Regular Season, Game 25: Hurricanes at Calgary Flames

The second game of the road trip through western Canada swings into Calgary for the Canes' first meeting with the Flames since the pandemic began. It's been nearly two years since the last trip to the Saddledome, a 4-0 win for the Canes on December 14, 2019. All four goals scored in the game were by players no longer on the team. The Canes won the first game of the road trip on Tuesday night in Winnipeg 4-2 with special teams being the biggest contributor to the win. The power play scored twice and the penalty kill went with four for five, highlighted by a huge five-minute kill after Ian Cole was assessed a major for kneeing and ejected. Cole was only slapped with a $5,000 fine and is going to be in the lineup tonight. Ethan Bear, who has played just two games since returning from COVID protocol, missed the morning skate tonight because he wasn't feeling well, so he's a game-time decision. The guys who've been out will remain out. Both Pesce and DeAngelo have exited COVID protocol, but they won't be joining the team in Canada due to quarantine rules. If Bear is out, Lajoie is likely to step in. For the Flames, they've lost two straight, dropping a 5-3 decision to San Jose on Tuesday night. Despite the losses, they remain at the top of the Pacific Division. Andrew Mangiapane is currently tied for third in the league in goals (17) and Johnny Gaudreau is in the top ten in points (29). Tonight's starter, Jacob Markstrom, leads the league in goals against average (1.83) and shutouts (5). This is going to be a battle of the two stingiest teams in the league. The Canes have allowed the fewest goals in the league (54) to this point in the season, but the Flames are currently second (56). Even with those numbers, I don't feel like this will be a low-scoring game. The Canes' offense has returned to form in the last two games, but it's hard to ignore the stretches where they weren't scoring. It's going to take a huge effort tonight to come out with two points, but I expect this team to be ready. 

1st Period

Scoring

(CAR) 4:14- Sebastian Aho (12) (assisted by Jaccob Slavin (13) & Nino Niederreiter (7))

Thoughts

These two teams are so fast, the Flames especially. The action was non-stop in the first ten minutes before we finally got the first tv timeout. In that ten minutes, the Canes came up empty on a power play, Sebastian Aho tipped home a pass from Jaccob Slavin, and Frederik Andersen stopped a penalty shot from Noah Hanifin. The Flames controlled the puck for most of the period after the Aho goal, but Andersen was on top of it all. The penalty kill had a great stop at the end of the period too. The Staal line was buzzing and I expect Andrei Svechnikov to find the back of the net at some point tonight. This Flames team is no joke. They move quickly and had a bunch of good chances. The defense really needs to suffocate the star power in the final 40. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(CGY) 7:23- Noah Hanifin (2) (assisted by Rasmus Andersson (13) & Elias Lindholm (16))

Thoughts

The play slowed down a little bit in the period and we only got one goal during this 20-minute session. Unfortunately, the goal was scored by a former Cane, so it counts for the other team. I'm not in the least bit surprised that Hanifin and Lindholm both factor in on the goal. The physicality of the game certainly picked up. Cross-checking was the major focus of the period. There were three penalties called and all three were cross-checking calls, two on the Canes and one on the Flames. I have no clue why everyone insists on cross-checking in this period, but there were a few that went uncalled, so inconsistency from the officiating continues. The Flames had the better of the chances in the period, which is why I'm not surprised they scored. This third period should be tight, just like the first two periods. 

3rd Period

Scoring

None

Thoughts

The Canes scratched and clawed their way to a point. The late penalty felt like it would be their undoing, but they managed to force overtime. Turbo, Slavin, and Aho all deserve major props for taking pucks off the goal line in the period. The Flames were the better team for most of the period. The Canes didn't get many great chances in the period and have gone to the box way too many times for my liking. Ian Cole had a rough period, taking two penalties. They also iced the puck a lot, but it never bit them in the behind either. They had to kill 56 seconds of a penalty to start overtime.

Overtime

Scoring

(CAR) 4:07- Sebastian Aho (13) (assisted by Frederik Andersen (3) & Teuvo Teravainen (12))

Thoughts

I have the receipts to prove it, but I called Aho getting the game-winner. The Canes kill the penalty then weather a storm from the Flames, with Backlund getting the best chance for Calgary. After that, it was all Carolina. The winner was a bit weird as Aho looked like he missed it a little, but it doesn't matter because it went in for his second of the night. Give Freddie an assist on the winner too. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Jaccob Slavin (Assist, 32:28 TOI)

There's something in Slavin's water because he has been on a roll as of late. He picks up another point with an assist on Aho's first goal and then made a huge save late in the third period with the game tied. He was on the ice for over half an hour, including over eight minutes while the team was short-handed. His performance tonight is exactly what we've come to expect, but it means more with who is out. 

Second Star- Frederik Andersen (26 Saves on 27 Shots, Assist)

There was only one blemish on his ledger tonight, but he didn't let that bother him. He shut the game down in the third period and then kept the Flames off the board on the late power play that carried into overtime. To make things even sweeter, he gets credited with the primary assist on the game-winner in overtime, giving him three for the season. He outdueled Markstrom tonight in a battle of the best. 

First Star- Sebastian Aho (2 Goals)

Speaking of players on fire, Aho picked up two goals tonight and put together his fourth-straight multi-point game, giving him nine points in four games this month (3 G, 6 A). He scored both goals tonight for the Canes and saved a goal right after Slavin saved one. He definitely got lucky on the winner, but it doesn't matter how it goes in as long as it crosses the line, which is something I've said a lot this season. 

Final Thoughts

I alluded to the possibility of this being a high-scoring game before the puck dropped tonight. Instead, we were treated to a defensive struggle where neither team wanted to give up much of anything. Frederik Andersen got the best of Jacob Markstrom tonight, but both were lights out for almost 65 minutes. The penalty kill of the Canes is the story yet again. They were a perfect five-for-five, including the late third period penalty that carried over into the beginning of overtime. Aho is playing like a superstar in December and Slavin must have an iron lung. This Flames team is really good and they showed it tonight. They are fast and hard-hitting with good goaltending. Two points are two points, no matter how it happens. They're 2-0-0 to open the road trip, but the game on Saturday is going to be a challenge. Obviously, when you go into Edmonton you have to worry about McDavid and Draisaitl, but that doesn't mean you can forget the supporting staff. It's the front end of a back-to-back with Edmonton on Saturday and Vancouver on Sunday. I'd imagine Andersen gets the start since he's the hot hand right now, with Raanta likely to play against Vancouver. Not to mention, Saturday is my birthday, so I'd really like a win to cap off the day.