Statistically, the numbers will tell you the Calgary Flames have a less than 25% chance at qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
What the statistics don’t factor in however, are a few important variables. Momentum – Calgary coming from 9 points back in just a couple weeks to even the standings as Colorado plummeted from a solid position. Experience – The much older and presumably wiser Calgary team, being able to stay cool under the pressure and not wilt away; see Avalanche. Confidence – goes hand in hand with momentum right now. And the final factor that no statistic will bring up…which team features Miikka Kiprusoff between the pipes?
Well, that just happens to be the Calgary Flames.
On this day however, Calgary couldn’t find the bounces and Kiprusoff couldn’t find the magic as the spirited Flames fell 4-1 to the Blackhawks.
On The Line
Same thing, different game. Just win. Up against the odds today, the Calgary Flames play their kryptonite, the Chicago Blackhawks. With the Flames winless in 7 against the Hawks and most losses by a fair margin, today represents their biggest test out of their remaining 4 games. Throw in the fact that this game is an afternoon affair, and you can start to see why a lot of people are counting Calgary out of this contest. Chicago clinched their division with Detroit losing earlier today, but they still have a shot at the top seed in the conference and still have lots to play for. Desperation however? Calgary should have more of that.
As big as Calgary winning this game, it means nothing if Colorado also wins their game tonight. They host the San Jose Sharks later today with a 6:00 pm start. A Calgary win today could really apply the pressure to the Avalanche who will be sure to have an eye or two on this one.
The Flow
Calgary got exactly the start they wanted, generating a great scoring chance on the first shift and controlled the majority of the play early. As luck in Chicago would have it, that of course meant nothing. The Blackhawks opened the scoring on their first scoring chance of the game after nothing but Calgary pressure. Tomas Kopecky backhanded a bad angle shot that banked off the boards behind the net from a Hjalmarsson point shot and beat Kiprusoff cleanly. Calgary kept the pressure coming and seemed undeterred by that goal, but some great netminding by Antti Niemi kept the Flames off the score sheet. With under a minute left, Troy Brouwer scored a heartbreaker, finding a rebound and backhanding his 22nd of the year in to a wide open net for the harrowing 2-0 lead.
The 2nd period was mostly Chicago. The Hawks applied good pressure to Calgary and had them more worried about keeping the puck out of their own net than they were about trying to tie the game. Chicago increase their lead to 3 when Patrick Kane made a great individual effort and fired a hard wrister over the right shoulder of Kiprusoff and under the crossbar for the goal. Things were looking bleak for Calgary before Ian White emulated Patrick Kane by beating the Chicago defender by himself and snapped home his 12th of the year, giving Calgary a pulse heading to the 3rd period down by 2 instead of 3.
Calgary did carry the momentum in to the 3rd, out shooting the Blackhawks 11-8 in the final frame and out chancing them 7-2. But the Flames could not get any luck…as is always the case in this building. Tons of pressure and scoring chances but just nothing to show for it. Chicago added a late goal by Byfuglien and made it a final, 4-1.
Three Stars
1. Antti Niemi: The young Finn was outstanding in turning aside 25 of 26 shots. Nothing spectacular but always there to frustrate the Flames.
2. Patrick Kane: A goal and an assist and just dangerous all game.
3. Mikael Backlund: Another assist to extend his streak to 5 points in 4 games. Best Flames forward once again. Does he ever make a bad play?
Big Save
Antti Niemi stopped Niklas Hagman on a breakaway when the score was 2-0 in the 2nd period. The Flames forward bobbled the puck but still managed a shot and Niemi was there to answer the bell. Shortly thereafter the Hawks went down the ice and scored to make it 3-0.
Big Hit
Nothing to write home about. Pretty chippy game but no bone-crushers to report.
The Goat
Jarome Iginla. The Calgary captain was close to being the worst player on the ice. In a game this important, not a good time to go to sleep. His line mates were bad too, but Jarome just needs to be better.
Mr. Clutch
Patrick Kane. Scored the backbreaking goal to make it 3-0, and always seems to kill the Flames in big games.
Odds and Ends
Calgary as a whole wasn’t bad today. Scoring chances were equal, they just didn’t find the luck. They were the better team in the 1st and 3rd period, but Niemi frustrated them at every turn. Backlund, Kotalik, White, Bouwmeester, and Moss were all solid. Iginla, Bourque, Hagman, Stajan…no shows. Calgary is in tough now. If Calgary wins their 3 remaining games and Colorado wins tonight, the Avalanche then only need to win 2 of their next 4. If Colorado loses tonight, They would require a 3-1 record if Calgary can win their remaining 3. Two home games coming up, against the suddenly beatable Sharks and should-be beatable Wild. Then a road game in Vancouver when the Canucks will hopefully have nothing to play for. Three very win-able games, let’s just hope San Jose can win tonight.
Next Up
The conference leading San Jose Sharks come to Calgary on Tuesday, for a 7:30 pm start. Catch it on TSN(HD) and the Fan 960.
Lines:
Hagman – Stajan – Iginla
Bourque – Backlund – Kotalik
Dawes – Conroy – Moss
Sutter – Nystrom – Mayers
Regehr – White
Giordano – Sarich
Bouwmeester – Staios
Kiprusoff
