Calgary Flames no match for Martin Jones or Refs

The Calgary Flames lost 3-1 to the San Jose Sharks as they were no match for Martin Jones. They didn’t get much help from the refs either.

Everyone somewhat called this game off because Mike Smith was starting in net but this one wasn’t Mike Smith’s fault. In a battle against the San Jose Sharks, the Calgary Flames lost 3-1. With a quick goal by the Sharks and the Flames getting no help from the refs, especially late in the game, the Flames couldn’t make it up and were no match for Martin Jones.

Let’s check out how this game went down.

First period

The first period started with a good shift by the San Jose Sharks. After a turnover by the Calgary Flames at the blue-line and the Flames unable to clear the zone, the Sharks made it 1-0 just 50 seconds into the game. Here we go…

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Right after that goal, the Flames came with some pressure of their own and Mark Giordano had a slapper that hit the post. The Flames continued with the pressure and a good chance by Sam Bennett was stopped.

Slightly before the midway mark, the Flames’ fourth line put some good pressure and with a nice passing sequence, Mark Jankowski was eye-to-eye with Martin Jones who robbed Janko.

It was quite a back and forth game the rest of the period until the Flames took a penalty with less than two minutes remaining. The Sharks had a few good chances with one great tip by Joe Pavelski, but Mike Smith was sharp after letting in that initial goal and this period finished 1-0 for the Sharks.

Other than that initial goal, Smith was actually, dare I say it, quite good. The Sharks outshot the Flames 12-8, but otherwise, it was quite an evenly-played game at even-strength.

Second period

Early in the second period, Gio again had a great shot on Jones who made a good glove save. Shortly after, the Calgary Flames were in their zone as the Sharks were applying pressure. As the defenders were at the post watching for Evander Kane behind the net, Joonas Donskoi was in front of Smith with nobody on him and made it 2-0.

The Sharks went on a powerplay shortly after and couldn’t quite get any good chances or that much going on it due to some good penalty-killing by the Flames. After the powerplay expired, Erik Karlsson lost an edge at the blue-line and Jankowski got the puck, fed it to Sean Monahan somewhat ahead of the play, and he got it over Jones to bring the Flames within one. That’s also Monahan’s 300th career point!

Later in the period, Marcus Sorenson had a breakaway and Smith came up big to keep this a one-goal game. After that breakaway attempt, the Sharks kept up the pressure for a bit and Smith was forced to make another great save.

A couple of minutes later, Kane had a two-on-zero breakaway chance with Donskoi, he got it over to Donskoi, and Smith made a huge save on him to keep this at a one-goal game. The Sharks had a couple more chances before the end of the period, but this period finished 2-1 Sharks. They outshot the Flames 11-8 this period and definitely had the edge at even-strength and it was clear during the game.

Third period

The Calgary Flames came out with lots of jump right off the initial faceoff, of course, because it’s the third-period Flames. A few minutes into the period, there were off-setting minors so we saw some 4on4 hockey. After some decent back-and-forth, this 4on4 sequence went scoreless.

Kane and Pavelski had almost a two-on-one breakaway and as Pavelski was hooked on the play, the Sharks went on the powerplay and Smith made the save on Kane.

Other than one good chance for the Sharks slightly past the 1-minute mark of the powerplay, this powerplay wasn’t good for the Sharks and the Flames did quite well on the PK.

After an uncalled tripping call on the Sharks, they went the other way and had a great chance on Smith who came up big again tonight. If that was a goal, I’m sure Flames Twitter would have gone crazy.

Shortly after, Sam Bennett had a breakaway, and I started cheering, and then I noticed it was Sam Bennett and I knew it wouldn’t be a goal. He was hooked on the play and it resulted in a penalty-shot for Bennett. But again… it’s Bennett. And it wasn’t that great of a shot anyway, so this was still a one-goal game.

Right after, the Flames continued their pressure with a good wrap-around attempt from Johnny Gaudreau with Jankowski getting the rebound chance, but Jones somehow saved the shot.

Late in the game as the Flames took out Smith for the extra attacker, Travis Hamonic was slashed by Kane as they battled for the puck, no call, then with 1:05 left in the game, Kane clearly shot the puck up and over the glass. As all the Flames motion for a delay of game penalty, the refs discussed and decided there was no penalty. Then Pavelski scores the empty-netter.

I don’t think I need to post any Tweets for anyone to truly get how angry Flames fans were. They had no powerplay in this game with about four clear-cut penalties in the third period alone. Especially that delay-of-game penalty which was as clear as day of a penalty.

The Flames completely outplayed the Sharks in the third period but Martin Jones brought his A-game tonight. They outshot the Sharks 14-6 and doubled their shot-attempts, scoring chances, and almost doubled the high-danger scoring chances.

While the Calgary Flames battled hard in the third period, unfortunately, a poor start, a bad second period, and no help from the refs were their foes tonight.