Calgary Flames: Gaudreau’s Four Points Dominate Habs 5-0
The Calgary Flames Extinguish The Montreal Canadiens Six Game Winning Streak, Extend their own winning streak to eight games. Can the Flames keep the winning ways alive?
The Calgary Flames squared off against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday evening, with both teams riding lengthy winning streaks, one team was going to lose that streak. Thankfully, Calgary played a complete game in the drubbing of the Habs, with a 5-0 win. Led by a four point night by Johnny Gaudreau, the Flames overwhelmed the Canadiens from the opening face-off until the final blast of the horn.
Brian Elliott was fantastic, stopping 24 shots en route to his first shutout as a Calgary Flame and 35th of his outstanding career. The streak has been extended to eight games tonight, something they will take to the MTS Centre on Saturday evening as they look for their ninth win in a row. Reflecting on tonight, there are three notes to take away from this complete effort from the Flames.
Gaudreau – Monahan – Ferland line look like they are meshing well
Calgary Flames
Michael Ferland can skate, people. His foot speed is deceptively quick to coincide with his naturally large size he possess to help create time and space for Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan to create plays. Both Monahan and Gaudreau registered goals on the evening, as did Ferland himself. The top line contributed mightily to the winning efforts tonight, chipping in seven of the fifteen points tallied by the Flames on the night.
Johnny Gaudreau was the Flames best player tonight as well, registering four points (1 Goal, 3 Assists) on the evening in front of a sellout Saddledome crowd.
Even though his point totals appear to be down from a year ago for the shifty superstar, Gaudreau is growing his game in other aspects that the scoresheet does not pick up. Gaudreau seems to have a better grasp on puck control, as well as playing defense in his own zone.
It seems like the less glamorous end of Johnny’s game is looking promising here as his game is looking ever so more complete every game. Not to mention, he is still a perennial point producer and playmaker in the National Hockey League here. The sky is still the limit for Johnny Gaudreau, and he seems to be finding his groove right before the postseason.
Brian Elliott Is FINALLY Settling In!
When the Calgary Flames made the trade for Brian Elliott at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, shipping two draft picks back to St. Louis for his services, the Flames were believed to be getting one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. His performance in the playoffs was dynamite last season, and it appears now after the roller coaster season Elliott has had to this date, he is finally settling in perfectly into the Flames starting role as the team envisioned.
Kudos to Chad Johnson, when he kept the team afloat while Elliott was struggling mightily early on in the season, but this is Brian Elliott’s crease now. He finally recorded his first shutout as a Calgary Flame, turning away 24 shots on the night. What is lethal about a white-hot Brian Elliott? He has the ability to take not only his own game to that elite level, but his elite play can will a team to a series win or more during the playoffs.
(Side Note: Here Are The Flames Upcoming Two Games)
This was evident in the postseason last spring when Elliott was a member of the St. Louis Blues. He was the X-Factor in their series against the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as against the Dallas Stars. He was not the reason why they failed to advance to the Stanley Cup Final as he made a strong case to be the best player for the St. Louis Blues last spring.
Brian Elliott is starting to look like the goaltender that led the entire NHL in save percentage last season as well as he is starting to appear to be that goaltender who can prove to be clutch come playoff time. The Calgary Flames will be playing playoff hockey this year, and boy will Brian Elliott sure be their X-Factor if they want to stun some unexpecting opponents.
Hope and Pray The Injury Bug Is Not Strong
Dougie Hamilton left Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury, as Michael Stone left minutes later with an upper-body injury. These right handed shooting defenseman have been critical to the Calgary Flames successes over the short and long term pictures of the season. Hopefully these injuries are minor and the training staff was keeping the players out of the game as a precautionary purpose, but both injuries do not help the Flames defense.
Michael Stone has been an outstanding acquisition from Arizona, as he registered his first goal tonight as well. Dougie Hamilton has been arguably the Flames best defenseman all season long, leading the backend in points and being that complete defenseman the Flames cherish so much. Hopefully we can see both of these players back in the lineup Saturday.
Speaking of Dougie Hamilton, our very own here at Flame for Thought had fun at the game tonight it seems:
Eight wins in a row, a season high winning streak. Lets hope to see this winning streak grow to nine as they will play a hungry Winnipeg Jets team on Saturday. The Jets are fighting for their playoff lives, while the Flames are fighting for home ice advantage in their own division. Expect a hard fought and complete game from both teams, especially the boys donning the C on their crest.
Next: Five Reasons the Flames' Season has Turned Around
When the boys are hot, they are hot. Chicago’s winning streak ended tonight at seven games, leaving the Flames with the longest active winning streak in the league.