A full week of rest and relaxation can do one of two things to a hockey team. It will either recharge their batteries and heal some ailing wounds, giving them fresh legs and a cleared psyche for the stretch run. Or, complacency sets in, and mentally the team just may not be ready to compete at this level after a week of lower tempo practices and off days. With Buffalo shellacking the Oilers in Edmonton by a 10-2 score last night, you knew the Sabres would be ready to play. Would Calgary answer the bell?
On The Line
Calgary went in to the All-star break on a mini high, beating the Blue Jackets in a shootout at the Saddledome, regaining their 9 point edge in the Northwest division. The Flames will look to continue their mastery over the Eastern conference, holding a 6-1-1 record against that side of the NHL going into this game. Buffalo had won 3 of their last 4 road games and are entrenched in the playoff race in the east, sitting firmly in 7th place. Calgary wants to put even more breathing room between them and their divisional foes, while Buffalo wants to secure itself a spot in the top 8 in the East.
The Flow
The first period was penalty filled and disjointed, but Calgary managed to come out ahead with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Mike Cammalleri was the beneficiary of a brutal Chris Butler giveaway, and managed to slide the puck 5-hole past Ryan Miller on Calgary’s first powerplay, just 3:51 into the period.
Dion Phaneuf gave Calgary a 2-0 lead with a goal at 4:10 in to the frame. He shot a harmless looking wrister at Miller from the left wing and it found its way through his pads and just spilled over the line. Buffalo turned their game up shortly after, with Drew Stafford and Tim Connolly finding the net before the end of the period knotting the game up at 2. Connolly’s goal coming after a series of multiple Buffalo scoring chances, with the Flames scrambling to keep up. Calgary was listless as they skated into the 3rd, and Buffalo looked like they were in control.
Calgary brushed off their 2nd period collapse, and came out for the kill in the 3rd. Out-shooting Buffalo 19-5 and netting 3 goals on their to a very convincing win. Bertuzzi took an Adrian Aucoin feed at 7:08 and made a nice fake deke then roofed the puck forehand past Ryan Miller. Cammalleri added a goal with a knuckle-puck one timer that fooled Miller, potted the final insurance goal in front of the net as the Flames sent Buffalo packing with a 5-2 win.
Three Stars
- Mike Cammalleri: 3 goals, and now has 11 in his past 7.
- Craig Conroy: Had some unusual jump in his game, the week off must have helped the old guy. Notched 2 helpers and was a game leading +3.
- Jarome Iginla: 2 assists of his own, the captain looked good.
Big Save
With the score 2-2 early in the 3rd, Miikka Kiprusoff absolutely robbed Daniel Paille with his right pad, as Paille came around the net and looked like he had the sure go-ahead goal. Honorable mention to Dion Phaneuf. With the score 1-0 in favour of Calgary in the first period, Tomas Vanek fired the puck at Kiprusoff and it found its way through his legs and on its way into the Calgary net. Phaneuf was there to bail him out, as he cleared the puck out of harms way just before it crossed the line.
Big Hit
Dion Phaneuf destroyed Jason Pominville as the Buffalo forward tried to get past him in front of the Calgary bench. Phaneuf pounded Pominville into the boards and almost completely over the boards into the bench.
The Goat
Chris Butler. The Young Buffalo defender had countless giveaways in the 1st period, and put the puck directly on the stick of Cammalleri and Phaneuf for both of Calgary’s first goals. He gave Calgary the 2-0 lead, which Calgary used as cushioning for Buffalo’s later push in the 2nd period.
Mr. Clutch
Cammalleri again. Another hat-trick to up his team leading total to 25 goals. Honorable mention to Todd Bertuzzi who scored the game winner with a fantastic breakaway deke-shot, 1 game after scoring the shootout winner against Columbus.
Odds and Ends
Mark Giordano took a great penalty after getting beat near the end of the first period. Derek Roy had a couple steps on him and would have walked in for the breakaway, had it not been for Giordano absolutely mugging and pillaging him and preventing even a shot attempt. With Calgary’s PK rock solid, Giordano made the right choice and let the penalty kill go to work, which they did effectively killing it off no problem. I would like to point out that despite Pierre McGuire’s insistence, Rene Bourque was not signed as a free agent in the off-season. He was traded for a future 2nd round draft pick. Calgary outshot Buffalo 43-27, with Cammalleri leading the way with 6. Adrian Aucoin led the way with 27:38 in icetime.
Next Up
The Nashville Predators come to town for a Friday night tilt at the dome. Gametime is 7:00 pm and you can catch all the action on Sportsnet West (HD), and the Fan 960.
Lines (To Start):
Cammalleri – Conroy – Iginla
Bertuzzi – Langkow – Bourque
Glencross – Lombardi- Moss
Nystrom – Boyd – Roy
Phaneuf – Pardy
Regehr – Aucoin
Sarich – Giordano
