Only One Was Played – 2010 Flames

January 06, 2024 – Only One Was Played – West Side Arena – Manchester, NH

Out of four games scheduled for the weekend, only one was played. Between the flu going around and varying degrees of a snowstorm across the state, two games were postponed due to weather, and one because a team had no players due to sickness.

 

 

The Flames did not have to make the trip to Vermont on Saturday morning as the Upper Valley team was hit with the flu and couldn’t field a team. That game will be made up.

The Providence South team did make it to West Side Arena on Saturday. Providence is a solid team that gets in the way of a lot of shots and they play a physical game. They are good at taking away space from their opponents. Providence took leads of, 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, and 4-2, before hanging on to a 4-3 victory.

Coach Tim’s abacus was in for repair at the shop (Yippee-Ki-Abacai is the place) and between he and I, we only had so many fingers which were rendered useless by deteriorating attention spans. But someone in the booth tracked shots (thank you) and the game totals were 27-15 in favor of Providence, which is slightly more precise than I would have written. My totals were ‘several’ for the Flames, and ‘several more’ for Providence.

Here’s my take on the whole game. Providence makes you cash in on the chances that you get. With limited passing and puck movement by the Flames as space in which to maneuver was tight, they had to score when their chances came. They did get chances. Not as many as Providence, but they did get some good chances. A bouncing puck on a breakaway led to a save, two break-ins led to shots over the crossbar, and at least one stick not on the ice didn’t connect with a centering pass.

It was certainly nothing to hang heads over. The Flames were beaten in the game, 4-3. As the home team still tries to get themselves back in sync with all the illness and injuries since the end of October, I thought they played pretty well. As the 2010 Flames bend and don’t break, I believe they may very well spring back into place, better than ever.

The pair of games scheduled for today were postponed due to an unfamiliar white material that continued to fall from the sky and cover everything. Thus, only one was played.

There are a bunch of games scheduled next weekend but I am just trying to get through today, for now.

 

1. 2010 Flames first goal – St. Pierre and Petrie were along the half wall battling for the puck. Then Petrie connected with the puck back to St. Pierre who quickly sent the puck to the point where Powers did roam. Powers got rid of a quick, hard shot on goal. With Beal standing just inches from the goalie, the puck found its way through the netminder and into the net. A goal from a scrap along the boards. Powers from St. Pierre and Petrie. 1-1.
2. Flames tie it, 2-2 – The 1997-2004 NJ Devils would like the way Providence plays in the D zone. After another skirmish to gain possession of the puck the Flames broke out of their own offensive zone back to center ice, sort of. Booth skated down the loose puck in his own end and whipped a pass toward Soucy who was skating through center ice. The pass hit a defenders stick but caromed right into Soucy’s path. Soucy was in all alone and he buried a shot in tight to tie the game.  Soucy from Booth. 2-2.
3. Similar to the previous setting – The 2010 Flames were trying to hold their zone. Providence was a battering ram just about to bust down the door. Then Giampa freed the puck and ripped it back to St. Pierre, outside the zone. St. Pierre made a cross ice pass parallel to the blue line while Giampa tagged up. The pass hit Beal at the other point and he stepped in to get a forehand shot on goal. Beal ripped a wrist shot that beat the goaltender’s glove side for the goal. There were 45.9 seconds left in the game, but that was all. Beal from St. Pierre and Giampa. 3-4.

 

 

West Side Arena –

Providence HC South: 02 – 02 – 00 = 04

(MRYHA) 2010 Flames: 02 – 00 – 01 = 03

2010 Flames Penalties:

1. Giampa (Tripping).
2. Soucy (High-Sticking).

 

Ingalls played the entire game in net for the Flames with Rosenbeck out sick. Ingalls made several tremendous saves, many during flurries of shots against the Flames. Providence just had more quality chances than the Flames did and they finished on just one more of them.

 

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Yes, a year just ended. Happy New Year everyone! Personally, I would rather relish in the true glory and meaning of Christmas than celebrate the passage of time, but in the gifts of new days there are new beginnings and endless possibilities.

So, another month of hockey did pass. The 2010 Flames were 5-5-3 in December with 41 goals scored and 32 goals allowed (one was an empty netter). The Flames had 3 ties and 3 one-goal games (they were 1-2 in those games). They shutout one team and were shutout once. Players missed 43 games during the month, and without the two players that were out going into the month, they still missed 17 games.

In December the Flames played only 4 games on home ice (West Side Arena – 3, JFK – 1), and they were 3-0-1 in those games. The competition is heating up, that’s true, but I sincerely hope and pray that we can have our original 17 players back together as a unit to finish the season together. Down the stretch we come.

Here is a graphic that details some stats. Measurement can help to become more efficient as a player, as a team. What I see on this sheet is one thing. It takes everyone to be a successful team. And on this team, every one not only gets a chance to do so, but they do contribute. All of them. I also firmly believe that in the much larger picture of life, a successful team is measured in many ways, and wins and losses aren’t really the key factors. Not at this age or this stage of life. Anyways, enjoy, and look to lift another where you can. Team is just so much better that way.

2010 Flames December, 2023.

 

 

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Still love this picture.