Westside Story from my perspective was a cheesy musical about hoods and gals with switchblades.
To the Calgary Flames it will forever be the turning point of a hockey season when California dreaming turned into suburban sweat, with the style of playing being reset and a new team emerging from the Westside arena.
Tonight in Detroit the Flames were able to almost slay a dragon, that of Joe Louis arena with a backup goaltender, no sleep and likely no legs in a gutsy performance that further defines a pretty miraculous turnaround this season but falling finally 4-3 to the Wings.
On The Line
Oddly enough … not much. With a .500 trip already in the bag, back to back nights, horrendous snow storms and tough travel the Flames had every reason in the world to lay an egg in a city in which they never win.
The Flow
A solid start for a road weary team, taking the play to the Wings early, generating a few great chances and showing some spunk. The Wings countered through the period, and were lucky to stay scoreless through some solid saves by Curtis McElhinney. Both backups continued to shine until Craig Conroy found a loose puck and put the visitors up by a score. A few minutes later the much maligned Todd Bertuzzi too the puck to the net creating a rebound for Daymond Langkow (didn’t need to steal a Moss goal this time) to put the Flames up two. Flames full marks for a solid first in a tough barn playing on fumes.
The Wings were likely bawled out after 20 and had a little jump early but were countered again by a spirited Calgary team. The Flames were finally stung when the Wings turned the puck over just after the Flames killed a Wings penalty making it 2-1 on a great tip in goal by Filpula. Calgary pushed back again, but it was the home side carrying the play for most of the stanza with McElhinney playing a solid game (hint play him more) in the Calgary nets.
More of the same in the third with Calgary surprisingly limber given the situation, and the Wings refusing to give in. Moss scored his 9th of the season to put the Flames up two before the Wings came raging back to tie things up. Both teams had great chances in the last minute to salt things away but had to settle for over time.
Chance trading in the overtime period with some great saves again from both stoppers before the Wings finally win it with a minute to play.
Three Stars
1. Curtis McElhinney: Four goals against but a great performance for a backup that served notice that he’s ready to take on a few more starts. Probably deserved better in this one, but a great start.
2. David Moss: Goal and an assist for the Detroit native in his best game in his home town since joining the Flames.
3. Brian Rafalski: Another Detroit native matching his counterpart with a goal and an assist as well.
Big Save
It would almost be insulting to isolate one save in this game, but backups made numerous eye catching stops in a game that had a free flowing chance swapping nature. But McElhinney in overtime on Franzen? Come on.
Big Hit
You have to go with Datsyuk on Cammalleri in the third more for the duo’s lack of size. Kind of a like a nasty post dodgeball scrap in a girl’s phys ed class when it comes to weight class.
The Goat
Probably has a whole lot to do with the Flames excellent PK of late, but the Wings powerplay went ouch for five in the game, a huge factor in a game where your visitors are bagged.
Mr. Clutch
Jarome Iginla had one of his best games of late, despite the lack of point production in comparison .
Odds and Ends
The Flames have lost their last seven games in Detroit so their recent regular season and playoff history is pretty grim, but don’t forget the Flames won two of the three games played in Detroit on their way to the 2004 cup final. … You just can’t understate the importance of that first goal in this game. A tired team playing from behind isn’t the recipe you’d draw up coming in. Instead of languishing on tired legs the Flames outshot the Wings 14-10 and carried the play for good stretches. … Bertuzzi’s assist in the first was his 600th point in his career. … Real shame Eric Nystrom doesn’t have better hands, as his speed and determination are great to watch shorthanded, but man does he lack the finish when he gets open. … Had to chuckle at the second period close up on Pierre McGwire with Lilja and Phaneuf arguing with each across the live mic. … I was hard on Bertuzzi last night for his bad decision making in contested areas of the ice, and he showed it again with his shaky drop pass in the second creating a break that had McElhinney put the puck over the boards and take penalty. You have to be sure and firm with those plays. … You know those ads with the before and after pictures of a guy that’s bald and then when his hair comes back with some potion? That was the Calgary powerplay followed by the Detroit powerplay. … For my money neither the Holmstrom or Aucoin calls were legitimate penalties. … How do you clear three pucks over the boards for penalties in one game? Ouch … I’ll admit I would have been pretty happy with Moss scoring ten goals this year, nine in the bag, how many more to go? … I’m really surprised the Flames dropped the game plan that they’ve used for the last three plus years in their visits to the Joe? Get badly out shot, give up the first goal, take numerous stupid penalties and hang on for dear life. What wasn’t to like with that?
Next Up
Cross your fingers when the Florida Panthers come a visiting Friday night at the Saddledome. Tough road trip, tired team, successful results and a weak sister first game back? Yikes. Game time 7pm on sportsnet.
Lines (To Start):
Cammalleri – Conroy – Iginla
Bertuzzi – Langkow – Moss
Glencross – Boyd – Bourque
Nystrom- Lombardi- Roy
Phaneuf – Giordano
Regehr – Aucoin
Sarich – Pardy
Kiprusoff
