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Game 1 shutout for Mike Smith: Calgary Flames (4) vs. Colorado Avalanche (0)

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1st period

Mike Smith gets the goaltending nod for the Calgary Flames. Philip Grubauer starts for the Colorado Avalanche.

Matthew Tkachuk and Erik Johnson aquaint themselves to start off round 1 playoffs series. Avs first to go on the PK, with Johnson taking a slashing penalty 7 minutes in. Flames 0/1 on PP.

The Flames successful in their first penalty kill – Mikael Backlund going off for cross-checking. Zero shots on net for the Avs. Travis Hamonic with a huge block on Nathan MacKinnon who shot a pass from Tyson Barrie. Barrie coming back after having to replace his stick on a shot attempt on the same PP shift. The Avs finding themselves offsides to start the power play, 0/1 on PP with Brassard shooting wide getting a piece of the post.

I don’t know how i feel about Smiths puck handling skills – Flames fans hold their breathe every time he gives up that puck on a pass.

The Avs going 0/2 on the PP, again having trouble staying onside early in the PP. Noah Hanafin comes out of the Flames penalty box clean.

The score remains 0-0 in the first period.

Shots 7 for Avs, 6 for Flames. PIM 2 for Avs, 4 for Flames.

The 1st ends with a 2-on-1 rush – Matthew Tkachuk with Micheal Frolik. Avs Patrik Nemeth making a stealth defensive move and obstructing #19s shot with the shaft of his stick with under a minute left in the period.

2nd period

Tyson Barrie gets first shot away of the 2nd. TJ Brodie takes a hooking call soon after, and the Avs go on their 3rd power play of the game. Elias Lindholm making a key face/off win, as Mark Giordano clears the puck. Excitement peaks as Smith makes a game saving flash of the glove not once but TWICE in the last 35 seconds to kill off a Flames penalty. Smith is in the ZONE – early in the 2nd period.

Smith confident as ever, still a scoreless game, plays the puck behind the net and around the boards. Johnny Gaudreau off to the horses with a neutral zone steal – Monahan alongside him – Samuel Girard intercepting for the Avs.

Hamonic making one of the best defensive moves of the night with a poke check on a chance by Carl Soderberg.

Andrew Mangiapane getting a chance with an offensive rush from the 4th line.

Shots are 14 for Avs, 10 for Flames at the halfway mark of the scoreless game.

Delayed penalty on the Colorado Avalanche – Carl Soderberg with the trip on Johnny. Grubauer holding fort for the Avs – making huge saves, first on James Neal on his left side, then stretching to his right shutting out Sam Bennett’s scoring attempt.

MANGIAPANE wheels around for a backhand shot, with a knee down, SCORES FOR THE CALGARY FLAMES! Breaks the ice with 5 minutes left to play in the 2nd period.

Hathaway first to hug Mangiapane – hits the crossbar on his next shift, draws a penalty. TKACHUK getting a piece of Giorando’s point shot, deflects it in net for a Flames PP goal, such great eye hand coordination by #19.

It’s a 2-0 game for the Calgary Flames at the end of the 2nd period.

Shots in the second period were 8 for the Avs, 13 for the Flames. PIM 4 for Avs, 2 for Flames.

3rd Period

Smith solid with an early 3rd period save on Mikko Rantanen – Flames fans chanting “Smitty Smitty” for the second time in the game. Flames goaltender making yet another huge save on the Flames PK.

The score in game 1 is 2-0 Calgary Flames with the lead, 12 minutes left to play, thanks to Smitty and his confidence. He plays the puck behind the net in the 3rd period as well.

Grubauer and Smith dueling it out as play goes from end-to-end. Smith winning the goalie showdown, turning aside a total of 9 shots from the Avs number one line – 5 of which were from MacKinnon.

Calgary Flames depth able to put on a show, the puck trickling in for the Flames 3rd goal, coming from 3M Backlund. Followed by an empty netter for Flames, making it Tkachuk’s second goal of game 1 with an ASSIST FROM MIKE SMITH! Who is this guy between the Flames pipes!

4-on-4 to end the game. Hamonic and Calvert off for roughing.

Shots were 11 for the Avs, and 13 for the Flames in the 3rd. PIM 6 for Avs, 4 for Flames.

Honorable Mentions:

Mike Smith 1st Star – 26 save shutout! You better believe Bill Peters is riding his hot horse – Smitty until he loses.

Travis Hamonic was on guard, and gets team props – from blocking shots, to racing to poke check pucks, and taking away space from Avs forwards – Smith had no doubt in his front line.

Face/off wins were key in the game and the Flames dominated with 65% success in the F/O circle.

Up Next:

Game 2 is at the Saddledome on Saturday, April 13th at 8:30pm MT.

by Renu Sahota