That’s how the Calgary Flames celebrated their first game of 2022, taking a club record 26 shots on goal in a second period Sunday that put on display exactly how Darryl Sutter’s team wants — and needs — to play.
While some still mistake their game as being “defence-first,” the true calling card of this club is a tenacious forecheck that, when fully engaged, keeps the opposition on its heels in its own zone.
Mission accomplished Sunday, giving the Flames a 5-1 win in Chicago for their second straight victory since the team emerged from its shocking Covid break.
The ability to rest and recharge through a 19-day break in action due to Omicron should continue to serve the team well.
“I think the second period just showed how we can play when we’re playing good hockey and have a lot of shots and create a lot of chances,” said Elias Lindholm, whose power-play goal smack dab in the middle of the second-period onslaught of shots proved to be the winner after snapping a 1-1 tie. “It was obviously a fun period to be a part of and we want to see more of that.
“The first period was slow from our side and we talked about it in between periods, that we need to come out better and get our game in order and play the way we used to.”
All four lines, including Lindholm’s all-world top unit, have been hellbent on making life miserable for opponents in their end of the ice by completing checks, taking away time and space, and turning forced turnovers into scoring opportunities.
On this night the Flames created 30 scoring chances (to the Hawks’ 16) at 5-on-5, adding up to 42 shots on Arvid Soderblom, who did well to keep the score close until the final few minutes of his first NHL start.
“For sure, I think when a lot of guys are good on the forecheck, and when everyone is on the same page, that’s usually how it goes,” said Lindholm of a 26-shot period matched only by a Flames outing from 1986.
“Guys are hard on the forecheck and relentless and from there we have a lot of chances and create a lot.”
Of course, it helps when one of the NHL’s best playmakers is on top of his game, as Johnny Gaudreau set up two more goals before scoring one himself.
It says plenty about how the Flames have pieced together the highest winning percentage in the Pacific division when a star like Gaudreau has his second-straight three-point outing overshadowed by a full, team effort that saw all but two Flames record shots on goal.
“The only thing we know about our schedule is that we play in two days again, so you’re really trying to get everybody back to speed,” said Sutter, whose club is slated for three games in four nights starting Tuesday against a Murderer’s Row of road games against the Panthers, Lightning and Hurricanes.
“And it’s not easy, so you have to rely on everybody. Everybody reacted different to the virus, so you’ve got to manage your way through it as a team and play smart.”
Rewarded for their 12 shots on goal, all three members of the Flames’ top line scored, including Matthew Tkachuk who tied the game shortly after Alex DeBrincat opened the scoring in the first.
But this game was about a cast of characters including Dillon Dube, whose speed drew the penalty that led to Lindholm’s goal. Dube’s wheels also sprung him on a breakaway that forced Kirby Dach to haul him down, resulting in a penalty shot Dube was stopped on.
Mikael Backlund spearheaded the team’s perfect penalty kill, also adding a pair of breakaways he was unable to convert.
Jacob Markstrom made several timely stops as part of a 30-save effort, and Trevor Lewis scored a shorthanded goal that put the team up 3-1 in the second.
He also had a big blocked shot late in the game, moments before Oliver Kylington’s empty netter put the visitors up 4-1. Another patented Gaudreau top-shelfer over Soderblom’s glove punctuated the win.
“You could definitely feel the momentum change out there and it’s fun to play like that,” said Lewis of the second-period turnaround.
“We started moving our feet and getting in there and putting it behind their defencemen and that’s when we go on the forecheck. We turn a lot of pucks over when we get down there and we kind of feed off that.”
The Flames’ next stop is Sunrise, Fla, where the storyline won’t be dominated anymore by Sam Bennett’s first chance to play against his former team.
Bennett lost that opportunity when he was suspended three games for an illegal hit to the head of Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette Saturday.
It’s a shame, as Bennett’s rebirth in Florida is something Flames fans have been watching closely.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
