouts tend to make people stand up and take notice.  Even if you are playing on the team currently leading your conference in goals (seriously, the Flames lead the Western Conference with 78 goals) earning back-to-back wins without giving a goal is very impressive.

Here is the NHL.com write up:

Ramo went 2-0-0, stopping all 58 shots he faced to record a pair of shutouts and lead the Flames (15-8-2, 32 points) to two wins in three outings. He made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks Nov. 26. Ramo then posted 26 saves in a 3-0 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes Nov. 29 to extend his personal winning streak to four games, one shy of his career long set Jan. 22 – March 24, 2014 (5-0-0). With his performance, the 28-year-old Asikkala, Finland, native doubled his career total for shutouts (2 SO in 96 GP prior to last week). He has a 6-2-1 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 10 appearances this season.

LOVE! THIS! TEAM!