Calgary 1 – Tampa Bay 2 (OT)
Calgary returned home after a length two week road trip which saw the team exceed expectations. With a 5 game homestand coming up, the Flames looked to extend their point streak to, well, two games. Here are some thoughts.
TJ Brodie is fresh coming off a 5 year contract extension. That puts him in a Flames uniform, barring trade, for the next six years including this one. Brodie’s signing is good for the club, but tonight, despite logging the minutes, was too eager to score in OT and ultimately lost his defensive assignment that lead to the OT goal for Tampa.
– Two goals late sunk the Flames. They’ll fix the glaring defensive zone miscues though, so that’s the growing pain for a young squad.
– Giordano with his first fighting major of the season. Don’t think he needs to do drop the gloves needlessly. The team is noticeable better with him on the ice and not in the box for 5 minutes.
– Dennis Wideman scored the Flames only goal and now has three. The defencemen are leading the way with scoring. The forwards?
– Curtis Glencross was half-asleep the entire game. Don’t know what his problem is. It’s a contract year after all.
– Backlund’s line could use energy, and size. Hudler and Byron on the wings doesn’t exactly scare teams with size (the truculent Brian Burke identity lost?)
– Ramo looked good through 3 periods, but ultimately couldn’t steal the two points.
– Another slow start. The team lacks energy it seems at time.
– But it’s great to see Jooris in the lieup. He’s moving his legs.
– Gaudreau did it all on the Flames only goal. He left to sharpen his skates (might have tweaked his ankle) but did return. He’s still figuring out his game and the coaching staff are watching him closely….
– Engelland, man, terrible tonight.
– No David Jones (dump him somewhere at night), Setoguchi, or McGrattan.
– Really quiet crowd tonight too, what’s up with that!?
