Hockey like any sport, is a result driven business. Often the details or the process is lost in the shuffle when the bottom line hits the print presses for consumption by the masses.
The Flames reeled off three wins to start the season, a trio that featured a complete collapse against Vancouver, getting out shot badly by the Oilers, and then outplayed in large spurts by the Canadiens, but to some pointing that out was being too negative. Seriously?
Tonight the Flames played their most complete game of the season and found a way to win, scoring late, and then winning in a shoot out back in Edmonton once again. Truth be told tonight was likely a lot more important in terms of establishing a system and the team that Brent Sutter is hoping to shape, though the result was very much the same.
On The Line
The Flames are looking to equal their Calgary mark for wins to start the season at four, a record set during the 1993-94 season. Add in the provincial rival factor, a four point game, and points are points no matter what time the season and you get the point.
The Flow
Oddly a great first period for Calgary despite coming out down two goals. They had the jump, cycled the lines, had great chances, out shot the Oilers 10-9 but gave up the only two goals. The period swung on a dime when Dion Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester swapped out for Robyn Regehr and Adam Pardy on a change at the end of their powerplay. Oiler captain Ethan Moreau eluded Regehr and scored on a breakaway. Visnovsky scored late on a powerplay provided by a terrible call on Bouwemeester when Jacgues fell into Kiprusoff.
The second was more of the same … good flow for the Flames, a blown five on three chance midway through and another missed opportunity late. Then as often is the case, the Flames get to within one on a broken play when Daymond Langkow scooped up a loose puck and banked it through Khabibulin to make it 2-1.
Calgary came to play in the third once again, carrying the play and finally forcing the tie when Rene Bourque completed a great battle shift with a pass back to Kronwall; Kronwall’s shot redirected by Nigel Dawes into the cage to tie things at two. Mark Giordano got caught watching the scenery leaving Ales Hemsky open to cash in on a rebound and put the Oilers up 3-2 with six minutes to play. Calgary pulled the goalie, iced the puck and then had to regain control as the Oilers did a great job of ragging the puck deep in the Flames zone. Credit a Jay Bouwmeester outlet pass and Iginla taking the zone for setting up a few late chances, and then finally a Bouwmeester shot that was redirected by Rene Bourque for a very late tying score.
The shoot out featured a Kiprusoff pad save on Gagner, a rifle goal by Dawes, O’Sullivan answers for the Oilers, Jokinen squeaks one in, then Hemsky hits the post clinching a Flame win.
Three Stars
1. Rene Bourque: I think I picked the guy to not score 20 again this year. Whoops. Early, but he has six points and two goals in four games and is well on his way, with points on all three goals in this one.
2. Denis Grebeshkov: Seemed like the second coming of Marc Andre Bergeron for 18 months in Edmonton but is really coming into his own. Two assists to pace the Oilers.
3. Miikka Kiprusoff: So wanted to name Dawes in this one, but Kiprusoff’s OT and SO performance was the difference in leaping over both Dawes and his counterpart Khabibulin.
Big Save
With the Flames up two men and putting on a lot of pressure Nigel Dawes was set up point blank for his first Flames goal only to be denied by a swift laterally moving Khabibulin. Dawes secured a rebound too but didn’t get much wood on it. … Not to be out done, Kiprusoff flashed leather in OT on Hemsky with the Oilers on a four on three.
Big Hit
Oiler rookie and Calgarian (that’s a switch) Ryan Stone launched into new Flame Staffan Krownall towards the end of the second period, sending the Paul Bunyonesque Swede to the ice.
The Goat
Calgary’s powerplay. Red hot on the season, and moving the puck great and generating shots in this one to be honest, but not getting it done in the end. Momentum swings seemed to come soon after Calgary powerplay failures, a killer in this game.
Mr. Clutch
Jarome Iginla. No points, didn’t get to take his shot in the shoot out, but the captain played his best game of the season. He was good taking the line, finding the late guy, going to the net, he fought, played physical. But most importantly he was very very improved in his own zone. Very good sign for Iginla and the Flames.
Odds and Ends
The first line was much better in their own zone tonight. Both Iginla and Olli Jokinen were more dialed in to the five man break out by making the simple play back to the defenseman instead of forcing the puck up the boards. Much better. … So odd to be four games into a schedule with nary an appearance by the black “C” on a sweater. A pair of retro games at the Dome and two white clad games in Edmonton make the season somewhat surreal to this point. … I was bracing for a massive Oiler start that would have the Flames pinned deep for ten minutes but it just didn’t happen. Calgary took the play to Edmonton and actually controlled the play for most of the night. Probably Calgary’s best sixty minute effort to date, and a good sign given the propensity to rest on a 3-0 start. They only allowed 21 shots through three periods and had the system down throughout the lineup. The Oilers didn’t have a lot of sustained pressure, and the visitors took the puck and their bodies to the net hard all night. Sutter sinking in. … If you had to pick a weak line in this game it would be the third with none of Conroy, Glencross or Boyd having strong games; but that would be pushing it, they were fine. The Flames best line was the second with both Nigel Dawes and Rene Bourque playing extremely well along the quietly good Daymond Langkow. Dawes’ best games as a Flame, and Bourque showing no ill effects from his ankle injury last season. … The Flames bumped a few Oiler defenders out of the game, leaving the Oilers shorthanded for at least half of the game. First Iginla and Souray went into the boards awkwardly when Iginla’s stick caught Souray’s skate. The Oiler defenseman suffered a mild concussion. In the second Laddy Smid was drilled by a Dion Phaneuf slapshot, hurting his foot/ankle. Smid would return. … Have to hand it to Oiler colour guy Louie Debrusk, he’s actually pretty solid. … Hate to labour on officiating, but how do you call a hook when a player backs into a goaltender and trips over his pad? Insane. … Interesting that a decorated veteran like Khabibulin has only four 30 win seasons in his career when Kiprusoff has won at least 30 in four straight seasons, two of which were over 40. … Why would Pat Quinn start an OT period with a 7th defenseman? Worked I guess as Strudwick drew a penalty. … What a classy move by Iginla to let Ethan Moreau get back to his skates on a fight that likely was picked by Moreau in response to the hit on Sheldon Souray. … The anti-Regehr saga continues with poor #28 being the only negative player on the books tonight with a -1. Ouch. Not deserved at all in this one as the minus occurred on a shared botched line change. … Speaking of Regehr and the defense group, five of the six defenders have three or more points on the season, quite the statistic after four games. Sutter system? Good bounces? Mixture? … Did the Flames get quoted talking about how “we should have won” after every loss during their nonplayoff years in the 90’s? Probably. The Oilers were likely the better team last Saturday, but not in this one. … The Flames aren’t the only perfect team in the league, but they are the only 4-0 team and lead the league with eight points.
Next Up
The Flames got owned on the second half of back to back games last season, something they’ll endeavor to fix tomorrow night when they host the Dallas Stars at the Dome. Game time 7pm Sportsnet
Lines (To Start):
Moss – Jokinen – Iginla
Dawes – Langkow – Bourque
Glencross – Conroy – Boyd
Nystrom – Sjostrom – Prust
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Kronwall – Pardy
