A team that score hosts a team that generally fills the net, ouch tough on in Calgary as the Crosby led Pittsburgh Penguins invade the Saddledome to take on the Flames at the lowest of lows.
Add in the fact that the Pens were likely snarly from losing the night before in Edmonton and the back to back game advantage was really the only thing the Flames could cling too.
In the end the team expected to win did in fact win, but not without a pretty good push from the home side. The Flames were full marks for effort in going down 2-1 to the Penguins on Hockey Night in Canada.
On The Line
Man do I hate this section! How many ways can I guy explain pride and draft position? I do think its important to keep building a hard working foundation, and lately the Flames have been blown out, so a step back to that in every game style would certainly be a welcome change.
The Flow
The Flames really couldn’t play a better period of hockey than they did in the first period. The out hit and out chanced the Penguins, but were victim of a pretty sloppy short side goal by Reto Berra to come out of the period down a goal.
The homeside continues in the second, outplaying the Penguins again but can’t solve Fleury. Berra gives up another weak one from the point through traffic and the team goes down two. Normally you wouldn’t stress a two goal deficit going into the third, but with the goose egg up again you could feel the tension.
The third period featured a dirty hit, lots of penalties and a Flames goal! Backlund works his butt off going around Letang and blasts the puck high over Fleury. The Flames pull the goalie and give it an effort but never get much going and test Fleury.
Three Stars
- Mark-Andre Fleury: the true difference maker in a game where the Flames made the much maligned Penguin’s stopper earn his pay. He was equal to the task.
- Matt Niskanen: Game winner and a stalwart on the blueline for the Pens
- Mikael Backlund: Flames best player of the second quarter continues his strong play by out powering Letang to score for Calgary.
Big Save
Reto Berra stoned Sidney Crosby not once but twice in the first period, both on partial or complete breaks. The big stopper has great reflexes, and generally does well on skill forwards picking corners.
Big Hit
Pretty easy pick for this one with the Penguins Robert Burtuzzo leaving his feet and tossing his shoulder and partial elbow into the head of Flames’ captain Mark Giordano. Crazy stupid move in the head conscious modern NHL.
The Goat
Has to be Reto Berra in this one. He made some great saves sure, but the two he gave up were weak, which is killer in a close game with your skaters working their butts off.
Mr. Clutch
Mark Giordano is an easy pick most nights, but tonight was no different. Took a huge hit, was a plus player and took to the ice for 26 minutes. Hate to wish for injuries, but a left shooting defender with a minor bruise would be nice heading into the Olympics.
Odds and Ends
Reto Berra has got to get his positioning down, to quote Kelly McGillis in Top Gun “I see some real genius in your goaltending, but … “. He can be really really strong as shown against Crosby in the first period, but he loses the net short side far too often. … Backlund really brought his game tonight. From his first shift when he out muscled Sidney Crosby to keep the cycle alive for the Flames down low. Great goal in that he took a nothing chance, outworked Letang and then put it top corner on Fleury. … With the Oilers winning last night and the Flames losing tonight the Oilers just trail by a point but now Calgary has only two games in hand. With the Islanders and Panthers suddenly winning the Flames have really carved out a top three pick. … Hockey Night in Canada’s Glen Healy was pretty matter of fact of the safety of Bob Hartley in Calgary, feeling that the man is squeezing blood from a stone and couldn’t possibly be replaced. I don’t disagree, but have to wonder how anyone can feel that sure given the fact that Burke didn’t hire him, nor did the man that Burke will hire, hire him. … Flames goaltending again. I have to admit I keep going back and forth on which guy I like as the team’s number one going forward. I had a real Berra lean to start, but lately Ramo has been a little more consistent. They both have the building blocks to be solid goaltenders, but you wonder if habits will keep both of them from succeeding. Will continue to be an interesting issue to keep an eye on.
Next up
The Flames travel to Carolina to play the Hurricanes on Monday, a streaking team. Game time 5pm on Sportsnet.
Lines (To Start):
Stempniak – Backlund – Cammalleri
Byron – Monahan – Hudler
Galiardi – Stajan – Bouma
Westgarth – Colborn – McGrattan
Giordano – Brodie
Smid – Wideman
Butler – O’Brien
Berra
