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Rasmus Andersson on Jacob Markstrom’s very good puck-stopping efficiency in opposition to the Blackhawks: ‘With out Marky, we in all probability would have misplaced this recreation.’
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You shouldn’t want your goaltender to steal two factors in opposition to a last-place opponent that hasn’t received a street recreation in two-and-a-half months.
However, hey, it beats the choice.
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If not for Jacob Markstrom, you can be studying proper now a couple of fifth consecutive loss for the Calgary Flames as they hit their all-star break/bye.
As an alternative, the stalwart netminder singlehandedly snapped the Flames out of their skid, pitching a 32-save shutout Saturday in a 1-0 slump-buster in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks.
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“I believed there have been six or seven guys that got here to play, and that’s not sufficient on a standard night time,” mentioned Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “Our goaltender, fortunately, was certainly one of them. I believed he was superb.”
“With out Marky, we in all probability would have misplaced this recreation,” echoed defenceman Rasmus Andersson. “He was excellent, however we shouldn’t be too pleased with this recreation both manner. We didn’t play our greatest. It was a tough one, for positive. It’s factor that Marky and some different guys have been dialled in, as a result of quite a lot of us weren’t.”
After blanking the Blackhawks, the Flames break up for his or her seaside holidays. For the gamers, this subsequent week is all about relaxation and leisure.
This pointless nail-biter received’t quiet the speak round Calgary about one other kind of R n’ R — a rebuild and/or retool. The Flames didn’t appear to be playoff contenders as they sputtered to a 2-4 mark on a six-game homestand.
The Blackhawks, who’re nonetheless with out rising-star Connor Bedard as a consequence of a damaged jaw and have now misplaced 20 in a row in street rinks, have been credited with extra pictures and extra high-danger scoring probabilities throughout Saturday’s showdown on the Saddledome.
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There was some debate within the press-box about what number of breakaways Markstrom had confronted. This reporter counted 4 or 5.
These all-alone probabilities have been a recurring theme throughout the Flames’ four-game skid, too.
“Clearly, they’ve some quick guys and acquired some bounces,” Markstrom shrugged throughout a post-game interview. “The last few video games, I haven’t been capable of cease them, so it was for positive just a little irritating to not assist the crew out. And right this moment, I used to be capable of, in order that was good. However the guys performed good.”
Not likely.
Definitely not a lot of them.
“You have a look at our final variety of video games, and we’ve gotten leaky,” mentioned Huska, whose squad is now sitting at 22-22-5. “I believe there’s just a little psychological fatigue. So this break is coming on the proper time for our crew.
“However they discovered a strategy to win when issues haven’t been going our route during the last whereas. There are conditions the place you want your leaders to be your greatest gamers. I discussed these seven guys. Effectively, quite a lot of them make up our management group.”
Huska additionally praised defence companions Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, who mixed to play 51 minutes in opposition to the Blackhawks, and complimented Mikael Backlund and his sometimes reliable linemates Blake Coleman and Andrew Mangiapane.
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There was little doubt, nevertheless, who was deserving of the loudest shout-out — the person who had simply notched his twentieth profession shutout.
“Marky stole the 2 factors for us,” mentioned Elias Lindholm, who capitalized on a second-period power-play, snapping out of a 15-game objective drought in his ultimate outing earlier than he represents the Flames on the NHL All-Star Sport. “This final stretch has been powerful. Our recreation hasn’t been adequate. Once we play at residence, we wish to play effectively, play good in entrance of our followers, and clearly we haven’t given them good cause to be right here.
“It’s good to get two factors right this moment. Hopefully, everybody can refresh, reload and are available again higher.”
They have to be higher than they have been Saturday.
You shouldn’t have to be bailed out in opposition to a bottom-feeder.
However what can be worse? Skating into the break with one other loss to the Blackhawks, a squad that has just lately had their quantity. If Boris Katchouk had scored Saturday on each of his breakaways, the guests would have been celebrating their first street victory since Nov. 9.
“Clearly, you wish to placed on a greater efficiency in your goalie, however he was dialled in,” Andersson mentioned of Markstrom. “He performed an impressive recreation. Generally, you want your goalie to steal a recreation, and right this moment was an ideal instance of that.”
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
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