Flames showed important character trait in 1-0 win over Canucks
In last night’s 1-0 win, the Calgary Flames showed a character trait we haven’t seen in a while, the ability to win a tight game in which they dominate but struggle to score.
Calgary played an all-round excellent hockey game. They peppered Thatcher Demko, whose standout heroics were the only reason Vancouver earned an undeserved point at the Saddledome.
The Canucks had a solitary shot on goal after the first. Almost midway through the second, Vancouver managed to test Jacob Markström only twice, such was the home team’s utter dominance. Two shots in almost half a game. It’s an astoundingly meagre total, but a direct reflection of the on-ice inequality.
The Flames were better in every category and deserved to be up by two, three, if not four goals toward the tail end of the second. Calgary ended the game with 32 shots compared to Vancouver’s 15.
Yet it would have been easy, if not predictable, if the Flames let the opportunity slip through their fingers. One of the more difficult challenges for goaltenders is to stay sharp and focussed in the absence of consistent work.
Markström, who made some big saves during back-to-back Vancouver power plays late in the third, was able to impressively accomplish that feat. He secured his seventh shutout of the season and while the stats will show he only faced 15 shots, it was one of the more tricky outings the Flames netminder has faced in 2021-2022.
Darryl Sutter’s reaction to Dillon Dubé and Sean Monahan’s penalties reflected what everyone was thinking. But the Flames killed both penalties and showed extraordinary resilience, a dogged determination we haven’t seen since late November/early December.
Most games toward the end of 2021 and early in the current year have been, whether a win or a loss, widely lopsided. The grit Calgary showed to take both points against their bitter Canadian rivals under such tricky circumstances provided an important lesson for Sutter’s side.
Next. Flames still performing well in second game of back to backs. dark
Frustrated by Demko’s brilliance, the Flames found a way to forge forward and eventually prevail.
They didn’t let their bad puck luck defeat them. Instead, they showed what it takes to win ugly, an invaluable character trait of any team that has their sights set on making a run at Lord Stanley.