Calgary 1 Columbus 2
An interesting 24 hours in Flamesland. After discovering, somewhat to their surprise, every early chance go in last evening in Chicago, they then fell victim to such spoils with a tentative effort for the remaining 2/3rd of the game, slowly watching the momentum, and the 5 goal lead, slip away. The team woke itself up this morning finding itself in Ohio, and, in a richly decorated room, adorned with fully stocked bookshelves, soothing music and a comfy couch. After being told to lay back and feel comfortable, an entourage of skeptical media, enraged and confused fans, and most importantly the Flames coaching staff, performed their diagnosis on the Flames team. Forward, defense, coaching, core, faceoffs, intangibles? Opinions vary widely, although anyone claiming to have a handle on what happened in Chicago and projecting it out to a systematic, impossible to fix problem, or singling out one or two players to jettison out on the first bus, less than 3 weeks into a new season with a new coach and a new system and a division lead, needs some time on that same couch themselves. The best tonic for batting all the different opinions and analysis around, it hitting the ice as soon as possible. Although going up against a Columbus team having a franchise record start, the Flames have the luxury this evening of getting up off the couch, shaking out the cobwebs, and working to get over the sour taste left from a day ago quickly.
On The Line
The Flames still with one of their best starts to a season in the last decade, and the quirky schedule allows them to get their 7th game in already, and as mentioned, a chance to get back to a more normal NHL game routine and back into the flow. Columbus, without a game after tonight for another 4 nights and just back from a trip, looks to continue their positive start.
The Flow
The first period can best be described as feisty. Both teams came out looking for the bigger hits, and that culminated in a mid period fight between Brandon Prust and Jared Boll. Just prior to that, a Columbus faceoff win resulted in a point shot that eluded Kiprusoff, but the fight was already engaged. A scrappy period overall, the Blue Jackets favoring possession, as well as crashing the Flames net at every opportunity. Kiprusoff with some calming saves, including a fine save off a slot tip. The Flames consistent play resulting in a forecheck turnover, and Rene Bourque turns and fires a wrister from the top of the slot, where it was then tipped down and in by an attentive Curtis Glencross cruising across the front of the net. 1-0 Calgary, and the period from that point calmed overall on both benches. Shots ended up 11-9 Columbus after 1.
The second period continued the script of the latter half of the first; fairly non-descript. Derek Brassard and the Columbus forwards were buzzing around the somewhat unorganized Flames zone early, but Kiprusoff had his angles deadly accurate and Brassard’s shot dinged off the post, and light flyweight Mark Giordano then took a round out of Jason Chimera. A offensive zone giveaway by the goalscorer Glencross and a pinching Jay Bouwmeester, set up a Columbus 3 on 1 mid-period. Three acrobatic saves by Kiprusoff kept the score level. A Mark Giodano penalty, and another sparkling save on a reaction toe save from Kiprusoff. Soon after, a dubious Cory Sarich call has a bit of an odor to it, and the hook gives Columbus a 2 man advantage. Former Flame Anton Stralman fires a point shot to tie it, and with the second penalty just expiring, Adam Pardy decides watching the puck behind the net is more important than taking another former Flames Kristian Huselius sitting at the side of the net, and its 2-1 within a span of 2 minutes for the Calgary Blue Jackets. The Flames get out of the remaining two minutes of the period unscathed. All Columbus, outshooting the Flames 12-4 for a 25-13 advantage after 2 periods. Clearly a Flames team in need of some offensive pop, or, at least, some offensive possession to take some momentum back.
The third starts with even a fouler smelling interference call on Jay Bouwmeester before the ice is even dry, but the Flames calm and confidently kill that penalty. A quick whistle from Stephen Walkom evens up the poor second penalty call from the period previous and prevents a Jackets goal. The middle part of the period is fairly tedious and only in the last 2 minutes, are the Flames applying the pressure. A unfortunate bounce for Jarome Iginla after a Olli Jokinen rush, ends on Steve Mason’s pads. With goalie pulled, not enough Flames pressure on Columbus’ net, and the Flames suffer the first regulation loss of the season 2-1.
Three Stars
- Rick Nash: I guess. 2 assists, one a second assist on a 5 on 3, the other a back pass that should’ve never found an open Kristen Huselius.
- Miika Kiprusoff: Saved the Flames 3 or 4 times in the second with excellent saves, and followed up with 3 of the same in the 3rd. Best Flame by far.
- Anton Stralman: 1 goal and 21 minutes and the same solid looking, everyday NHL player Darryl Sutter traded away 3 weeks ago.
