It hasn’t been a great week for the Calgary Flames. The club started off a homestand basking in the satisfaction that they had finally worked their way into a playoff spot, then promptly fell back out of that position by turning in consecutive losses to very beatable teams. First there was that huge steaming turd of a game against Edmonton – a crap team that steamrolled the Flames because the Flames turned out an even crappier effort. Next there was a shootout loss to Phoenix in a game that the Flames had command of until they simply decided not to play the second and third periods. The lack of skill and effort displayed by the Flames in these games was enough to drive GM Jay Feaster to unleash his frustration in a television interview, as he essentially threatened the team through the media that if the wins were not going to be immediately forthcoming, the changes would be. Not a promise to be taken lightly in the shadow of Monday’s NHL trade deadline.
With a logjam of teams in competition for 8th on the west and the Flames still very much on the bubble, Feaster’s final decision likely rests heavily on the outcome of tonight’s game against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.
On The Line
It can not be overstated how important each and every game is if the Flames want to continue to push for the post-season, and apparently if they want to keep their team together. A loss tonight may not only drive a nail into their playoff hopes; it may be the catalyst for sweeping changes in the dressing room. If Feaster’s words are true, it is likely not an exaggeration to say that this game is the most important game in a very long time for the Calgary Flames: one that will determine whether the organization will attempt to stay the course with it’s longtime core, or truly start selling and begin the rebuilding process that some fans so desperately long for. One way or the other, it will certainly be interesting.
The Flow
Although the Flyers came out shooting, the Flames would draw first blood. Three minutes into the period, with Claude Giroux in the sin bin for holding, the Flames would take the lead with a power play strike from Mark Giordano – a shot that coincidentally was their first shot on goal. Amazingly, the Flames would also convert on their second try, when new-found offensive juggernaut Matt Stajan found the net with a low shot that eluded Ilya Bryzgalov. With the home team suddenly enjoying a 2-0 lead just over five minutes in, the Flyers’ Peter Laviolette called a time out to settle the troops. Philly would respond by controlling the play for much of the next five minutes and generating several good chances. Miikka Kiprosuff, as usual, was flawless. The second half of the period was a penalty-filled affair that saw the teams trade chances, but the Flames would retain their 2-0 lead going into the intermission.
Second periods have been the Flames’ kryptonite as of late, and they really needed to come out swinging in this one in order to buck the trend. When the Flyers came out with grit and attitude and tried to push the Flames around, it seemed to be the tonic that the Calgary club needed. The Flames rose to the occasion, refusing to be intimidated physically even though neither team looked terribly dangerous offensively. The Flames did manage to create a few chances, and Mark Giordano squared off against Scott Hartnell, putting an exclamation mark on a feud that had been simmering between the two since early in the game. Give the win to Giordano, who landed several heavy shots after Hartnell was unable to get his arm free to fire back. By the period’s midpoint the Flames had registered 4 shots on net against the Flyers’ lowly one – not numbers that will set the world on fire, but a nice change from the way things have been going for them lately. Philly was handed a power play opportunity when Jay Bouwmeester was sent off for hooking, but the Calgary penalty kill was outstanding. So good, in fact, that the majority of the chances during the penalty belonged to the Flames – right up until Tom Kostopoulos wired a hard wrister that beat Bryzgalov for the Flames’ first short handed goal of the season and a 3-0 Calgary lead. The Flyers though, were not going to go quietly into the night. The shift following the Kostopoulos goal was all Philly, and shortly therafter Jakub Voracek outmuscled Derek Smith and took the puck to the Calgary net, beating Kiprusoff with a low wrist shot to put his team on the board. The Flames managed to push back briefly, but the Flyers weren’t done. With a measly 30 seconds remaining in the period, Braydon Coburn ripped a long slap shot from the top of the left circle that bounced off of a defending Scott Hannan into into the Calgary cage to make it a one goal game.
The third started much the same way the second finished – with Philadelphia dominating the play. Between the 15 minute mark of the second and the 3 minute mark of the third, the Flyers outshot the Flames 12-0. The Flames were awarded a power play when Mazime Talbot was called for roughing on Blake Comeau, but they looked disorganized with the man advantage and were unable to capitalize. Philly would get their turn on the power play moments later when the Flames were called for too many men, and things went from bad to worse when Matt Stajan was banished for boarding 30 seconds later. The Flyers would make the most of the 2-man advantage when Hartnell deflected a Timonen shot past Kiprusoff to tie the game at 3. Alex Tanguay would stop the bleeding and put the Flames back in top when he was awarded a penalty shot and beat Bryzgalov soundly with a slick deke, but Philly would come storming back less than two minutes later when Nicklas Grossman whipped a wrist shot at the Calgary net that somehow beat Kiprusoff and drew the teams even once more. You had to know that the last 7 minutes were going to be fast and furious, and they didn’t disappoint. Both teams stepped up their play looking for the game-winning goal with wide-open, end-to-end rushes. It stinks to see a game decided by a penalty, and there had to be a lot of breath-holding going on at the ‘dome when Olli Jokinen was sent off for slashing with barely 2 minutes left. Amazingly, the Flames were able to kill the penalty – in no small part due to some last-minute heroics from Kiprusoff. Once again, we were headed for overtime.
