Is this team tired?
That’s the feeling in watching a hockey game where the Flames didn’t seem to have a whole lot of get up and go. Five games in seven nights is a tough schedule. But if you follow that up with two days off and then back to back road games maybe it’s too much? Athletes hate excuses, but the Flames looked zapped in a 4-1 loss in Minny tonight.
On The Line
Division rival so you want to bring it, but with five in a row it would seem extreme to put too much impetus on a game like this. The Flames are all process, just another step towards late April, right?
The Flow
If Calgary had a period it was the first. Opened the scoring on a back to back Jokinen goal (don’t see that often), but had the Wild tie it up and force a 1-1 period. Kiprusoff was gold as per usual.
From there the second and third were pretty much the same with the Flames sleep walking through a game and the Wild only too happy to just take the two points. The compete level for the Flames just wasn’t there for most of the game.
Three Stars
1. Eric Belanger: Ok the Flames lost, but you have to think it’s cool to see a guy score two in his 600th game.
2. Kyle Brodziak: Ex-Oiler applies the knife with a goal and an assist against his former provincial foes.
3. Nick Schultz: Minny rock picks up two assists in the win, game well done for the minute munching blueliner..
Big Save
Guillaume Latendresse thought he had Kiprusoff short side on a high rising shot only to have his mitt come up and stone the former Hab. Even had his hands in the air.
The Goat
Calgary skill … no show, no chance, nuff said.
Mr. Clutch
Miikka Kiprusoff. No game star in giving up four, but he gave his team a chance to steal a point. Has the guy had an off night this season?
Odds and Ends
Tough way to get back into things for Cory Sarich, having to play back to back nights. He was victimized for sure on the Clutterbuck goal in the third, losing the puck in his feet and then falling down. He’ll get there. … Still like the lines as they stand. Jokinen seems to be much more happy with Bourque and Dawes, and Iginla Langkow has always made sense. The Conroy injury has created an interesting AHL line with Boyd, Moss and Nystrom. Boyd played his best game of the season in Nashville in my opinion. … Anyone else surprised to see Johnson scratched before Pardy? Pardy has played well in the last few games, but Johnson is money game in and game out.
Next Up
The Flames come home from their split two game road rip and take on the Jackets at the Dome on Friday night. Game time 7pm Sportsnet.
Lines:
Glencross – Langkow – Iginla
Dawes – Jokinen – Bourque
Nystrom – Conroy – Moss
Sjostrom – Boyd – Prust
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Pardy – Johnson
Kiprusoff
