Is that it?
No it’s not, of course it’s not. It’s not right?
The Flames with only nine games to play on the schedule and getting very little by way of help from the teams they are chasing simply have to win most if not all of their games. Should’ they lose, well I guess you would target contests against San Jose, or Vancouver or maybe Phoenix. A game in Long Island against the Islanders? Not an acceptable defeat, but that’s exactly what happened when the Islanders scored two in the third to put the Flames already glum playoff chances in even more jeopardy.
Don’t get the golf clubs out, but it might be wise to look for them in the shed.
On The Line
The Violent Femmes put it well in the 80’s when they coined … “third verse same as the first”. Win needed. Seriously.
The Flow
Overall a sleepy start for the Flames where they go almost 10 minutes without a shot on goal and give up the first strike the Islanders. The Flames rebound quickly to tie it on a Nigel Dawes tip, sending the game to the second all tied up with the Isles out shooting Calgary 12-6.
The second featured a great story goal with Eric Nystrom putting his team up in front of his Dad and the Islander fans. The period featured next to nothing to be honest with the shots 5-2 Calgary.
The Flames were shocked early when Moulson scored to tie the game 30 seconds into the third period to put the Flames on their heels. A mid period penalty to Dawes resulted in an Islander goal just as he was about to come out of the penalty box, and the writing was on the wall. Big trouble.
Three Stars
1. Eric Nystrom: Great story on a tough night. Goal and an assist, should have punched Biron in the beak late to secure the Gordie Howe hat trick in front of his old man.
2. Matt Moulson: Scored a huge goal for the Islanders, his 27th of the season to alter the course of the game.
3. Martin Biron: Didn’t face a lot of shots but got the job done to secure the win.
Big Save
Midway through the second period a centered puck to Jarome Iginla resulted in an inhumane save by Martin Biron to keep the score tied at one. Game saver at that point.
Big Hit
Cory Sarich was a one man wrecking crew all night throwing out hit after hit after hit. His best was a second period tag team effort with Mark Giordano on Blake Comeau. The hit had Comeau upset enough to hit Giordano from behind and draw two minutes.
The Goat
Eric Nystrom shouldn’t carry the mail at this time of the season with as much on the line for the Flames as they currently face. The top line or top two lines just didn’t get the job done in terms of production or even chances. These same players are also partially to blame for the missed opportunity of six straight powerplay minutes in the first with almost no shots.
Mr. Clutch
Certainly not the ice crew in Long Island as the conditions were almost out door shinny quality … but honestly, no notable clutch players for the Flames outside of Nystrom and I already gave him a game star.
Odds and Ends
Despite the opening, it’s not over, but the Flames have altered their road trip enough to the extent that they now NEED to win back to back afternoon games in Boston and Washington. Might have been easier to take two in New York boys … sigh … The Flames powerplay has been a mess all season regardless of personnel or style. Seems that no matter the coach or the players, something about a Flaming “C” means ring the boards, then cycle, then ring the boards, then cycle, then ring the boards, then skate back to your own net to retrieve the puck. I thought the Kotalik on the point version in early February was about as dangerous as it’s looked all season, but they haven’t given us that look in a month or so. … The math is pretty simple, I think. 83 points, which has them 13 short of their “maybe” point with eight games to play. That’s 6-1-1. Margin is tiny.
Next Up
The Flames travel to Boston to play the Bruins on Saturday afternoon, PPV 1pm Eastern time, 11AM in Calgary
Lines:
Hagman – Stajan – Iginla
Bourque – Conroy – Kotalik
Dawes – Backlund – Moss
Sutter – Nystrom – Mayers
Regehr – White
Giordano – Sarich
Bouwmeester – Staios
Kiprusoff
