The Flames dressed a seasoned group sprinkled with interesting youth vying to make their mark and impress Mike Keenan and the rest of the coaching group of the Flames.
A tentative start by both teams with Calgary especially fighting the puck, rust and chemistry through the first 30 minutes of the hockey game until two late goals in the second reversed a visitor lead and put the home side up 2-1 after forty.
In the third, the Flames took control, running up a 10-1 run in shots on goal but failing to score on the Panther’s stopper Craig Anderson leaving the door open for a late Panther comeback and a preseason loss.
Making the Grade
Adam Pardy – Led all Flames with ice time and played a solid, yet invisible contest; not a bad thing for a young stay at home defender looking to impress. A few adventurous shifts, but all in all he showed he’s ready for more preseason action, and perhaps some work in the regular season.
Dustin Boyd – a player not in the dog fight of an Adam Pardy, but impressive nonetheless in taking the bull by the horns and producing in a game fraught with bobbled pucks and turnovers. A great go to the net goal, and then a classic pass to Iginla for the go ahead goal.
Mixed Signals
Curtis McElhinney – one of the games’ best players through 50 minutes of work, but a shaky ten minutes to close out left one shaking their head. He got moving around to much, got caught out of position and gave up a Bouwmeester bank shot chance to lose the game. Needs to settle down, he has the skills.
Work in Progress
John Negrin – the 19 year old has opened eyes through his first two training camps and garnered praise from Sutter and the Flames brass, but he clearly looked a little over his head in this one. Two lazy penalties, a handful of fire drill shifts showed that the jump to the NHL competition might have been too much for the Kootenay player.
Michael Backlund – one preseason game does not seal the fate of a top prospect, but if this one is any indication, Calgary’s other 19 year old is bound for Sweden. He fought the puck at times, made some questionable decisions, and looked generally out of his element save for his first shift. One factor playing against him though was the complete lack of chemistry between his line mates Todd Bertuzzi and Jarome Iginla.
New Kids on the Block
Todd Bertuzzi – some decent aggressive play, a break away chance, but all in all a complete lack of chemistry with Jarome Iginla, but it’s early. Sixty minutes in … still can’t get used to this. Patience.
Rene Bourque – best player on the ice tonight. Found instant chemistry with Matthew Lombardi both five on five and shorthanded. Very good addition to the team. Leaves it all on the ice.
Curtis Glencross – while not as noticeable as Bourque, he had a great opportunity on a slick move and formed the final piece of the Lombardi Bourque line, the team’s best all night.
Jamie Lundmark – looked slower and smaller then I remembered. Gave his all, but had an up and down game that ended on a high (assist on Boyd’s goal)
