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Last night the Calgary Flames took on the Nashville Predators in what was easily their biggest game of the season to date.
The Flames entered play knowing they could grab the top wild card spot with a clean win (aka in regulation) whereas a regulation loss, coupled with Los Angeles' inevitable win against Colorado, would have seen them lose their spot entirely.
It wasn't pretty, but when all was said and done the Flames claimed the two points they were after.
A few notes on the game:
1) I loved what I saw from the Flames. They were the better side for much of the night, which is encouraging given they were facing a good team in their own building, but the wheels completely fell off in the latter half of the 2nd frame. The Flames didn't hang their heads, mail it in and accept defeat, though. They kept playing as if nothing had happened. I know that's their job but it's hard to stick with anything in life when it feels like everything is going against you.
2) It was great to see Micheal Ferland given a chance alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan on the top line. He has the speed to keep up with those guys, the shot to convert when they create opportunities for him, and the work ethic and physicality to win battles and help retrieve the puck so the skill guys can make skill plays.
Including his pair of goals last night, Ferland has eight 5v5 goals on the season. Troy Brouwer has eight 5v5 points(!) despite playing more minutes and with better linemates. I'm not going to bring Brouwer's contract into this (I just did, didn't I?). I just legitimately believe Ferland is the better player, the better fit on the top line, and giving him more ice is the best path to success for the Flames.
Just look at this shot, friends. It's beautiful.
3) I'm running out of nice things to say about the Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik line. They read off each other so well and come through at both ends of the ice again and again and again. With the top-6 seemingly set and some nice pieces in the bottom-6 (Kris Versteeg, Sam Bennett, etc.) the Flames could be a good sleeper come playoff time. Assuming they get a save, that is.
4) I thought Glen Gulutzan made the right decision leaving Brian Elliott in the game after the wheels came off. Elliott has played very well of late and bad starts happen to everyone. It's not as if he was allowing trash goals and was completely at fault. The Filip Forsberg hat trick goal that came off an awful T.J. Brodie turnover is a perfect example of that.
Elliott has fought hard to try and give the Flames good goaltending on a nightly basis and he is finally starting to get there. Pulling the plug on him as soon as he shows any weakness is not the right move. Again, everyone has tough nights in this league so if Elliott plays a handful of good games and loses his job the second he falters even a little bit he'll never play at 100%. If you had your boss at the office leaning over your shoulder all day, every day waiting for you to mess up so there's a reason to fire you, you probably wouldn't do a good job. Sometimes you have to trust people and give them a little room to breathe.
5) I thought Michael Stone played fairly well in his debut. He was hemmed in the defensive zone a couple times while playing alongside Matt Bartkowski but he hung in there and his results in limited ice with Brodie were good. The Flames out-attempted the Preds 7-2 and out-chanced them 4-2 with that duo together. If that's a sign of things to come, the Flames will certainly take it.
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Pacific Division breakout players
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