As November winds to a close, this weekend is a measuring stick of sorts. Last time these two teams locked up for a home and home series, Canadians were giving thanks, while the Flames looked liked the turkeys after 2 opening season losses to the Canucks.
Tonight, as our neighbours to the south celebrate their version of Thanksgiving, the Flames wish to gauge how far they’ve come in that time …. preferably for Flames fans, they receive both drumsticks, signifying two wins and avoid being the leftovers once again.
On The Line
The Canucks come in piping hot….8-0-2 in the last 10 games, and top of the NW division. Calgary hopes to take a juicy bite out of that 5 point division lead, and building on the momentum of clobbering a hapless Kings of Los Angeles team on Tuesday.
The Flow
The first period starts out well for the visiting Flames. Some early first few shifts pressure has the Canucks on their heels. However, 5 mins in, tough-ish guy Darcy Horidchuk eludes an aloof Matthew Lombardi and bangs the puck in before Dion Phaneuf could check the Canucks player, and the Vancouverites are up 1-0. The Flames answer with continued good early work from the Flames top line, Jarome Iginla drawing a penalty. Michael Cammalleri banks one in from the corner on the ensuing powerplay, off Sami Salo’s skate and past a helpless Curtis Sanford. A short 3 minutes later, a crafty play by the Sedin twins sets a pick on Adrian Aucoin, and this allows Daniel Sedin the space he needs to move in tight on the Flames net and ring one in under the cross bar for a Vancouver lead. This seems to spark the Canucks, and the Flames don’t respond the remaining half of the period.
The second period is a much quieter affair on the scoresheet. After the first five or so minutes, the Flames look like they’ve shaken off the below average play to that point. The penalty killers did a admirable job on a 5 on 3 powerplay in the middle of the period. Sustained pressure late in the period lead to a delayed penalty, and a fantastic pass from captain Jarome Iginla, and Cammalleri, off the bench, sets up in perfect position for a patented one kneed one timer, and the Flames knot up the game at 2, going into the third period.
The third starts with a bang for the Flames. One minute in some solid work by Mark Giordano in causing havoc simply by his down low presence, frees up Jarome Iginla. A wide open Cammalleri pots yet another one timer, this from the high slot, off the short side post, and the Flames take the first lead…and for Cammalleri, somewhat surprisingly, his first NHL hat trick goal. The teams battle back and forth, the Flames looking a lot more at ease with their game. Somewhat against the run of play, a very close offside call goes uncalled, and Kyle Wellwood feeds Mason Raymond on the 2 on 1, and halfway through the period, the Canucks have tied it up. However, the Flames don’t sit around and sulk…a mere 2 minutes and 11 seconds later, Curtis Glencross intercepts an errant neutral zone pass, speeds past two defenders and slips a nicely positioned backhand over Sanford’s shoulder to regain the 1 goal lead. A quality goal all around. The Flames continue to take the game to the Canucks, working the cycle a few times in the last 7 minutes, and hold on for the 4-3 victory.
Three Stars
- First Star Name: Michael Cammalleri – 3 goals will get you a first star in most of the games. Very good positioning for the last two goals, and two outstanding passes from Jarome Iginla.
- Second Star Name: Jarome Iginla – 2 world class passes which lead to those goals.
- Third Star Name: Curtis Glencross. Huge goal to regain the lead after it somewhat unfairly appeared the Canucks may get a point out of that third period. Fantastic move and soft hands..very nice effort all around to get in the clear, pick the spot, and hit the spot.
Big Save
Miikka Kiprusoff on a Vancouver poweplay, although down on his stomach, follows Mason Raymond across the slot and gets up enough to blocker what looked to be a puck destined for the net, off to the side boards. Would’ve given the Canucks a 3-1 lead halfway through the 2nd.
Big Hit
Mike Brown hammers Cory Sarich with a probably clean hit in the first, allowing the opportunity for a hugging contest between Brown and the always-willing Brandon Prust.
The Goat
The trio of Canuck defenders, possibly relieved about their team being once again tied halfway through the third, playing a game of hot potato with the puck at their own blue line. Alex Edler with a pass that Kyle Wellwood tried to pick off his skates. Glencross speeds in past Edler. Kevin Bieska coming off a 6 game absence with a foot injury, and who isn’t going to win any land speed records anyways, is streaked past by Glencross.
Mr. Clutch
Pretty hard not to give it to a Flames player registering 3 goals. All bang bang plays, but those are the kind of games Flames fans were screaming for from Alex Tanguay the last 2 years…to step up in a tight game and be the game changer and showcase talents as a skilled player, and most importantly, find the net with the opportunities given. Maybe he puts up big numbers during American holidays? Also…I wonder if this goal nets him his first set of cowboy boots?
Odds and Ends
11 shots for the Flames each 3 periods. The icetime amongst the top 9 forwards was fairly evenly spread out, more so than most nights. 6 points for Glencross in last 3 games. It’s been said many times already, but bears repeating…how relieving it is to have a 3rd line that is more then a glorified energy line, rather one that can put up points and be the difference in the odd game. Bourque and Glencross are Darryl Sutter gems. Oh yeah, one of the other off season acqusitions had 3 tonight. Some dubious officiating. A loose puck in the corner, and a reluctant Pavol Demtira backing out of a Regher smashing hit, and Regher, finishing the check he intended, albeit with not as much force, gets called for interference? To the letter of the law, possibly, but this writer will take a player who wants to get the puck, or the man, 10 times out of 10 as opposed to a forward who shy’s away from the inevitable contact in order to save a bump or a bruise the next morning. Next, a great play by Adam Pardy, which gets both the puck, and avoids directly tripping the Canucks player, gets called anyway…and that call is followed up by a too many men on the ice call that puts the Flames down two. And then for all the ticky tack stuff, the stripes put the whistles away in the 3rd, including on a questionable hit/charge from behind on Rene Bourque that is often called, and was called on Todd Bertuzzi in the late stages of the last game these two teams met in Calgary. Canucks now head out on a 7 game road swing. Wayne Primeau…bad foot or too much pre game stuffing?
Next Up
The same Vancouver Canucks up, in less then 48 hours. Saturday night, 8pm, on the CBC.
Lines (To Start):
Bertuzzi – Lombardi – Iginla
Cammalleri – Langkow – Moss
Bourque – Conroy – Glencross
Roy – Prust – Nystrom
Phaneuf – Giordano
Regher – Aucoin
Sarich – Pardy
