The Flames came off an up and down performance on Thursday night against the hottest team in the West, the Los Angeles Kings. While they were by far the better team in the first two periods, they failed to use their physical presence in the third and let the Kings back into the game.
On Saturday afternoon, as could likely be expected, the Flames didn’t have the physical edge that so clearly allows them to establish a solid game. While they Flames heartily outshot the Predators, and out chanced them, they didn’t dictate the flow of the game like they did on November 30th in Nashville, when the Flames demolished the Predators.
On The Line
The Flames have a tenuous hold on top spot in the North West division, with the afternoon tilt, they burn their game in hand on the Avalanche tied for points, so wins are always important.
The Flow
The games was ripe for the Predators taking to start things off, and they made no mistake. Taking advantage of the sleepy Flames play in the first half of the period, the Predators notched two goals. One less than five minutes in from Martin Erat, and the second coming just after a David Moss penalty expired. Calgary started to turn things around in the second half of the frame and cut the lead in half when Dion Phaneuf scored his second power-play goal in as many games. The Predators took the one goal lead into the break.
The Flames used the momentum gained in the latter half of the first to take the game to the Predators, massively out-shooting, and out-chancing the visitors where at one point the Flames held a shot edge of 14-4. Two goals from Jarome Iginla, one a brilliant shot off the post and in, the second from his knees and off of Dan Hamhuis. But before the period was out, the Flames started to get sloppy again, and just inside three minutes left in the period, the Predators evened things up on a missed coverage play by Aaron Johnson.
In a mirror of the start of the second, the Predators took the momentum of the late tying goal the period before and used it to carry the play to start the third. An unfortunate bounce for Daymond Langkow and Cody Franson had his third of the year to put the visitors up by one. Once Nashville started to try and shut down the flow of the game, and establish a defensive trap, the Flames were generally able to establish a consistent scoring threat in the Predators zone, often keeping Predator players out on long shifts. But the bounces really weren’t there for the Flames as on numerous occasions the puck slid wide, hopped over a cocked stick, or goaltender Dan Ellis managed to find the puck in the nick of time. Veteran Dave Scatchard iced things with an empty netter to make the final: 5-3.
Three Stars
1. Jarome Iginla: Iginla might have been lucky to get his second goal, but he was leading by example this afternoon. Two goals and an assist in the contest.
2. Martin Erat: Was the most dynamic player for the visitors in the first and third, and came away with a goal and two helpers.
3. Marcel Goc: The former Shark also managed a goal and two assists. His tying goal in the second set the tone for the Predators to start the third.
Big Save
In the third period Curtis Glencross turned on the jets and blew past Shea Weber for a chance to score but Dan Ellis challenged the speedy winger and cut off his time to make a play.
Big Hit
An extremely timid affair compared to the physical punishment of the Kings game on Thursday. The only thing that stands out was the demolishing of Wade Belak by Brian McGrattan, who takes punches like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I don’t think he feels anything.
The Goat
In general, the lack of physical play led to a sloppy looking game, and a relatively boring contest. It’s hard to tell who is responsible for the lack of physical play, you know it’s not how Brent Sutter wants to see things, but that lack of physicality is why the Flames lost today in this writer’s opinion.
Mr. Clutch
Dan Ellis may have allowed three goals, none of which he could be faulted for, and he made the saves he had to make when he was called upon.
Odds and Ends
Dion Phaneuf is playing with a world of confidence at the moment, and it’s no surprise that the Flames power-play is picking up steam now that the defence is started to get more involved in the offense. The Flames are starting to make the simple plays finally, and it’s really paying off for them on the power-play. It’s surprising that they couldn’t understand the simple process of make sure you move the puck quickly, if you don’t have a shot or a pass for a shot, then get rid of the puck and keep things moving. It’s basics.
Interesting to watch Phaneuf and Weber this afternoon. Both players are possible candidates for the Canadian Olympic team, and Phaneuf was far more visible, but that plays against him sometimes, like seeing him stuck out far too long on a shift, chasing an icing call and looking like he’s skating in mud. It might just be something that makes it seem like he’s playing lazy, but anyone can see it, and that’s sometimes all that you see, and that doesn’t bode well for the youngster.
Next Up
The Flames take on the Blues on Wednesday on TSN. The action starts at 7:30 MT.
Lines:
Glencross – Jokinen – Iginla
Dawes – Langkow – Bourque
Nystrom – Conroy – Moss
Sjostrom – Boyd – McGrattan
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Pardy – Johnson
Kiprusoff
