Recap: Calgary Flames (3) vs Vancouver Canucks (5)

Calgary Flames 3 Vancouver Canucks 5

The Flames had a chance to win 4 in a row, but the guy in net for the Canucks had other plans. Jacob Markstrom stopped 30 of the 33 shots he faced and the Flames will have to try to get another winning streak going as they lost 5-3 to Vancouver.

1st Period: Calgary Flames 1 Vancouver Canucks 1

The Flames and Canucks exchanged shots like cannon volley over the first period and somehow each team managed only 1 goal apiece. Calgary looked to have taken an early 1-0 lead on a beautiful bit of hockey between Johnny Gaudreau, Micheal Ferland and Sean Monahan, but Mony’s goal was taken off the board because THAT much of Micheal Ferland was offside. Bad for the Flames, but a smart challenge by Vancouver. The Canucks would get 2 PP chances in the period and they would make the Flames pay once. At 15:38 of the period Sam Gagner would get the Canucks on the board and once again a Flames penalty would come back to haunt them. Calgary, not to be outshone, would get their own man up goal in the period.

Dougie Hamilton would get the Flames on the board with his 2nd of the season with a little help from Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk. Jacob Markstrom was the star of the period. He stopped shot after shot, a few being absolute thievery and he was the only reason this game wasn’t over after the first 20. While goaltending was the name of the game, Mark Jankowski and Jaromir Jagr really put on a show without putting the puck in the net. Jagr’s veteran poise lead to Jankowski getting some quality chances, but the pair came up empty.

Second Period: Calgary 3 Vancouver 3

As much as the first period showcased stellar goaltending, the second 20 was all about scoring. Calgary and Vancouver each scored twice, one on a PP, the other a shorty by Vancouver as the period was winding down.

Johnny Gaudreau would open the scoring in the period at 11:51 with a “the puck has eyes” type goal on the PP to put the Flames up 2-1, his 4th of the season. A scant 3 minutes later the Canucks would solve Mike Smith for the second time as Thomas Vanek would fire and absolute rocket past Mike Smith for his 5th of the season, tying it at 2.

It’s hard to fathom that this game was tied and Micheal Ferland did his best to change that. The Flames winger would put his hustle to good use getting a loose puck and beating Jacob Markstrom on a wrap around goal that the Canucks netminder surely would want back. Calgary would grab a BRIEF 3-2 lead before Derek Dorsett would score his team leading 7th goal of the season, a short handed effort, tying this game at 3-3 after 40. As much as the first period belonged to Markstrom and Jagr-Jankowski, the second showcased the Flames top line. Gaudreau scored with help from Sean Monahan and Ferland would get his 5th of the year. That top line really generated many chances in the period and made Jacob Markstrom play his best hockey.

3rd Period: Calgary 3 Vancouver Canucks 5

Vancouver put this game out of reach early on in the final period. The Canucks would get their first of the period after Michael Stone would take the Flames third penalty of the night for holding and Vancouver would capitilize. Bo Horvat would get his 6th of the season giving the Canucks a 4-3 lead that they would add to shortly after. Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin would take off on a 2 on 1 after Brett Kulak would get caught at the other end of the rink and the twins wouldn’t miss. Daniel fed Henrik with beautiful pass that would find the back of the net giving the Canucks a 2 goal lead that they would not relinquish. Calgary had plenty of opportunities in the period, but Jacob Markstrom would deny Johnny Gaudreau twice and Sean Monahan missed on his few chances and the Flames 3 game winning streak was over.

Final Thoughts

The Flames had a chance to put a little distance between themselves and the Canucks and didn’t. While the Flames offence really was clicking, Jacob Markstrom was the difference in this game. You could put ¹⁄₂ the other goalies in the league in that net tonight and Calgary probably has 7 goals. But you can’t and they didn’t. The Flames top line carried the team tonight and Jaromir Jagr and Mark Jankowski look like a natural pair. A few ill timed penalties and a bad start to the third ultimately did the Flames in.

Flame Of The Game

Johnny Gaudreau (F). Gaudreau had a goal and really moved the Flames offence. He fell victim to solid goaltending at the other end, as he could have had a career game if anyone else was in net. He finished second on the Flames tonight with 5 SOG.

by Mark Parkinson