A simple recipe really.
For the second straight game the Flames followed a crystal clear game plan; 1) shoot more 2) give up less.
Hardly that of an outside the box thinker, this notion that if you put more pucks on their net and let less pucks towards your net you may have an advantage within the game, but it’s a massive step for an inconsistent team looking to find some sort of an identity.
Tonight that identity of speed and responsibility parlayed into a second straight win this week over their rival Colorado Avalanche, this time a by a shut out 1-0 score.
On The Line
Another potential definition game. A game where a club can prove they can be consistent, they’ve learned from recent mistakes and they’re ready to start climbing up the Western Conference standings rather than sit in that middle ground that will surely lead to a quick playoff exit should they make it in at all. A six game win streak was a great sign, but it only masked a terrible start, and some recent sketchy play … it’s time this team takes that step towards consistency.
The Flow
This game hardly requires a division in terms of flow by period. They were that consistent. They kept the play to the outside, let Kiprusoff see the puck, cleared away rebounds, pushed the puck up the ice, put it on net, went to the net and got back to avoid odd man rushes.
All blackboard stuff, but stuff needed to be successful in today’s NHL, where skill is spread around the circuit and the only teams that consistently win are those that button down where the battles count. Tonight the Flames were one of those teams.
Three Stars
- Peter Budaj: Not as many shots as the other night, but a great performance again for the previously maligned goaltender. Faced roughly twice the shots as his counterpart.
- Miikka Kiprusoff: Only faced 18 shots, but posted though doughnut in a game that featured at least a half dozen solid saves.
- Daymond Langkow: Hey he scored! In a 1-0 game that says a whole lot.
Big Save
You could pick from many in this one, Kiprusoff on Svatos or Smyth, but you have to go with Budaj stoning Curtis Glencross not once but twice in the third period, both with amazing pad saves to keep the game at 1-0.
Big Hit
Ian Laparierre caught David Moss fishing for the puck in the first period just inside his blueline and pasted him into the boards. A good clean hit on an unsuspecting player.
The Goat
No real goat to put the hat on, but you have to look at the powerplay and their inability to cinch up a game in back to back nights where the team clearly deserved to avoid a late minute nail biter. Moving the puck well, hit some posts tonight, but didn’t get it done.
Odds ‘n Endds
Can you hit a goal post harder than both Adrian Aucoin and Mark Giordano on the first and second periods, BAM. In the third Iginla hit another, but not to the same intensity of twang… That second line is really starting to gel. Dustin Boyd continues to impress as a top six forward, now centering Mike Cammalleri and Rene Bourque. The trio had some solid powerplay time tonight, especially in the second. The best part is the trickle down effect this season that has both the third and fourth lines also effective. … How about Jarome Iginla digging his stick into a goal mouth scramble twice to keep the puck from drifting into the net late. … Langkow, what is with that guy this season? Mr. Consistency scored tonight, but he just hasn’t been a force night in and night out. Lost without Iginla isn’t an excuse of late as he’s had his buddy back on his line. … The up and down consistency of this club is driving fans and team personnel mad, but at least when they get it they really get it this season. If they can bottle that in the next few weeks they’ll be set up for a great second half run…. Jarome Iginla’s assist tonight was his 400th in his career …. Attendance as the game was marked at 80.3% full, a far cry from those fictitious sell outs of years gone by… The Flames nabbed almost 70% of the faceoffs in this one, taking 33 of 48 in the game. … Adian Aucoin is clearly liking the new system, putting in his second strong game of the week, this time putting up 28+ minutes.
Next Up
Next up the Wings travel to Calgary to take on the Flames on Saturday night, hockey night in canada game two. Much prefer their win in Edmponton coming in, you don’t need a hockey team that solid needing a bounce back..
Lines (To Start):
Bertuzzi – Langkow – Iginla
Cammalleri – Boyd – Bourque
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Prust – Primeau – Nystrom
Phaneuf – Pardy
Sarich – Regehr
Giordano – Aucoin
Kiprusoff
