Jets Outplay Flames in Penticton Finale

It was the final game for both teams in the Young Stars Classic as Winnipeg went for their first win (0-2) while Calgary looked to finish the tournament 2-1. Calgary started Mason McDonald while Winnipeg countered with Mikhail Berdin.

Calgary was without Andrew Mangiapane and Mark Jankowski as they sat them to get them ready for regular training camp.

1st Period

After a hesitant start to the game the Jets would get a powerplay but would be expertly killed by the Flames including a big hit from Josh Healey.

The Flames would take a 1-0 lead with Dillion Dube walking through the left circle and beating Berdin with a quick snap shot. Spencer Foo and Rasmus Andersson would get assists on the goal.

Calgary would be unsuccessful on a powerplay of their own late in the first. The opening period ends with Calgary ahead 1-0, and shots were 9-4 in favour of Winnipeg.

1st Period Thoughts

• The line of Dube-Gawdin-Foo was the best line for the Flames all period and was rewarded with a goal
• McDonald looked okay stopping all shots he faced but the Jets didn’t get a lot of high quality chances
• The rest of the period was somewhat slow, I guess you get that with a morning game
• Dillon Dube is really good

2nd Period

Winnipeg would get the game tied up early in the first period with a shot from the point hitting McDonald and bouncing over him. Cristiano DiGiacinto would then bat the puck out of mid-air past McDonald.

The Jets would make it 2-1 with Jansen Harkins dodging a hit and then having the puck hit off a Flames defender and past McDonald.

The second period would end with the Jets up 2-1 and way up in shots 22-6.

2nd Period Thoughts

• Winnipeg absolutely dominated the Flames in the period as Calgary got their only shots late in the period
• Mason McDonald didn’t look good this period, having poor rebound goal and being beaten by a couple weak shots
• Again Dillion Dube and Spencer Foo were the only forwards that got anything going
• Juuso Valimaki and Rasmus Andersson looked alright too

3rd Period

Winnipeg would make it 3-1 after McDonald lost track of a shot that was sitting just behind as Jansen Harkins got his second goal of the game.

Mason McDonald would then take a delay of game penalty immediately after but the team would bail him out.

Calgary would start to push with a few chances but it would be more of the Jets pushing the Flames around with the exception of Josh Healey creaming a few guys.

Winnipeg would hit the empty net with 1:21 to go and make it 4-1 which would be the final score as the Jets thoroughly beat the Flames.

Game Thoughts

• This game affirmed a lot of what I already felt about Mason McDonald in that he’s decent at making the first save but struggles to track the puck and control rebounds
• Zach Fischer continued to make an impact and would love to see him at main camp
• Spencer Foo did alright but looked to miss playing with Mangiapane and Jankowski
• Dillon Dube was unquestionably the best Flame and had a solid tournament overall
• Josh Healey continues to make an impact with his physical play

That’s it for the Penticton Young Stars Classic as the Flames finish 1-2 and will get into real training camp this week. The NHL preseason starts next Monday when the Flames and Oilers meet for a pair of split-squad games. I cant wait!