The Flames just may be an artsy bunch.
Last season with their campaign in turmoil it was the West Side Story that turned things around. A hard back to basics practice session at the West Side arena in Calgary remade their season, sending them up the standings and into solid playoff stead.
This year it just might be another musical score dancing in their heads as they attempt to incorporate the Sutter System on a full time basis; Chicago (sans Richard Gere).
For if the last 125 minutes of hockey since the “Chicago” debacle are any indication then perhaps the Flames have their season turning point, as the club continued their strong road ways in dropping a 3-2 shoot out decision in Anaheim.
On The Line
You know what? Not a heck of a lot. Sure they are only a point back of the Avalanche for the division lead, but the Lanche are well … lanching, so that’s hardly a kick point. Really it’s just putting that mess against Chicago further in the rear view mirror as they continue the process towards a new club. A Sutter club.
The Flow
The Flames started strong, out shooting the Ducks badly in the first period and taking the lead on a Curtis Glencross strike. However a brutal Jamie Lundmark cough up turned the tide as the Ducks scored twice and emerged with a somewhat unearned 2-1 first period lead.
The tables turned in the second as the Ducks used three straight penalties to the Flames to run up the shot count and force Miikka Kiprusoff to earn his pay check. The Flames escaped unscathed and actually took the play to the Ducks for the last eight minutes of the period.
In the third it was ALL Calgary. The fact that the score stayed the same until the final minute was probably somewhat unjust for a charging Calgary team that ripped up the shot clock and had all kinds of territorial advantage. Finally a Jokinen/Iginla give and go resulted in an Iginla game tying goal and the game went to overtime.
In OT not a whole lot happened, though the Ducks did carry the play. In the shoot out the only scorer was Teemu Selanne who worked Kiprusoff with a classic speed then stop then flip play.
Three Stars
1. J.S. Giguere: The difference maker in this game. The struggling goaltender was air tight in turning back the Flames in the third and giving his team a chance to win.
2. Olli Jokinen: Starting to move the puck with authority again. Would still love to see him take the puck to the house on his own, but his two assists in this one were huge.
3. Corey Perry: Stretched his point streak to 15 games with an assist, jumped on Kiprusoff twice, and lead his team with seven shots.
Big Save
Both goaltenders were very strong, but pick any of a dozen third period saves for Giguere in keeping his team in the game and pushing the Ducks to victory. The Flames took the puck to the net, moved the puck to the point for blasts, everything but score through 19.5 minutes.
Big Hit
Bobby Ryan caught Mark Giordano coming across the blueline in the third with a 1/3 open ice hit that sent both players spinning to the ice.
The Goat
Jamie Lundmark. Hate to pick on the guy, but his gaff gave the Ducks the game tying goal and perhaps the momentum for the next one. Simply inexcusable at the NHL level.
Mr. Clutch
Jarome Iginla … what a goal and at what a time. He starts the rush with less than 30 seconds to play, then finishes it with yet another November wrister snipe to tie the score.
Odds and Ends
Sometimes losses just feel … well … good. This was one of them. Calgary teams of the past three years would not have found that third period, or really any facsimile of that third period. They found the goal and earned a point, likely deserved better. But the process steps are likely more important than anything. There will be more bumps in the road, but this two game road trip did a lot to prove the team is getting better. Just avoid those damn Hawks. … Calgary’s powerplay came up empty again but they were moving around much better, and getting better chances as a result. Phaneuf and Bouwmeester seem to be developing powerplay chemistry. … McGrattan and Parros had a spirited first period tilt, one which didn’t feature a whole lot of landed punches. Only saw it once, but it appeared the Calgary player landed a fierce jab to end it. … Miikka Kiprusoff is a different player this season, and you see it game in and game out. Moving laterally much quicker, fast to get out of the paint, smother rebounds, and just on his toes. Very good sign. That contract doesn’t look so bad again suddenly.
Next Up
The Flames return home to host the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday night. 7.30 pm (TSN).
Lines:
Lundmark – Jokinen – Iginla
Dawes – Langkow – Moss
Conroy – Boyd – Glencross
McGrattan – Nystrom – Prust
Regehr – Phaneuf
Sarich – Bouwmeester
Pardy – Giordano
Kiprusoff
