The Flames haven’t faced the Canucks since the month of October, when, while things were running pretty smoothly, they weren’t quite right. Through the month of November, the Flames hit a roll, but didn’t face the Canucks at all. Come December, the Flames were ripe for the picking wallowing in the winter doldrums as fans began to panic. Hopes were high that fans could be brought something to cheer about for Christmas, but all they received was a lump of frozen rubber in the back of the Flames net. Definitely nothing to cheer for.
On The Line
Divisional rivalry, with second place in the division up for grabs. The winner would take sole possession of second spot within striking distance of the leading Colorado Avalanche.
The Flow
This one was ugly. The Flames started the scoring when Jarome Iginla tipped in his 20th of the season, but shortly thereafter, the Canucks responded 4 on 4 with two quick goals 34 seconds apart from Henrik Sedin and Kyle Whale…well…wood. After that it was Mason Raymond with a nifty deflection right in front and then a bizarre one that this writer can’t help but feel will resonate in the head of Miikka Kiprusoff for a long time to come. Never even seeing the dump in, the puck hit his shoulder, off the post and in, for Raymond’s second of the night. The period ended to a shower of boos for the home team. Rightfully so.
The second completed Mayson Raymond’s night as he finished off the hat-trick on the power play after Curtis McElhinney, in to replace Kiprusoff, bit hard on a fake shot that was passed right to Raymond with the net wide open. That was all this game really needed. The Flames failed to mount much of anything, though they did outshoot the Canucks by a margin of 13-11 in the frame.
The third was forgettable. The game was in the books by the end of the second period.
Three Stars
1. Mason Raymond: The Cochrane native seems to be coming into his own this season. While one of his three goals was a lucky bounce, they all count.
2. Roberto Luongo: When he’s on, he’s inside the head of the Flames for sure. After allowing the first goal, he shut the door with authority.
3. Henrik Sedin: Part 1 of the bubble headed Sedin twins seems to strike fear in the hearts of the Flames. At least one of them always seems to manage something against Calgary. Henrik got the ball rolling for the visitors.
Big Save
It was late in the third, and the game was pretty much in hand, but Mark Giordano will be watching the replay of his chance with 5 minutes left in the third in his head over and over again.
Big Hit
We’ll give this one to the spirited fight between Eric Nystrom and Kevin Bieksa. Tired of being beaten on the scoreboard and on the ice, Nystrom took matters into his own hands against a much bigger Bieksa.
The Goat
Just one look at the goals scored on Miikka Kiprusoff and you know it was one of his off nights. However, when all that awful arrives in the first period, it’s pretty easy to tell why you lost.
Mr. Clutch
Sometimes it’s due to luck, but Mason Raymond put the bullet in the heart of the Calgary Flames tonight. The look on Brent Sutter’s face after his second goal tells you everything.
Odds and Ends
This is definitely one of those games that you just forget about for as long as you can until some jerk faced Canucks fan brings it up. But what is becoming very disconcerting for Flames fans is how awful they’ve been at home all season. One of the only consistent things about the Flames this season has been the play of the team on home ice. It’s a bizarro world rendition of the away team, and if the team stops being able to win on the road, well, then we’re in for some real problems. Someone please calm these frazzled nerves because fans can’t take these kinds of performances. What started as mild amusement at the panic from certain elements of the fan base is starting to spread to the more level headed bunch. You can’t explain away this game as bad bounces entirely, but the month of December has been nothing short of disaster for the Flames who find them perilously close to 4th place in the division. Something has to change, and the team doesn’t seem to be responding to the call of the head (Brent Sutter) so the indications are that there is definitely something wrong with the body.
Next Up
The Flames head up the road to Edmonton to face the equally despondent Oilers tomorrow night. Catch the game from the Edmonton perspective on Sportsnet West starting at 7PM MT. Or bury your head in the sand and wait for the bad times to cease.
Lines:
Iginla – Jokinen – Conroy
Dawes – Langkow – Bourque
Glencross – Nystrom – Moss
Prust – Boyd – McGrattan
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Pardy – Johnson
Kiprusoff/McElhinney
