When the Flames were pounded in Chicago in early November it was just another example of the vast difference between elite teams and average hockey teams in today’s NHL.
Tonight, though the Flames have come a long way in the meantime, was looking like yet another example of how close yet how far the team has to go when a second period collapse had the makings of a rout.
Instead fans were treated to a spirited third period uprising that fell short despite 20 shots on Khabibulin as the Flames went down to the Hawks by a 5-2 score.
This team isn’t there yet, but once again their refusal to lie down shows they’re not the team Calgary watched each of the past two seasons.
On The Line
So key to win that first one on these two game mini trips, taking most of the pressure off the second game, especially when the second game is in a tough barn like United Center. Having said that; the Flames need to start beating the upper teams in the West if they too want to join that exclusive club. Otherwise they’re a second tier club themselves.
The Flow
About the start you’d expect from a tired Flames team playing a young talented Hawks looking to make amends for an outdoor classic prat fall; the visitors on their heels and the hosts pouring it on. The Hawks carried the play, hit a post, forced Kiprusoff to make a few good saves before finally going ahead early on a Martin Havlat goal that seemed to catch the Calgary stopper flat footed. Rather than create panic, the goal actually settled the Flames down, as the visitors gained their composure and mounted a push themselves. The second half of the period was all Calgary, territorial pressure that wasn’t rewarded with a red light.
The Flames carried the drive into the second, tying the score when Todd Bertuzzi got a stick on a Dion Phaneuf floater early in the middle frame. Then the penalty brigade started with some old villains in Bertuzzi and Conroy both going off, disadvantages killed by the Flames. The third penalty, a delayed call to Adam Pardy resulted in a go ahead goal by the Hawks. The Flames finally got a chance of their own, but a misplay at the line by Phaneuf resulted in a short handed goal from Kris Versteeg putting the Flames in deep trouble. The Hawks added a back breaking late powerplay goal to pretty much put things away.
Give the Flames credit they came out hard in the third period and had numerous early chances to get within two but were denied by either Khabibulin, bounces, or goal posts. Previous versions of this team would have just mailed it in for the final period. The pressure was relentless through most of the third period but the Flames only managed one tally, a Daymond Langkow powerplay goal before giving up an empty netter to finish things up.
Three Stars
1. Nikolai Khabibulin: The renowned Flame Killer adds another notch in his belt by not breaking in the third period despite some great chances in a Flames onslaught.
2. Andrew Ladd: Goal and an assist for the former Hitmen player, including a momentum swayer in the second.
3. Todd Bertuzzi: Matched his output from Nashville with a goal and an assist once again in a losing cause.
Big Save
Flame Killer Nik Khabibulin was up to his own tricks in the first when he got a quick pad out on a Andre Roy redirection from Dion Phaneuf to keep the score 1-0 Chicago. Later in the period Kiprusoff flashed leather on Chris Versteeg after a Jarome Iginla giveaway.
Big Hit
Regehr through a few board bashing hits in the game, but for reaction alone we’ll give him the nod in erasing Ben Eager, making the big Hawk angry enough to drop the gloves and take the worse from big #28 in both hit and knuckles.
The Goat
A real horse race between the lack of discipline in taking calls, or the Flames inability to either kill them off or score on their own advantages. The powerplay almost sunk them in Nashville, it simply has to be better.
Mr. Clutch
The young Hawks forwards as a group really stepped up in the absence of leading scorer Patrick Kane to easily find enough offence to put away a somewhat tired Flames club.
Odds and Ends
Sportsnet tossed up a graphic stating this is the fastest the franchise has ever achieved 50 points in a season (38 games). Though loser points factor in, still hard to believe given some of those great teams in the late 80’s. … The Flames are one of four teams that can boast six 10 or more goal scorers. That can’t be, everyone told me the Flames didn’t have any scoring depth this season. Typo? … Not a good sign to ever lose a game, but the worst of it was the running around, and lack of discipline in their game, both key parts of what wasn’t working in November. Craig Conroy in the box twice, Bertuzzi once, not the guys you want to see taking penalties again. … Oh the +/- games this team plays night in and night out. Dion Phaneuf was +3 in Nashville, a huge step back from his -11 rating on the season. Tonight? -3 to give it all back. Meanwhile Todd Bertuzzi was a whopping -14 heading into Nashville but has back to back +2 night to get back to -10. Will be exciting to see how this golf game works out! … As crazy as it sounds the Flames were honestly a Glencross chance or two away from a complete comeback in this one. … Speaking of rough +/-, Jarome Iginla and Mike Cammalleri were both -4 on the night. With equivalent five point nights on New Year’s Eve these guys are really tied at the hip, tonight for all the wrong reasons. … No matter which players find themselves on the third line they seem to excel, and tonight was no different. Craig Conroy started the night there but wound up back with Iginla when the Cammalleri / Lombardi combination failed to get #12 going. The one guy that doesn’t seem to get a luck when players move around is Dustin Boyd who continues to hold down the fourth line spot. … When the Flames powerplay was terrible in the 80’s Bob Johnson always put two big wingers (often without skill) in front of the net and told them to stay there. I think the Flames could use a shot of that plan right now. David Moss loves to hang out there but the rest of the Flames forwards avoid the slot like the plague.
Next Up
The Flames go from one benchmark test to another when they return home to the Saddledome to take on the league’s best (2nd best in points) team in the San Jose Sharks. The game is on Sportsnet a rare 8:00pm start.
Lines (To Start):
Lombardi- Cammalleri- Iginla
Bourque – Langkow – Bertuzzi
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Nystrom- Boyd- Roy
Phaneuf – Pardy
Regehr – Aucoin
Sarich – Giordano
Kiprusoff
