• In awe of McDavid
• Cellar-dwelling goalie sounds off
• Could we get a Battle of Alberta playoff series?
It was a huge Flames win at Ottawa in their final game before the all-star break, where Calgary stopped the bleeding with a 3-2 overtime win.
They scored first, snapping a nine-game streak in which the Flames had allowed the game-opening goal. Then Calgary scored last, snapping a four-game losing streak in which they were outscored 20-7.
Said head coach Glen Gulutzan after the last loss, a 5-1 drubbing at Montreal, “We were pathetic. It was a pathetic display. No bite back, no kick back… Accept it. Top guys didn’t do anything. We need somebody to step up.” [sidebar]
The Flames’ team toughness is under the microscope in Calgary, and with Gaudreau finally snapping an 11-game goal scoring drought in Ottawa, his leadership is also being talked about on sports radio.
Frankly, nothing will be right in Calgary until Flames GM Brad Treliving — who is in the final year of his deal — fixes his goaltending. Neither Brian Elliott nor Chad Johnson have given the Flames consistent No. 1 netminding this season.
Photo Opp
When the big stars complain about the notoriety they receive playing in a Canadian market, it can come off as kind of whiny for what they’re getting paid. But big New Jersey Devil Luke Gazdic, who roomed with Taylor Hall and Connor McDavid when the three were Oilers last season, got a close-up look at things when he was hanging with the Oilers’ two most recognizable superstars, before he and Hall ended up in New Jersey.
What’s the biggest difference between Newark and The Big E?
“Going to get your coffee the morning after a game, and the barista not asking you what happened on the third goal,” he said. “Or someone asking, ‘What’s wrong with your defence corps?’ And you’re like, ‘Can I just have my Americano, please?’
“It’s not just having hockey on the front of the sports page. It’s having it on the front of the actual newspaper — Oilers all the time,” he said of Edmonton, or any Canadian city for that matter. “Taylor, he’s been recognized maybe two, three times all year (in Newark or New York), at dinner or at a mall. Compared to going to West Edmonton Mall, where it’s just an autograph signing, a photo opp.”
Can McDavid go out at all?
“No, but he’s so good with it. He didn’t mind it at all. But it wears on you. You just want to go out after a game and be a normal, young adult. It’s tough — especially when you’re losing. Fans, they have opinions.”
It’s the same for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in Toronto, Sean Monahan in Calgary, Bo Horvat in Vancouver… Part of the gig.
Mc-Tattoo
Speaking of McDavid, Jordan Martinook, the Arizona Coyotes winger who grew up in the Edmonton suburb of Leduc, was talking about how a few of his friends have McDavid’s No. 97 tattooed on their body.
“One’s got it on his shoulder. The other has it on his pec (pectoral muscle). One got a ‘Tramp Stamp’ actually,” chuckled Martinook. “I think my guy friends are more attracted to him than the chicks are.”
How many of his loyal pals have Martinook’s number indelibly etched into their skin? “None of them have 48,” he laughed. “Disappointing.”
Av Nots
The Colorado Avalanche have just 28 points and a minus-63 goals differential at the all-star break, both dead last in a 30-team league. And they’re all-in on the Nolan Patrick sweepstakes, with goalie Semyon Varlamov’s hip surgery officially putting an end to his season.
The goal of the operation was to alleviate chronic groin issues that have cost Varlamov games over the past couple of seasons. As general manager Joe Sakic told the Denver media, Varlamov “has been dealing with groin and hip issues for some time now. After further evaluation from our team doctors, it was determined that the best road to recovery was surgery. Doing this procedure at this time ensures that Semyon will be fully healthy for the start of training camp.”
Varlamov was a Vezina finalist in 2013-14. Today he’s an expensive injury issue, with two years left on his deal with an AAV of (gulp) $5.9 million.
Meanwhile, the goalie for the other Western Conference cellar dweller, Mike Smith, went off again last week. This is Smith’s sixth season in Arizona and he hasn’t played a playoff game since Year 1.
“It’s a privilege to play in this league and put the Coyotes sweater on,” he said after a recent loss, where his club looked disinterested and uncompetitive. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but we’ve got too many guys who aren’t doing enough to push this thing along.
“Sooner or later, this organization’s got to move forward and not continue to have games like this.”
Long Lost Battle
If the Oilers and Flames both make the playoffs, it will be the first season since 2005-06 — the last time Edmonton qualified — that both Alberta teams made the post-season together.
That spring, after Edmonton had defeated Detroit in Round 1, all that was required was for Calgary to knock off Anaheim to have a Battle of Alberta in Round 2. The Flames blew a 3-2 series lead to the Ducks, and Edmonton got San Jose instead on their way to losing the Cup final in seven games.
This year, with Calgary 11 points behind Edmonton at the all-star break, we’re ready to say the Flames are playing for a wildcard spot. That would require the Oilers to win the Pacific, and Calgary to grab the first wildcard spot to facilitate a first round meeting.
“Both Alberta teams are better,” said New Jersey Devil Mike Cammalleri, a former Flame for two stints, in 2008-09 and again from ’11-14. “Edmonton, you see a difference in the personality of their team. You never really get awed by another player, and you try to not show (an opponent) too much respect, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say, there IS an awe with Connor. You hear, ‘Did you just see what happened?’ I have never seen that. With Sid at times, but…”
The Devils enjoyed their best trip of the season through the West, but overall were outplayed in both meetings with Edmonton this season.
“You start going through their lineup, they’re a good hockey team now,” he said. “Just a good hockey team.”
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