|
 Rookie left winger Johnny Gaudreau and right-wing linemate Jiri
Hudler scored first-period power-play goals as the Flames beat the
Vancouver Canucks 3-1 in Game 4 of their Western Conference playoff
series.
Center Sam Bennett had the other goal for the Flames, who lead the
series 3-1 and can clinch their first playoff series victory since
beating the Canucks 11 years ago with a win Thursday night in
Vancouver.
The opening goal was Gaudreau's first in the playoffs, and it was
much different than his first in the NHL, which came a year ago in
his debut, also against the Canucks but in a 5-1 loss.
Gaudreau's finish on a nice setup from Hudler and defenseman Dennis
Wideman set the tone for a wild first period in which both teams
converted the first three man-advantage opportunities. The Flames
emerged from the frame with a 3-1 lead and never looked back.
"I was waiting for it the first two or three games. I had a few
chances but couldn't bury. It was nice to get that first one,"
Gaudreau said, adding that the 'C' of Red in the Scotiabank
Saddledome played a role in the two wins at home.
"That's why we're playing so well with early leads. We're just so
excited to play in front of the fans. It's exciting to be part of
this."
Center Henrik Sedin replied for the Canucks, his first goal of the
series, while goalie Ryan Miller made his playoff debut for
Vancouver, replacing Eddie Lack after a shaky first period when he
allowed three goals on seven shots.
Miller, who played just one game since Feb. 22 due to a lower-body
injury, kept the Flames off the score sheet to give his team a
chance at a comeback. He made a great save on a Flames rush when
Hudler set up a tip for center Sean Monahan midway through the third
period.
A few minutes later, Miller robbed Flames center Matt Stajan twice
from point-blank range in the slot. The Canucks now have a big
decision to make on their starting goalie for a win-or-go-home Game
5 on Thursday, and head coach Willie Desjardins didn't announce his
intention after the game.
"It just wasn't my night," Lack said. "The first two went in, two
goals on four shots. Then you start over-challenging. You want it so
much, but goaltending doesn't work that way.
"Take today, be mad, be a little bit pissed off, then come back to
work tomorrow and prepare for Game 5."
Miller didn't show any rust off the bench, but that doesn't mean he
expects to get the nod in Game 5 with the season on the line.
"I was just trying to settle into the intensity of the game," Miller
said. "It's been a work in progress. It's something I was working at
improving in case they needed me. I wanted to be sharp. I have no
expectation with how my season was paused. We will see what the
coach has in mind. Eddie has played really strong hockey and he had
a back-door and two deflections tonight. He's been battling hard
through this."
At the other end, Hiller made 28 saves for the win, including a
couple of great ones in the final minute when the Sedin line was
pressing. Hiller wasn't tested too much, but he was there when
needed, and the goal he allowed couldn't be considered his fault as
it deflected off defenseman Kris Russell, who was attempting a
sliding block.
The Flames certainly don't have any goalie controversy heading into
Game 5, but they aren't expecting the Canucks to hand them the
series.
"We've got to be confident but not get too confident," Hudler said.
"They've got a great team and you saw that they kept coming and they
had some chances, but Hiller made some great saves."
[to top of second column] |
The Flames made the Canucks pay for an undisciplined start. After
Canucks left winger Ronald Kenins took a boarding penalty on
Bennett, the Flames' top power-play unit struck.
Hudler dug the puck out from behind the Canucks net, chipped it to
Wideman at the side of the crease, and he found Gaudreau on the
other side for a wide-open look to open the scoring at 3:23.
Just as in Game 3 on Sunday, the early Flames lead didn't last long.
Flames defenseman David Schlemko took a slashing penalty on Canucks
center Brandon McMillan, and on the subsequent power play, Sedin
scored on a shot from the hashmarks that Flames defenseman Kris
Russell deflected past Hiller at 8:12 as he went down for the block
attempt.
The Flames stormed right back, once again on the power play. Wideman
was set up for a blistering one-timer at the hashmarks that Hudler
deflected up over Lack. That goal came at 9:20 with Vancouver center
Nick Bonino in the box for roughing up defenseman T.J. Brodie.
Brodie would have some revenge as he ripped a shot past Lack from
the right wing to give the Flames a 3-1 lead at 19:18 of the first.
"It's nice to start off with the lead rather than down," Gaudreau
said. "I know we went down a few times this season, so it's good to
get out to the early lead and play the rest of the game with it.
"It's far from over. They're going to be fighting for their lives
because they don't want their season to be over. We're going back to
Vancouver and the next game's gonna be huge."
NOTES: During the morning skate, Canucks RW Alex Burrows suffered
what is believed to be a broken rib. He was taken from the
Saddledome in an ambulance, but the Canucks said he has been
released from hospital but will stay in Calgary overnight. With
Burrows sidelined, the Canucks inserted LW Brandon McMillan in his
place. ... The Canucks called up former Flames F Sven Baertschi on
Tuesday and he took the warmup but didn't dress. The Flames sent
Baertschi to the Canucks for a second-round draft pick on March 2.
The 22-year-old played three games for the Canucks down the stretch,
scoring three goals. In 66 career games with the Flames over four
seasons, he scored eight goals, but he never lived up to the hype
after notching three goals in a five-game debut in the 2011-12
season. ... The Canucks also scratched RW Brad Richardson with an
undisclosed ailment, meaning RW Linden Vey made his playoff debut.
Vey played 75 games with the Canucks this season, scoring 10 goals
and adding 14 assists. ... With their American Hockey League team
done for the season, the Flames recalled 11 players from Adirondack
to join the team.
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