Calgary Flames Fall Short in OT Loss to NY Islanders

The Calgary Flames cap off their 6-game (9 nights) East Coast road trip recording a 3-2-1. Losing to the New York Islanders 2-1 within 2 minutes of Overtime play. This would be their 5th loss in a row to the Isles over the past couple of seasons.

Sean Monahan getting his first point in 5 games with his tying goal in the 3rd period off of Versteegs’ hustle up ice.

Only to lose with the Thomas Hickey deflection past Elliott on the Tavares back-hand pass. Flames feeling that back-hand sting as the Islanders hand them a back-to-back road loss. The Flames registering 7 pts of 12 during that trip.

1st Period Action

The Calgary Flames are first to go on the PowerPlay – with Clutterbucks’ trip on Jokipakka – just 15 minutes into the game. Mark Giordanos’ wrist shot is blocked and the Flames end the PP with zero shots on net.

Right after the Islanders Penalty Kill, John Tavares pokes one away from TJ Brodie – plays tag with linemate Bailey – return pass, nets in far side past Elliot for his 6th goal of the season.

Half-way through the period the Islanders get a chance at PP points with Engelland in the box for checking Clutterbuck. Wideman can’t clear it, and Elliott comes up big with the save on Boychuks’ bullet.

Right after the Flames successfully kill off their 14th penalty (in last 15), Engelland rushes the net out of the penalty box with a chance at Greiss – backhanding it – Greiss turning it aside.

Clutterbuck pings one off the Flames post, and Elliot makes a couple of good glove saves – saving 8 of 9 shots on him in the 1st. Flames had just 5 shots. Ferland-Monahan-Shinkaruk line trying to light up the Flames at the end there, with no go.

2nd Period Take Away

The Flames able to ward off PP points for the Islanders, as they head to their 2nd & 3rd PK with Giordano going off early in the period for tripping and Engelland later on with an elbowing call.

Ferland playing well, with a poke check – and chance – gloved by Greiss. #79 making his presence known, getting a piece of Pelech on his 6th hit of the night.

Elliot with another big save on Islanders #15 Clutterbuck.

Stajan gets a break-away chance, near the 5-minute mark of the period, off of Dougie Hamiltons’ pass up – Greiss making the save on the Flames 13th shot.

Elliott save on Tavares’ wrister – and then again on Tavares’ shot deflection off of Ladd, giving the Flames a chance at another SHG (Flames lead the league with 5 SHG – 2 last night versus Flyers). It’s Hamilton again up to Backlund for the quick release – saved by the Islanders net-minder. Back-to-back action with the speedy recovery and return shot on the other end by Boychuk again – and Elliot again making a stop on him.

Ferland making another play at it late in the period with a wrister – saved by Greiss.

No Goals for either team that period. Shots were 11-10 in favour of Calgary this time.

3rd Period Highlights

Boychuk slaps one at Elliot right off of Tavares’ face-off win to start the 3rd – Elliot hanging on.

Tkachuk getting a chance the other way with Dougie making moves, up to Gio, back to Dougie, to Tkachuk – Greiss making the glove save on Matts’ wrister.

Flames getting a couple of chances with Greiss having to cover up Backlunds’ shot – with Frolik going in with him, after Wideman brings it up.

Back-to-the-basics on the 4th line for Monahan, who sees some play time with Versteeg & Brouwer in the 3rd. It works for the of-late lack-luster youngster, as #23 capitalizes on Versteegs’ hustle pass – with a goal down the center. Tying the game at 1 a piece near the 10 minute mark.

Jankowski shaking off any NHL Debut jitters early, winning his 5th face-off of the night. Flames still lose the puck to Tavares, but the 22-year old is quick to get back up on the forecheck – keeping the puck in the Islanders zone for the Flames – handing it off to Ferland, for a quick pass to Giordano then Hamilton for the shot. Greiss makes the save, followed by another on Bennetts’ wrist shot as he rushed up with Stajan.

Elliot returns by stepping up to the plate and making a massive save on Islanders #11 Prince, as he breaks away right after Brouwer clinks one off of the Islanders cross-bar.

Flames front-line a little tattered with Frolik cut up on the Ladd hit, prior to Hamilton taking a Boychuk shot-block to the hand.

With Hamilton in the box this time – on a tripping call – the Flames have another good PK. Disallowing any shots on goal in the 4th PP for the Islanders, who end the game 0/4 with a man advantage. Flames clearing the puck from their zone early in the PK, on the face-off, followed by some great work on breaking up Bailleys’ shot-pass!

Elliot making the save on Leddys’ last shot of the game – taking the Flames to OT. Overall shots in regulation time were 26-25 for Calgary.

OT: 2 mins – 2 shots fired – Flames die

Just under 2 minutes into overtime Tavares gets the pass up off the bench, whirls around for a backhanded pass to #14, and the Calgary-born Islanders player, Thomas Hickey, deflects one in past Elliott for the OT game-winner.

On a more positive note: Monahan looks to have found some training wheel balance, with only 12:56 of ice time, he gets the lone Calgary Flames goal (with Versteegs’ massive assist of course). Something he needed after being slated on the 4th line between Ferland-Shinkaruk to start the game.

Ferland getting in the groove with 3 shots in 10:15 of ice time and some great hits throughout!

Jankowski got his chance to shine – and did he ever. Gulutzan sat him for the 5 previous games on the road trip, giving the big build 22-year old 10:18 of ice time, where he registered a 63 on FO% winning 5 of 8. Jankowski coming off of a 12-pt AHL leading points for the Stockton Heat.

Although the Flames dropped this one, they looked up-to-speed and less sluggish than one would think after playing back-to-back games. In Philly last night – travelling to Long Island for todays game.

Bad news last: The Ducks, Kings, and Sharks all recorded a point or more versus Islanders this past week, which doesn’t help the Flames out at all with their division standings.

The Flames next game is in Calgary on Wednesday, where they take on the Toronto Maples Leafs.

by Renu Sahota