Well all hockey games aren’t meant to be Rembrandt’s.
You have your share of paint by numbers, velvet dogs playing pool, vase sitting on a desk with boring flowers … they won’t all work out. The Flames played a good road game in Phoenix tonight, disciplined, fairly tight in their own zone, good chances to pull away, but just didn’t get it done in a 2-1 loss to the Coyotes.
On The Line
Not a whole lot to be honest. With a great November the Flames are in great shape in the standings. With a three win start to the trip they are in great shape on a road trip. Great teams push all year long though, and the Flames want to be in that elite group, so there’s your angle.
The Flow
A great start for the Flames as they pour it on early and run up the shot clock, but fail to score. The Coyotes found their legs and owned the middle ten minutes of the stanza but ran into a red hot Kiprusoff and came up empty.
The home team found their legs early in the second and managed to carry most of the play. Pressure lead to some calls and the Flames were forced to burn out a two man Coyote advantage only to have the Coyotes strike just after the kill. From there the Flames found their legs and took it to the Coyotes to conclude the period, ending up 10-8 in shots.
A terrible Calgary powerplay attempt in the third sapped the team’s energy, resulting in a David Moss penalty. The Flames appeared to have things in defensive control. Things weren’t firing offensively but a quiet road game that was well in control when Taylor Pyatt jumped through a seam and put the Coyotes up late. Some good Calgary chances just didn’t find the mark to seal the loss.
Three Stars
1. Taylor Pyatt: Scored the game winner … nuff said. Plus set up a golden chance in the first period that could have put the Yotes ahead early.
2. Miikka Kiprusoff: Was outstanding in the first and second period to keep the Flames in it when they stumbled through some serious Coyote ugly.
3. Illya Bryzgalov: Wasn’t as busy as Kiprusoff in the golden opportunity department, but faced rubber and got the job done only giving up a goal.
Big Save
Kiprusoff’s lateral movement is right back to the 2004 version of the goaltender, something he proved when he moved across to stone Winnick on a point blank rebound stacking the pads. In the second he added to the list with a stoning of former Flames Adrian Aucoin on a one timer.
Big Hit
Robyn Regehr thundered Michalek into the boards, catching partly side and partly numbers to put the Flames down two men in the second period. .. Also loved the Aaron Johnson puck between his own legs to dump it in the corner only to turn around and pummel Shane Doan.
The Goat
No real goat in this one, the Flames pitched a decent road game but came up empty. Happens.
Mr. Clutch
Already gave Kiprusoff a game star but he was clearly the best of the guys in white. He’s been money this season through two months, and all this from a very slow starter traditionally. The shutout streak may be over, but his strong play isn’t.
Odds and Ends
The Flames have been piling up wins all season, some in games they dominate, some in games they break even, and others in games where they seem to get out played. Tonight the Flames probably deserved a better fate, but didn’t find the two points. They seemed angry. Good. … Olli Jokinen may be playing well this month (and he is), but he should not be the half wall set up guy on the powerplay. That’s a coaching mistake (Lowry?). He should be the corner down low guy or even the guy screening with his size, but he’s not the decision maker for the set up. … Aaron Johnson is a solid 6/7 defenseman and good addition to the club. He will never be the guy to move up the roster or even hold off the next guard rising up, but a very good plug for the Flames. … Will be very interesting to see how the streaking Flames react to a loss given their next opponent is the 1st place Sharks; the team the Flames are chasing. Good test in any light, but huge given the loss in Phoenix.
Next Up
Next up the Flames travel to Silicon Valley to take on the Sharks; 8pm CBC.
Lines:
Bourque – Jokinen – Iginla
Dawes – Langkow – Moss
Conroy – Boyd – Glencross
McGrattan – Nystrom – Prust
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Johnson – Pardy
Kiprusoff
