Flames come back twice to beat Canucks, move on to face Ducks
Just as everyone predicted, Karri Ramo was the change the Calgary Flames needed to push them over the edge and into the second round.
Wait. What?
Just 7:32 into the game, Bob Hartley made a decision. A decision that could have very easily blown up in his face. He decided to pull starter Jonas Hiller after 2 goals against, and replace him with backup Karri Ramo. The only playoff action Ramo had seen as of late was for five minutes of garbage time of Game 2 when the game was out of hand.
About two minutes after entering the game, Ramo gave up a power play goal to Radim Vrbata, extending the Canucks lead to 3-0.
From the beginning to the series to now, Calgary rookie Michael Ferland had gone from virtual unknown to that guy in the office who talks too loud on his phone (i.e. annoying) to the Canucks. So much so, the always cordial Kevin Bieksa made a comment about him after Game 2:
“That Ferkland, or whatever his name is,” Bieksa said, “was running around trying to get something going. It’s not the first time we’ve seen that in playoffs. We’ve played against Ben Eager and some other dumb-dumbs like that before. We know how to handle that.”
And handle him they did. That is, until Saturday night.
Kept off the score sheet since Game 1, Ferland started the scoring for Calgary with his first playoff goal towards the end of the period.
Energized by the Ferland goal, or the crowd, or possibly an intermission untied-tie lashing by team president Brian Burke, Calgary’s top line of Sean Monahan, Jiri Hudler, and Johnny Gaudreau took over offensive responsibilities in the second.
It started with a goal just 1:02 into the period. Dennis Wideman sent a slapshot on net that bounced off Ryan Miller. Hudler corralled the rebound and tried a wrist shot. No go. Both incredible saves by Miller, until Sean Monahan grabbed the puck on his backhand and scored. Calgary now down 3-2.
The Flames game plan for scoring on Ryan Miller has been the same since he entered the series. Get him moving from side-to-side, put as much pressure on that iffy knee as possible. Following a similar pattern to the Monahan, boy-wonder Johnny Gaudreau received a quick shot-pass from linemate Hudler on the far post and tipped it in past Miller. Game tied 3-3.
The tie would be short lived. Midway through the period, much maligned Vancouver defenseman Luca Sbisa scored his first playoff goal, putting the Canucks back up by one. The score would stay 4-3 Canucks through the end of the second.
All season, the third period had been where the Flames had earned their money. In the regular season, Calgary tied with Tampa Bay for the most third period goals at 99. They were third in the league with 10 wins when trailing after two periods.
Calgary emerged from the locker room with that third period magic at full power. And once again, it was the top line of Hudler, Gaudreau, and Monahan who took over.
Vancouver forward Brandon MacMillan was whistled for a goaltending interference penalty at 14:35. He and the Canucks faithful were not happy about it, and they might have a point.
Judge for yourself. From Steph:
Less than a minute after the power play started. Gaudreau, Monahan, and Hudler strike on a tic-tac-toe power play goal. Flames and Canucks tied, for a second time in the game.
The play was back and forth for a majority of the period. Both Miller and Ramo played one helluva game. Ultimately it would be upstart Flames who would emerge victorious.
With 4:17 to go in the third, Matt Stajan nabbed his first playoff goal, and it was a HUGE one. (That’s what she said.) Initially, Miller makes two incredible saves, but he couldn’t get to Stajan’s wrist shot out in front. Stajan waited just long enough to have a clear lane to Miller’s glove side.
For the first time in the entire game, the Flames were leading the game.
Up 5-4, Calgary did not stop pressuring. As desperation time set in, Willie Desjardins pulled Miller for the extra attacker. The Flames went on to score two empty net goals. Hudler hit the first for his second goal of the game, and fourth point of the night. Ferland netted the next for his second goal.
Flames win 7-4.
For their troubles, they’re GOING TO DISNEYLAND! Maybe not literally, but they’ll be down the street from it at Honda Center as they take on the Ducks. Anaheim has been resting defeating the Jets this past Wednesday.
Should be an interesting series. Brian Burke and Jonas Hiller versus their old club. Has to mean a little more to Hiller given the way his former coach handled the goaltending situation in last season’s playoffs. We’ll have more on the series as it draws near.
Until then, enjoy the Ryan Miller vs. Eddie Lack ‘what-if’ scenarios bound to come about in Vancouver.
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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.
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