Big Save
For all Kiprusoff’s saves through the first 59 minutes, Steve Mason’s save off Jarome Iginla’s in-tight deflection prevents the Flames from obtaining at least one point on the evening late in the game with 1:10 to go.
Big Hit
Jared Boll bowling over Dustin Boyd was one of several large hits dished out by both teams, but this was a ceremonial hit, both Exhibit 1 of which team was in charge tonight, and of how things haven’t changed in some ways over last year, Boyd getting hammered once a game, and in general knocked off the puck.
The Goat
Say what you want about out of the blue penalties at the end of the second, or the lack of offensive punch. This writer was tempted to throw Iginla and Jokinen under the bus for general average play this year, although they were inches away from setting up a tying goal. Tonight’s goat is singled out to an individual, for both a game changing play, and for personifying the mindset of this team the last 2 or 3 games, and a perfect example of the frustration of watching the team as a fan. Adam Pardy’s clueless error watching the puck on Rick Nash’s stick, and then watching it go past him onto Kristian Huselius’ stick and then dug the puck out of the net. Just a perfect example of how this individual, and also this team’s collective heads are in the clouds and not properly paying attention to the details, making basic, simple mental errors that are costing points in the standings.
Odds and Ends
Flames lose first regulation game of the season, although the reaction after this road trip may be that the team is 0-6-1 not 4-2-1. Columbus 13-3-1 against the Flames in Columbus all time. Iginla and Jokinen are the offensive catalysts that are running dry, sure, hard to disagree. But in the first 4 games, 15 goals came from the point, either through direct shots, tipped shots, or rebounds. The last 2 games, none of the Flames 6 goals came with direct assistance from the blue liners. Where did those 2 penalties come from, a blip up to that point, and, save a poor call early in the 3rd, not found in the 3rd? Have other teams figured out to key on the points and close up the shooting lanes, not allowing the shots through? The Flames potent powerplay didn’t even get a full 2 minutes in their only effort, it was a 40 second advantage. Craig Conroy and Langkow each over 60% on faceoffs. Conroy especially solid at 65%. Brent Sutter’s comments after the game, saying he liked the effort and the mental state of the players up and down the bench, but not quite enough, obviously. A small consolation for some, and such a devastating blow yesterday to the swagger and psyche of the team, obviously takes more then 1 game and 24 hours to properly recover from. Is this team missing a 6th forward? The jury is still out on Moss, never mind his injury situation, and the platoon the last 3 games that has tried to spur Iginla and Jokinen don’t have the overall caliber to keep up. long term. A skilled guy who’s adept in puck possession and can carry and hold the puck in the offensive zone would be a valuable asset to that line, to both calm down the Flames star fowards, and set up the offensive zone attack. Nothing against Sjostrom, Eric Nystrom and David Moss, but to have a player who can take over the puck and be a basic provider to the Flames top two paid forwards, could help them get out of the starting slump they’ve had, and be a reliable resource to facilitate those two players having the big point production season this team needs. There are already a lot of “-” players on this team, adding a skilled player with possible defensive issues may have the positives outweigh the negatives.
That all said, its still early, and there is a learning curve with the new coach Sutter’s system. How else can you explain the two most reliable players the last 3 years, Regher and Lankgow, struggling? Too much thinking, not enough natural “doing”. The Flames still with an ok record considering this system and the learning curve, and too much thinking for this team or analysis or overreaction, isn’t going to solve anything early in the season. Like his time in New Jersey, Sutter’s team took about 2 months to fully adapt to his system…all the wins don’t look pretty, some of the losses look like complete breakdowns, but with strong and persistent leadership, the players on this team will learn this system…and drastic personnel moves, likely to be called for, are taking two steps back after 1 step forward. The next 11 days have a sparse 3 games, two against divisional opponents and one with this same Columbus team….that should be a telling stretch to watch the team work through the current issues. Are there issues? Sure. Are there major core concerns to be stressed out about as a fan after two or three average games? Hardly enough time to properly determine that.
Next Up
The Flames continue a peculiar October schedule, with another full 2 days off before hosting the Vancouver Canucks this Friday in Calgary. 7pm start, on Sportsnet and Fan 960.
Lines (To Start):
Sjostrom – Jokinen – Iginla
Bourque – Lankgow – Glencross
Nystrom – Conroy- Dawes
Prust – Boyd – McGrattan
Phaneuf – Regher
Bouwmeester – Giordano
Sarich – Pardy
