The last game of a topsy turvy opening month to the Flames season has the Bruins from Boston in town. The Flames hope to treat the fans with a continued swell of decent play and solid string of results, and the Bruins hope that they have tricked the Flames into giving their own roster no less then 4 former Calgary players which will come back and haunt their former club. So who….
ends up with the candy at the end of the night?.
On The Line
As mentioned, the Flames have their eye on a 5th consecutive win. The Bruins, also with a proper start to the season, want to carry momentum into November, and keep up with the early season divisional pace set by Montreal. Revenge for the former Flames, 3 of 4 visiting the Saddledome for the first time? Possibly.
The Flow
The first period starts out rather ghoulish for the home side and Miika Kiprusoff. Some mis-commmunication allows Patrice Bergeron to tap the puck from a startled Kiprusoff, and beat him out to the front of the net. Brandon Prust, the closest man to the puck tried the stick block rather then a street hockey-esque desperation move, and its 1-0 Bruins. The rest of the period was fairly scrambly, although a 10-8 shot total in the Flames favour was the precursor to the night both respective goalies’ would have.
The penalty parade started in the second, putting the Flames to the PP. Dion Phanuef’s hustle off the blue line, pinching and charging to the front of the net, resulted in a somewhat unique goal, considering the possession the Flames had in the zone. Halfway through the period, the Bruins fell victim to penalty trouble again, and once again Phaneuf was at the center of the action, firing a blast that ricocheted off of Michael Cammalleri and into the net past a bewildered Tim Thomas….one of the 20 shots that he saw in the second stanza. Dominance by the Flames, Thomas the reason it wasn’t more unflattering scoreline that period. The third also started out well for the Flames. One of the many odd man rushes the Flames created, a solid shot by Dustin Boyd, and a shot that Thomas was like to have back…glancing off of him and dropping into the open cage. 3-1 and the Flames are flying. Thomas continues his stellar play, meanwhile the Flames are looking comfortable with some confident, freewheeling play, using their speed through the neutral zone.
However, after Todd Bertuzzi takes a big hit trying to enter the zone, he looks partially stunned. The puck returns back to Craig Conroy, and without an option in the still dazed Bertuzzi, and Iginla at the end of the shift, he gets of two minds and coughs up the puck. A slick passing play by the Bruins, a fortunate cross ice pass, and Blake Wheeler finishes off the 2nd Boston goal. This spurns on the Bruins, for the rest of the 8 minutes remaining. Blake Wheeler, Marc Savard, David Krecji, all buzzing around the Flames net with dangerous chances. The Flames defense, to their credit, were calm and steady, but the best defense was that of Kiprusoff, snuffing out and and all Boston opportunities, thanks to great positioning and exemplary rebound control when it really mattered with a crowd in front of him. A big save on the hulking Zdeno Chara on the doorstep was a capper for the evening in the dwindling seconds. The Flames hold off the late Boston charge, and are full value for the 3-2 victory.
Three Stars
- Miika Kiprusoff: If one of those numerous late 3rd period chances founds its way in, one would be hard pressed to blame anyone, especially Kiprusoff. His confidence seems to be increasing every game, and he’d finding the puck well, and is putting himself in positions to relax and let the puck hit him, rather then trying too hard to make saves. Tonight, the Flames were a better team, but it still took Kiprusoff to get the 2 points
- Tim Thomas: 35 saves, 20 in the second, kept the Bruins in this one after two periods. Seems to have come a long way from his journeyman role, and maybe the Bruins goaltending will finally be stable with him back there.
- Dion Phaneuf: Just a solid strong game. The first goal was completely his instinct and timing kicking in to charge to the net. The second goal, originally credited to him, was a good shot from the point, however I am sure Cammalleri and any other traffic maker in front would prefer the blast to be below the waist. On the defensive end, nothing too flashy, but effective. Not looking for the huge hit and pretty quiet in his own end…for a defenseman that’s all you can ask. Drawing two penalties, unlucky on the call against him (who wouldn’t grab a stick blade that was riding up your chest, ready to poke you in the face?). But coming into form nicely, a whopping 31 minutes of ice time, if still not yet 100% comfortable looking with his partner, or in this case, partners.
Big Save
Miika Kiprusoff with a flurry of great saves on legitimate Boston scoring chances in the last 3 minutes…not standing out from others, all important to concrete the 2 points
Big Hit
Although it wasn’t Hulk Hogan lifting and slamming Andre the Giant circa Wrestlemania 3, seeing anyone knock down even an off balance 6’9+ Zedeno Chara is a sight to behold. David Moss had that honor tonight, and although it appeared Moss was just trying to avoid hitting the boards, it still counts. Unlikely, however, Moss will get any sort of title belt.
The Goat
Well, for many Flames fans, it was possibly Craig Conroy. His giveaway lead to the 2nd Boston goal. What TV viewers may not have seen, was Keenan summoning Conroy down to the other end of the bench, chat with him, and have him sit there. One though that was the end of his night, but with a TV timeout, and Bertuzzi nursing himself after the big hit, the #1 line tonight had a longer rest…sure enough, Conroy was back, playing vital roles and winning vital draws in the stretch. A hardworking, unnoticed play behind the net jarred the puck loose from the huge Chara with the Boston goalie pulled, and the Flames cleared subsequently, killing valuable time.
Runner goes up to Marc Savard. 2 penalties, both of the lackadaisical variety, allowed the Flames one powerplay goal. For all the skill and speed and hands he may posses, and have improved on since his time here, his continued laziness and taking shifts off at the worst possible times, remains a trait he held back in the early 2000’s with this club.
Mr. Clutch
Again, this has to go to Kiprusoff. Very easily could’ve ended 3-3, but he made that extra stop the preserved the win, making up for his earlier gaffe.
Odds and Ends
Todd Bertuzzi, what more can you say. Looks extremely comfortable out there. Each time with the puck in the offensive zone, even the neutral zone, are crafty, creative, and even catch his own player off guard in getting the puck to them. When they catch on, look out. The Flames, as mentioned, look a lot more comfortable and knowledgeable going through the neutral zone…they’ve had the speed in the past years, but were never able to use that speed. With the addition of basically all 4 guys, not only is the speed there, now the puck delivery is there so that guys can go full stride into the opposition. Craig Conroy the centre out there between #7 and a quiet Jarome Iginla tonight, the player still who Iginla seems most comfortable with. Mr. Iginla once again guilty at times of looking for Bertuzzi as the #1 option, foregoing a pass or a charge to the net. Mark Giordano with 12 mins, while Phaneuf with 30? The defense looked solid, and other then Kiprusoff’s error, and a slick passing play off a turnover, and they had very few self created blemishes. That said, Jim Vandermeer logging 24 minutes is a lot for him, and Phanuef will be hard pressed to play 30 every night for another 70+ games.
Next Up
The Flames dress up as airlines passengers for Hallow’een, and make the trip down to SoCal for a Saturday evening date with the Kinds of Los Angeles. With a poor performance from the Kings tonight, the opportunity is there for this club to extend its unbeaten streak to 6.
Lines (To Start):
Bertuzzi – Conroy – Iginla
Bourque – Langkow – Moss
Boyd – Cammalleri- Glencross
Prust – Primeau – Nystrom
Phaneuf – Vandemeer
Giordano – Aucoin
Sarich – Regehr
