During the first intermission of yet another goaltending clinic by one of his Flames netminders, Don Maloney was reflecting on how the one area the team had to “take a chance on” was in goal.
Hardly seems like a gamble anymore, as the Dan Vladar/Dustin Wolf duo has been the team’s biggest strength to date.
The script was no different Tuesday in Vancouver, where a tired Flames club playing for the second-consecutive evening leaned heavily on Vladar.
If not for a two-minute lapse early in the second period in which the Canucks scored twice, his heroics may have been enough for another point or two.
Alas, 29 saves – many of the spectacular variety – were not enough for a Flames club that could only muster up a game-opening Justin Kirkland goal in a 3-1 loss.
“I thought he was very good and you can say that about both of our goalies this year,” said Flames coach Ryan Huska.
“They’ve both been really good for us.
“I felt like after the second period, and talking to the guys, we managed to hang around a little bit and a lot of that was our goaltender.”
Despite leading the league with eight game-tying goals in the third period, the Flames couldn’t solve Kevin Lankinen despite outshooting the hosts 12-6 in the third.
For the second game in a row, the Flames’ start was good, but they simply ran out of gas, and offence, to fall to 8-6-3.
Tough night for Huberdeau
Just a couple minutes into a second period dominated early by the Canucks, Jonathan Huberdeau tried to make an extra move just inside his own blue line in an effort to clear the zone.
It didn’t work, allowing the Canucks to continue a long shift against an exhausted Flames bunch that eventually saw Pius Suter score to put the hosts up 2-1.
“I thought the work ethic was there from our guys but some of the decision-making wasn’t the greatest and I think that’s what got us into trouble in certain times,” said Huska, referring to turnovers that led to the Canucks’ last two goals.
“We’re coming off a stretch where we’ve played a lot, and in those situations that’s where the team has got to learn to simplify at times and don’t put yourself in a bad position with some of the puck play.”
Later in the period, Huberdeau hit the post on a shot from the high slot.
Although he’s had a good start with six goals and ten points in 17 outings, his search for his 500th NHL assist continues. He’s at 499.
Matt Coronato’s four-game point streak came to an end, but not without a few good chances.
The 21-year-old winger, who had three goals and a pair of assists in his last four games, spent almost two minutes on the team’s top power-play unit, which went scoreless in two attempts.
Coronato had three shots on goal in 18 minutes of ice time alongside Blake Coleman and Mikael Backlund.
Despite a recent demotion to the AHL, his five goals are the second-most goals in the league by a player 21 or younger, behind only Dylan Guenther (7).
He’s tied with Leo Carlsson and one ahead of Matvei Michkov and Jackson Blake.
Coronato turns 22 on Thursday.
Asked about one of the keys to Coronato’s surging confidence and success, Huska pointed to his veteran linemates.
“You look at (Connor) Zary at the beginning of the year, I thought he was our best player the first nine games,” said Huska.
“A lot of it has to do with knowing that those two guys will always cover you off.
“When you’re out there with them it’s pretty easy to be brought along.”
Huberdeau-Pospisil-Kuzmenko
Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
