Games in Chicago are never easy for the Calgary Flames.
Regardless of era, good Hawks, bad Hawks, indifferent Hawks the Flames have never had much luck in the Windy City, likely some Karma bite from Willi Plett’s game winner from center ice to sweep them in the 1980. Tonight was no different as some penalty trouble bit the Flames to the tune of a 4-2 loss.
On The Line
The Flames need two points to salvage their road trip at .500. They deserved better in the two games in Florida but at the end of the day it’s 0-1-2 through three games in need of that “1” at the front.
The Flow
Good start from the Flames as they push early and have a few great chances including a Lee Stempniak chance. The Hawks find their legs and score on a dominant shift midway through the period.
Second essentially all Chicago. Between being short and being listless the Flames simply don’t put in the effort needed to get back in the game. Two goals in the second make it 3-0 Hawks through two periods with the writing firmly on the wall.
Calgary shows up in the third and brings it back to 3-1 when an Olli Jokinen blast beats Emery on a Calgary powerplay. Then a series of odd calls leads to a mid period 5 on 3 for Chicago and the game was out of reach.
Three Stars
1. Marian Hossa: Goal and an assist to pace the Hawks.
2. Oli Jokinen: Matched Hossa’s production in another solid two way performance in the Oli Resurgence.
3. Ray Emery: Was really good in the first ten minutes, and then again in the last ten to keep the Flames at bay.
Big Save
With the game scoreless Ray Emery makes a great poke check on Lee Stempniak with the Flame in tight and about to tuck the puck into the empty cage. Kiprusoff made some “gooders” but the timing of that play was huge in the game.
Big Hit
A dirty hit, possibly accidentally dirty, but Rene Bourque murdered the Hawks defenseman Seabrook from behind when the blueiner lost the puck in the Ref’s skates and turned his head to find the lost biscuit. Unfortunate set of circumstances.
The Goat
You could pick any Flame player more or less, but the referees had a particularly tough night in this one. Too many calls made based on what they thought happened and not what actually happened. Sad.
Mr. Clutch
I liked TJ Brodie in this one. He was moving his feet and providing a really unpredictable element to the Flames attack.
Odds and Ends
Tough night for calls on the Calgary side. The broken stick of Stepniak somehow landed him a slashing penalty. The TJ Brodie shove on Kane was hardly a minor, then Sharp gets his stick in on Morrison on a break with no call. Then to make it all nice and tidy they give Calgary a bench minor for complaining about this series of events. Result? Goal of course. Nice work. … Watched the game on the Chicago feed for kicks; so funny. Not sure why some of these market based broadcasts get so biased. Are Calgary guys like that and I’m just used to it? Either way good for a laugh or two. … Really liked TJ Brodie’s game tonight. Really moving the puck, really jumping up in the play, and making things happen. The kid is firmly part of this team’s future, I always got that, but he seems to be a big part of the now too. … Stajan didn’t return for the third period and could be injured. Jokinen was hurt too but did return.
Next Up
x.
Lines:
Glencross – Jokinen – Iginla
Comeau – Backlund – Stepniak
Bourque – Morrison – Nemisz
Jackman – Stajan – Kotsopolous
Butler – Bouwmeester
Smith – Hannan
Brodie – Sarich
Kiprusoff