The Flames definitely owned the better chances in overtime, but the extra frame ultimately solved nothing. Despite outshooting the Flyers x-x, the Flames couldn’t find the net and the teams would be forced to the shootout to determine who would take home the extra point.
In the shootout the Flames chose to shoot first, sending Olli Jokinen over the boards to try a backhand/forehand move that didn’t fool Bryzgalov at all. Fortunately, James Van Reimsdyk didn’t fare any better at the other end of the ice, losing the puck completely and failing to even get a shot on Kiprusoff. Alex Tanguay was next up for the Flames, using the exact same move that worked for him in the third period. This time, however, Bryzgalov stacked the pads to deny the goal. Philadelphia countered with Danny Briere, who looked like he was having a seizure as he tried to out-deke Kiprusoff. In a scene reminiscent of “Raiders of the Lost Ark“, Kiprusoff simply ignored the fancy stickhandling display and knocked the puck away with a nonchalant-looking poke check. Mike Cammalleri gave the ‘dome crowd something to cheer about when he tallied one for the Flames with a hard wrist shot that burned past Bryzgalov on the high glove side, but Claude Giroux answered right back by roofing a shot past Kiprusoff. Moving into round 4, Jarome Iginla went with an elaborate deke attempt that Bryzgalov read correctly and stopped, and a Wade Simmonds managed to beat Kiprusoff but not the post, extended the competition to round 5. Curtis Glencross tried a hard snap shot that Bryzgalov got just enough of to turn aside, but Matt Read would complete the comeback by ripping a hard shot high glove side on Kiprusoff to win the shootout and the game.
Three Stars
1. Scott Hartnell: The guy is a beast. He scores, he fights, and he was both dangerous offensively and extremely agitating to the Flames’ players every time he was on the ice – which by the way, was for just over 20 minutes.
2. Mikka Kiprusoff: Yes, he lost the puck on the 4th goal, but he also stopped 41 of 45 shots and gave his team a chance to win. Playoffs or not, Kiprusoff has to be a lock for Flames MVP this season, and it’s not even close.
3. Claude Giroux: Like Hartnell, he gave the Flames fits every time he was on the ice. Contributed a pair of assists and played more than 24 minutes – that’s defenseman territory.
Big Save
Where would the Flames be without Mikka Kiprusoff? Although his work tonight probably won’t make any highlight reels, he was solid once again and the Flames probably wouldn’t have gotten a point out of this without him. Kiprusoff looked a little more mortal tonight, but he has been seeing a tremendous amount of rubber lately – you have to think his back must be getting awfully sore trying to carry this team.
Big Hit
Lance Bouma absolutely destroyed Andrej Meszaros on the boards behind the Philly net, hammering the Flyers’ defenseman with a thunderous bodycheck that threw both players to the ground. Bouma actually played a solid, physical game, doing his best to agitate and hit anything that moved around him.
The Goat
Pick one. Allowing 40+ shots on goal-again?. The disappearance of the Flames’ first line? Glencross gets a pass because he just came back from a major injury, but Iginla and Jokinen have both been more or less MIA for the last 3 games. Derek Smith struggled tonight, but again he’s coming off a major injury and is likely over his head being slotted in on the first pairing. Honestly, the worst (and defining) aspect of the game was the Flames’ inability to hold a lead. As if blowing a 2-goal lead over Phoenix on Thursday wasn’t enough, they bested that mark tonight by gassing a 3-0 lead. Absolutely unacceptable.
Mr. Clutch
How do you hand out an award for clutch play on a night when the team blew a commanding lead in a game that they absolutely HAD to win? Alex Tanguay was much better tonight that he has been recently, and his penalty shot goal in the third period put the Flames back in the lead and gave them a chance to redeem themselves. Unfortunate that he couldn’t duplicate the success in the shootout, but it never should have gotten to that point.
Odds and Ends
Guillaume Desbiens played his first game in Flames silks and looked good sitting on the bench. When will the Flames figure out that they really don’t need goons anymore?……..I’m glad Derek Smith is healthy again, but it might have been smart to try and bring him back up to speed in a little more gradual fashion. He really seemed to struggle in the first pairing tonight, and his inability to contain Jakub Voracek led directly to Philadelphia’s third goal tonight……..so where do the Flames go from here? Their inability to win when it is required has dropped them to 11th place. Yes, the standings are very tight and the difference between 11th and 8th is only one measly point, so it is still entirely within the realm of possibility that the Flames could still make the post-season. That said, there are 4 teams playing in that space and they aren’t all going to make the playoffs. What will Jay Feaster do? Tonight’s game was a little different than the Phoenix loss or the Oilers debacle: at least there was effort for most of the game. The reality of the matter is that the Flames simply cannot get it done with their current roster, and I am sure that how Jay Feaster chooses to address that will be a matter of great discussion on this forum for the next couple of days.
Next Up
The St. Louis Blues pay a visit to the Saddledome on Monday night at 7 pm mountain; an engagement that will include a pre-game ceremony to “honour” Al MacInnes’ number 2.
Lines:
Glencross – Jokinen – Iginla
Tanguay – Cammalleri – Comeau
Bouma – Stajan – Kostopolous
Jackman – Horak – Desbiens
Smith – Bouwmeester
Giordano – Hannan
Brodie – Sarich
Kiprusoff
