Different seasons, different players, and spooky similar results?
The Calgary Flames have had a bad habit of stepping on their tongues in key points in series since their 2004 playoff drive. Given the consistency to the horror you would think there would be a pretty concise plan coming out for a key game in Chicago. Don’t run around, don’t take penalties, don’t fall behind by a big amount early.
Mission accomplished? Hardly as the Flames posted their worst effort of the post season in getting cow towed 5-1 by the young Blackhawks.
On The Line
Pivotal game five. I truly believe the Flames need to win this game as they just won’t win game seven in Chicago (will change tune quickly should game seven arise, don’t get me wrong). Bring it tonight and wrap it up at home.
The Flow
Pretty much all Chicago off the start, fueled by a terrible call to Todd Bertuzzi for holding when he in fact was held. The Flames did well to contain things and keep things to the outside, and Kiprusoff was strong. Not the start Calgary wanted. A second penalty to Cory Sarich for a terribly undisciplined cross check after the whistle lead to a 1-0 Chicago lead. The Flames try to push back but Sharp and then Versteeg on a crazy bounce make it a nightmare. Bottom line, you couldn’t have mapped out a worse first period for the Flames, reminiscent of game five against Detroit two years ago. You’d think 70% of the roster rolled over would change these things, but nope.
The Flames a different team in the second, completely different. Getting it deep, mucking it up. They were rewarded when Dustin Boyd jumped on a rebound to get the Flames on the board. But instead of gaining momentum another bad break in a Jordan Leopold push towards the net results in a Ladd tap in for another bounce goal for Chicago. The rest of the period was a listless mess for the Flames as the Ladd goal seemed to sap all their spirit. You have to dig deeper, but you have to admit the bounces just weren’t going their way. McElhinney is beat late in the period to complete the rout, another bounce for Chicago as this one hits Vandermeer.
Third period and not a whole lot happening. The Flames gas a two man advantage at a point where they likely didn’t have a chance to get back into it, but could have at least sent a message. Dion Phaneuf continues to play well. Some rough stuff from time to time but not a lot of message sending from Calgary for a team getting thoroughly beat.
Three Stars
1. Brent Seabrook: A guy with his eye on Vancouver in 2010 puts up a goal and two assists to pace the Hawks.
2. Kris Versteeg: Goal and an assist for the rookie of the year candidate.
3. Duncan Keith: No points, but a great all around game for mop top on the blueline.
Big Save
yeah there wasn’t one. The Flames didn’t get a chance on net all night, and the Hawks got more pucks into the cage off of stantions, legs, helped assists. Wasn’t a goaltender night.
Big Hit
Dion Phaneuf on the receiving end? Hjalmarsson caught a rushing Phaneuf entering the Hawk zone in the second and put a shoulder into his chest.
The Goat
The Flames in general. I could pick on Todd Bertuzzi, but that wouldn’t be fair. They didn’t have it early and they didn’t have the ability to find it again once they lost that early game mojo. Big teams find the ability to be big when they need to be big. The Flames were small.
Mr. Clutch
I’m giving this to Walker, dude showed some serious cajones to play in a game where his finger looked more like a Wig Wag chocolate bar (people as old as me know what I’m talking about) then an actual digit. Yuck, but dude. Wow.
Odds and Ends
Todd Bertuzzi scaring me early, too many blind passes, turn around passes, and not getting the puck out of the turnover areas. Stop it please … I get it, the Flames are big bad men and the Hawks are Saints. We saw it in both games in Calgary, but three straight against Calgary in the first period when Toews hammers Kiprusoff in the head with his stick? Add in the fact that the Bertuzzi penalty was actually a Pahlsson penalty and the frustration is justified. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to see the Flames powerplay, but I’d rather see the Hawk powerplay less as well. … Great footage of Matt Walker’s messed up finger from a blocked shot. Nasty. And the guy returns? Yuck. … Dion Phaneuf continues to play his quietest, yet most effective hockey of the season. Less flash and dash, and less offensive and hitting eye popping plays, but better defensive work and protecting the puck all over the ice. Bodes well for next season. … Adam Pardy and fighting. Yikes. Someone needs to teach this lad how to scrap. He’s big. He’s strong. He fights like Joel Otto (and that hurts me to say). … Man can Aucoin grow a playoff beard, he looks like Wolfman Jack on the bench. … If the Flames lose this series they’ve lost in on special teams. Their powerplay, despite all the incredible skill on the roster is terrible. Predictable, they force the play time and time again and lack creativity. Might have wanted to work on that through the season in practice. … So do the Flames hold serve or are they done? A Dion Phaneuf injury that keeps him out would have to bury these guys wouldn’t it? Tough playoff series after a tough finish to the season for a team that has avoided injuries for two years. Ironic to see a team with no injuries and no jam for two years, followed by a team this year with jam and injuries. Fun.
Next Up
Games six, Monday night in Calgary at 8pm on TSN.
Lines (To Start):
Bourque – Jokinen – Iginla
Cammalleri – Langkow – Bertuzzi
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Nystrom – Boyd – Peters
Leopold – Phaneuf
Sarich – Aucoin
Vandermeer – Pardy
