[News Roundup] Playoff clinching edition

[sureLoss]

Celebration time for Gaudreau:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/04/10...-angeles-kings

The last time there was this much excitement and anticipation for a game at the Saddledome, the Stanley Cup was on the line.

Literally polished and poised, the mug sat waiting in the bowels of the rink while the Flames and Tampa Bay Lightning did battle in Game 6 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.

That night ended poorly, thanks to a Martin St. Louis overtime goal and a video replay system many still believe simply failed the Flames after Martin Gelinas’ late-game redirection came achingly close to crossing the goal line.

And while nothing could possibly make up for the loss of that game or the series two nights later, last night’s eerily similar nailbiter finished positively as the Flames clinched their first playoff spot in six years.

And this time, the video review got it right.

In the midst of a brilliant first-period onslaught from a young Flames team that showed no signs of wavering under the pressure, Johnny Gaudreau’s shot from the crease trickled past L.A. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and across the goal-line. However, officials blew the whistle and did not signal for a goal, opting to head straight to video review where one definitive angle showed Quick falling on the puck after it clearly crossed the paint.

Cue the first of a dozen standing ovations that brought the Flames back to the playoffs and brought this town right back to 2004.

“Huds saw it go in right away and started cheering so I started cheering, too,” said Gaudreau, who had to wait the bulk of two painful minutes to learn his club was up 1-0.

“At first, I thought it was in but they took a while (reviewing it) and I started getting nervous. But ultimately it went in and I was pretty excited about it.

Kings Head Coach to cheer for Flames
http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/04/10...y-cup-playoffs

Darryl Sutter stood in the bowels of the Saddledome waiting for Bob Hartley.

Minutes earlier, his Los Angeles Kings had been eliminated from playoff contention by his former employer, but the Alberta-born bench boss gave the Calgary Flames head coach a handshake and a “congratulations.”

After the 3-1 loss Thursday night, Sutter is a Flames' fan now.

“We played hard,” Sutter said. “I've got no complaints about anything to do with our team. Give the Calgary Flames lots of credit. Now, I get to pull for them.”

Really?

“Absolutely,” Sutter shot back. “Of course. I've said that all along.”

Hiller proves a point
http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/04/10...-angeles-kings

Calgary Flames netminder Jonas Hiller had just put the finishing touches on a first-star performance and was retreating to a jubilant locker-room when he was stopped in his tracks.



Flames GM Brad Treliving was waiting to deliver a bear-hug.

“I think I’ve proven him right that he brought me here,” Hiller said with a grin. “He was happy about that.”

The Flames deserve full marks for Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings at the Saddledome, and Hiller ensured they were rewarded for a gritty effort.

With the defending Stanley Cup champs on the brink of elimination, the 33-year-old puck-stopper from Switzerland made 33 saves, including a baker’s dozen in the final stanza. Kings forward Jordan Nolan was the only guy to beat him as the Flames clinched a playoff spot of their own and officially squashed the L.A. club’s hopes of a repeat.

“Jonas Hiller gave us quite a game. What a great clutch performance,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “Not that we gave many, many chances, but the ones that we gave, he needed to come up and … Wow. A great win!”

Healthy Ortio solidifies Flames' depth in net
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...s-depth-in-net

Even from the bench on Thursday night, Joni Ortio was absorbing valuable National Hockey League experience.

After receiving positive reports from the Calgary Flames medical staff for the last 10 days on his recovery from a high ankle sprain, the 23-year-old netminder was deemed good to go as a back-up to netminder Jonas Hiller against the Los Angeles Kings.

“It’s awesome,” Ortio had said after Thursday’s morning skate, prior to the game. “The atmosphere and the feel in the room, is amazing. We’ve got a chance to do something big here … I’ve gotta be ready at anytime if I’m needed.”

Earlier in the day — before the biggest meeting in the team’s season to date — the Flames had dispatched Brad Thiessen back to the Adirondack Flames after a brief NHL stint when Karri Ramo suffered a lower body injury on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.

And, at the time, the goalies in the pipe looked like this:

* Ortio, who is arguably their most NHL-ready prospect.

* Doug Carr, based in Adirondack, is on an AHL-only deal.

* Jacob De Serres, the former U of C Dino, who was signed by Adirondack to an amateur tryout agreement earlier this week.

* Mason McDonald, unsigned and a member of the QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders, is out because of knee issues. A second-round pick at the 2014 draft — and the first goalie taken — he is being checked out by Flames doctors.

* Jon Gillies, on behalf of the Providence College Friars, is playing in the NCAA Frozen Four. At the conclusion of his junior year, he’s sure to be offered a contract by the Flames.

So, it was positive information when Ortio — who’d been skating with the Flames for the last couple days — was given the green light.

“If there’s one thing that has to know the value of having two good goalies, it’s us,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “Look at the season Rammer and Hills have given us. When we got injuries, look at how Joni Ortio came in and played for us. The fact Joni has been cleared for us (Thursday morning) is good news.”

Party in Cowtown
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...h-playoff-spot

“It was crazy,” said Flames’ coach Bob Hartley, following the 3-1 playoff-cementing victory. “Guys were jumping. Sticks were flying everywhere. We could almost feel fans going through the glass … It’s a great feeling. To pull through in front of our fans was a classy way to do it

“The most important thing about was we did it in front of our fans. That was unbelievable. What a welcome from our fans. Throughout the game, we felt their support.

“Everyone that was coming in the rink this afternoon before the game was commenting that they were on MacLeod or downtown and there were busses that had ‘Go Flames Go.’ Plenty of flags and jerseys. Hey, there’s a fever out there.”

[soreshins]

I'm on holiday in thailand right now. Having a great time but dammit I wish I was back in Calgary for these games!!! Love this team.

[Puppet Guy]

Flames and Jets clinch playoff spots on the same day. This is appropriate:

[Property Manager DB]

I wish the reporter would have asked Johnny what it felt like to be chanted by >20K.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Sutter is a beauty. He may have had a few stumbles as our GM, but as a coach and a hockey guy, he is the best.