Brad Marchand scored on a breakaway 3:36 into overtime to push the Boston Bruins past the Calgary Flames 2-1 in overtime in Monday’s matinee matchup at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. Here are some takeaways from the game.
RITTICH REBOUNDS
After surrendering four goals on 15 shots and getting pulled 26 minutes into his first career home start on Saturday, when the Flames fell 6-3 to the Panthers, David Rittich rebounded with a really strong performance on Monday.
The Bruins dominated the opening period, but the 25-year-old rookie stopped 12 of their 13 shots to keep the Flames close.
Rittich stopped two Bruins breakaways in the game, making a fantastic pad save on David Pastrnak and a terrific trapper stop on Ryan Spooner before Brad Marchand found his five hole with a beautiful forehand-to-backhand move on a breakaway in overtime.
Rittich has filled in admirably for number one netminder Mike Smith, who has barely skated since suffering a lower body injury versus the Islanders last Sunday and doesn’t appear to be all that close to returning.
My guess is Rittich get the start in Wednesday’s game against the first place Golden Knights in Las Vegas before Jon Gillies gets his first start of the season versus the last place Coyotes in Glendale in Thursday.
ONE IS BETTER THAN NONE
After getting badly out-shot, out-chanced and out-played by the Bruins in the first period, the Flames found life against one of the NHL’s best teams in the final 40-plus minutes.
They went toe-to-toe with the Bruins in the second period, before out-shooting the Bruins 17-9 in the third period and overtime. They had plenty of opportunities to end the game in three-on-three OT.
While the Flames certainly could have picked up a pair of points, they probably got what they deserved on Monday, a single point against the best road team in the league. The win improves the Bruins to 17-6-4 outside of TD Garden this season.
The Flames moved into third place in the Pacific Division.
22
David Pastrnak’s 22nd goal of the season gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Matthew Tkachuk’s 22nd tally of 2017-2018 tied the game at one. Brad Marchand’s 22nd was the overtime winner.
As much as I enjoy watching Pastrnak play, I LOVE watching Tkachuk and Marchand compete. The feisty left wingers are two peas in a pod. While Tkachuk and Marchand occasionally cross the line (Marchand more often than Tkachuk), the ultra-competitive, super-skilled and incredibly-intelligent antagonists talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk. 30 NHL teams and their fan bases love to hate Tkachuk and Marchand. All of them wish they had them.
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500 FOR HAMONIC
Congratulations to Flames defenceman Travis Hamonic, who played in his 500th-career regular season NHL game on Monday.
Following seven seasons with the Islanders, Hamonic was traded to the Flames for a first-round pick and a pair of second-round picks on Jun. 24. While Hamonic and his partner, T.J. Brodie have had some ups and downs in their first season together, Hamonic has looked more comfortable and has become increasingly effective as the season has progressed.
As good as Hamonic is on the ice, it’s hard to find a better person off it. The winner of last season’s NHL Foundation Player Award, the St. Malo, MB native is behind two impactful community programs.
The Northern Project is an initiative that gives Indigenous children from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon an opportunity to visit Calgary and attend a Flames game on an all-expenses paid trip courtesy of Hamonic and his wife, Stephanie.
Through the D-Partner Program, the couple host children who have lost a parent at a young age, providing the children and their guests with a VIP experience including lower-bowl seats and an opportunity to meet the Flames’ defenceman following the game.
Travis’s mom, Lisa, was in attendance at Scotiabank Saddledome for her son’s 500th game on Monday, and will travel with the team to Las Vegas and Glendale as part of the Flames’ first-ever Mom’s Trip this week.
Unfortunately, Hamonic tragically lost his dad to a fatal heart attack at the age of 10. I think it’s safe to say that with all that Travis has accomplished both on and off the ice, Gerald would be really, really proud of his son.
ON THE ROAD… AGAIN!
After returning from a six-game, 11-day road trip on Friday morning and unpacking long enough to do laundry and play two home games, the Flames will hit the road again on Tuesday, when they’ll fly from Calgary to Las Vegas for their first-ever game at T-Mobile Arena versus the first-overall Golden Knights on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Flames, who have the second-most away wins and the second-best road points percentage in the league this season, will take to the ice at Gila River Arena in Glendale, where they’ll face the last-overall Coyotes.
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