Only in the topsy turvy world of Calgary Flames hockey can a general manager make two drastic trades in order to add more offense up front, end up with the same lack of finish, but a tighter more defensive unit.
And that’s exactly what we’ve seen from the Calgary Flames in the last two nights. The club filled the net (it’s all relative) against Carolina, but had trouble in both Florida and Tampa despite shutting their opposition down; tonight losing a 2-1 overtime game to the Lightning.
Through two periods the Flames gave the Bolts nothing, and should have been up more than 1-0, and that was their downfall in a game that did give them a point against Detroit, who lost to the Kings earlier.
On The Line
Sort of two schools of thought. One, time is of the essence with less than a third of the season to play and the team far too close to the Maginot line of playoff futility. The other school points out the change of the last six days and the fact that these games are more about gelling then results.
The Flow
A dominant first period for the Flames as they pressed the issue and gave up little defensively. The Flames out shot the Lightning 11-5 in the frame, a continuation of their contest in Florida, but only managed to find the cage on a late Mark Giordano powerplay shot.
The second was more of the same. Both teams playing a careful game and giving up little but the Flames out shooting Tampa again, this time to the tune of 9-5 as they protect their slim lead into the third period.
The Flames have only lost one game all season in regulation time after leading through forty minutes, but they gave that record a test tonight. First the Bolts tie things up early, and then the Flames, clearly out of gas, struggle through the rest of the period having played the night before in Florida. A late chance By Downie robbed by Kiprusoff to preserve a point.
Overtime had the Flames almost finding the cage when 1000 game man Daymond Langkow and newcomer Niklas Hagman creating havoc, but in the end it’s a weak goal by Andrej Meszaros through Kiprusoff that yields the winner.
Three Stars
1. Andrej Meszaros: Literally nobody stood out in this game, at least as far as skaters went so we’ll give first star to the game winner.
2. Miikka Kiprusoff: Didn’t face a lot of shots and did cough up the winner in overtime, but the Flames would be pointless without his late save on Downie.
3. Antero Niittymaki: Wasn’t tested with a lot of high quality shots but was solid over the course of 63 minutes.
Big Save
With a 1-1 tie and only 75 seconds on the clock Miikka Kiprusoff comes out of his net and stones Steve Downie on a bang bang play giving the Flames a huge road point.
Big Hit
Zenon Konopka (is there a single normal name in this game story?) was a loose canon all night running around and playing the body, but he played victim when Adam Pardy creamed him into the half wall boards in the third period shaking the glass for six feet in either direction.
The Goat
Calgary skill? I don’t know. A pretty good road game overall, but you have to think if a Calgary skill player could have found the handle on a chance in the first forty this one was over.
Mr. Clutch
Steve Stamkos on the tying goal. How many players would even attempt the falling down backward wedge in order to take advantage of an empty net on a rebound. Most players would have stopped it spun and likely found the goaltender back in position.
Odds and Ends
The Flames lost Rene Bourque on an open ice hit in the first period with Kurtis Foster coming out of the penalty box. He had the puck so it’s not interference, but there has to be a rule change or a call on a play like that when a player couldn’t possibly know a hit is coming. Somewhat similar to the Toews pasting earlier in the season. The team went down two men when Ales Kotalik was tossed for not having his jersey tied down. I can understand his thinking in a way, what are his chances for getting in a scrap, but tie it down buddy … Had to laugh at the Dion Phaneuf love in on HNIC 6 days after the trade sending the dman to Toronto. Just three weeks ago when Calgary played in Vancouver it was drive by shooting after drive by shooting on the player. Now he’s “a million bucks” and a “superstar”. Kills me … Chris Higgins is addictive as an addition to the Flames. The guy is money in the trenches, but I have to wonder how he ever managed 20 goals at the NHL level with his hands. I hope he stays in Calgary past June 30th, but at 65% of his current wage (likely doubtful). … I know I’m the anti-Iginla guy and people hate that, but has anyone else noticed how often plays have died on his stick with his two new Leaf linemates? He just seems a step behind. … Mark Giordano? Maybe the Flames should send all their prospects to Russia for a year. What a massive growth curve over the past 20 months. Unreal. … The Avalanche, playing the Oilers tonight are only one point up on the Flames in the West as the Flames with points in four of five games are reeling in the bottom half of the conference playoff teams. Hold the death clock, the season may not be over yet.
Next Up
Calgary completes the three game road trip in Ottawa on Tuesday night. Game time 5.30 pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Hagman – Stajan – Iginla
Higgins – Langkow – Kotalik
Glencross – Backlund – Bourque
Nystrom – Mayers – Boyd
Regehr – White
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Pardy – Sarich
Kiprusoff
