When they're playing well be wary of the slip, and when they appear to be spiraling out of
contention hold on for a big effort. That was exactly the case in Chicago on Sunday afternoon
when the Flames, coming off back to back losses on the trip and the playoff noose starting to
get tight around the collar but the Flames posting a solid 4-1 road victory.
On The Line
Surprisingly, the Flames pratt fall in the East hasn't cost the club a whole lot in
the standings with teams chasing them also finding the loss column enough to keep them
in a playoff spot. Still with the top spot in the Northwest getting away, and too many
teams chasing them the Flames need to get back in the win column and get the point total
churning towards the upper 90's once again.
The Flow
A great start by the Flames with sustained pressure, and a rewarded powerplay which resulted
in the back of the net when Adrian Aucoin found the post and in. From there the Flames
continued to push but either shot wide or were turned back by Patrick Lalime. An Owen Nolan
hooking penalty turned the tide of the game giving the Hawks a tie on a weak effort
by Mikka Kiprusoff, leaving the Hawks with the better of the play for the rest of the stanza.
The second seemed to be shaping up with the Hawks continuing their late first dominance, at least
for 90 seconds, until Jarome Iginla intercepted a pass and went 150 feet for his 45th of the
season. From there Calgary kept their foot on the gas and were rewarded again when Kristian
Huselius picked the top of the net, capping off a great shift along with Nolan and Daymond
Langkow. Later the ressurected Alex Tanguay made a great pass to set up Dion Phaneuf for a
wrister that pretty much put things away.
The Hawks pressed for much of the third due to the Flames sitting on a big lead and some
powerplays, but could only narrow the margin to two goals.
Three Stars
1 - Alex Tanguay:
Was very good on the penalty kill, was hurt blocking a shot, and then returned to add
a second assist. 2 - Miikka Kiprusoff:
Was terrible on the Hawk's first goal but then solid in the second half of the game when
Calgary penalties; made 34 stops in the end. 3 - Owen Nolan:
Not a dominant performance by any standard but was crucial in the Flames first and third goals
in a game that ended up tighter that it should.
Big Save
In terms of timing, after a blocked shot in the 2nd period, Miikka Kiprusoff got a pad on a
Johnathan Toews chance that was crucial in keeping the lead 3-1 Calgary.
Less than a minute later Dion Phaneuf scored to make it a 4-1 game. However,
if you want to talk athleticism it was Kiprusoff stretching across to stone Toews once again
late in the second with Calgary up three.
Big Hit
This one is easy ... Adam Burish's right hand on an unsuspecting Eric Nystrom
face. Burish grabbed the Calgary rookie for a scrap that began with Nystrom
doing an effective job, but when Burish changed hands it was one and down for #23.
The Goat
The Flames were full marks in this one and with that it's hard to pinpoint a true
goat. You could target Patrick Lalime as he gave up four goals in two periods, but
within the four were a goal post and in from Aucoin, and essentially two breakaway
goals from Iginla and Huselius. Instead we'll target a game star as a goat for the
first time in this writer's tenure and go with Owen Nolan. Nolan's hooking penalty
in the first period could have turned the game on a dime and given the Flames three
straight losses on the trip. OK, I'm reaching.
Mr. Clutch
Jarome Iginla gets the nod for his second period breakaway goal that although it
wasn't the game winner, it was crucial in turning the game back in Calgary's favour.
His timing was perfect in intercepting the cross ice pass.
Odds and Ends
The Flames came out with a purpose in this one, ramping up the effort no doubt as a response
to the lack of points found in both Washington and Atlanta despite having leads in both games.
Calgary being a slow starting team, has done the opposite on this trip with quick starts, but
meek endings to games. ... Alex Tanguay left the ice in the first period after taking a shot to
the shin. He tried it again briefly in the late first, but then didn't return in the second
period leaving one to think he was done for the night. Then out of nowhere he's on the ice
0setting up Dion Phaneuf's goal, to give Calgary a 4-1 lead. ... The win is a big one as they
all seem to be this time of year. The two points put the Flames in a three way tie with the Wild
and Avalanche all with 84 points; the Flames and Wild have a game in hand on Colorado. All three
teams sit four points up on the 9th place Nashville Predators. And of course Vancouver
is sandwiched in the middle two points back. Buckle your seat belts! ... Jarome Iginla's goal was
his 45th goal in 72 contests, putting him on a 51 goal pace, which would leave him one short of his career best mark
set back in 2002. His 50th goal that season incidentally came in Chicago against the Hawks. ...
I realize the Hawks are in tough to make the playoffs, but why would Denis Savard start Patrick
Lalime against the Flames when he had Flame killer Nik Khabibulin available and an easy two points?
Next up
This four game road trip finishes up with a game in Columbus on Tuesday night. The final game this
season for the Flames against a non division rival. Game time 5pm on Sportsnet.
