A day after: The Flames played one of the teams I figure to contend for the cup. That team has a former Richard and Hart winner and double gold medallist, a top ten centre in the league and a very good all around team. The Ducks' goalie played very very well.
The Flames hung around all night despite less than stellar goaltending. They pushed hard at the end and could easily have tied it. You can't win them all and they tried.
I thought Gio had a good game. Monahan and Brodie had overall good games although a few struggling shifts against the Getzlaf line. Byron played well. Gaudreau played very well except for the awful giveaway. Granlund was good. Sven had a positive game, Wideman was OK, Bouma played OK for being out of place. Didn't notice Jooris much, good or bad. Hudler was pretty good all night. Glencross was average. Smid was OK. Engelland wasn't good. Bollig struggled in his own end but I thought he and Knight were OK overall. Hiller wasn't good. Russell had an off night - the goal was a fluke, but maybe he could have done something different than stick his blade out. Arguably Hiller should be ready for something like that and butterfly as well.
But again, playing the best and pushing to the end? Year 2 of the RB? Pretty damned good.
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