Such a huge game for the Flames in casting off the skin of the Keenan era and becoming Brent Sutter’s team. Chicago was a wasteland for Calgary. Bad starts, blow out losses, measuring sticks that sent them back to the drawing board. Winning is good, but a solid 60 minute effort in Chicago is almost as important.
So what to make of that chaos?
The Flames had a great start, some good bounces, and built a 5-0 lead only to see it wittered way and lose in overtime to the Hawks by a 6-5 score in overtime.
Coming in an overtime loss in Chicago would be a great result, but not like that, not in that way. Ugly.
On The Line
The start is already secure when it comes to the season; rifling off four straight to start the season takes care of that. However, playing in Chicago is another matter altogether. The Flames have to prove to the West elite that they can play in tough buildings, tonight an important building block.
The Flow
A very good start for the Flames in a building where good starts for the club have been few and far between. Line in and line out pressure finally resulting in a fourth line goal by Dustin Boyd. One shift later it was 2-0 when Eric Nystrom slid a weak one through the pads of Cristobal Huet and into the cage, a goal the stopper would like to have back. Literally seconds later the Flames caught the Hawks off guard again when Jarome Iginla walked in on a breakaway to make it 3-0. Huet hit the showers at that point. A big kill for the Flames with a three goal lead set up another goal by Rene Bourque off a face off to make it 4-0. Less than a minute later it was 5-0 on a brutal goal that Niemi would love to have back as well off the stick of Olli Jokinen, as the Twilight Zone continued. The Hawks could make a good case for a third goalie on the bench in this one. New Hawk John Madden rounded out the first period scoring to make it 5-1.
A flat start to the second with the Flames clearly sitting on a lead, a brutal plan with 40 minutes to play. They pay for it, first in an early powerplay to Chicago, which they killed off. But then a line after line of pressure and finally a Kane goal to make it 5-2. Sutter called time out, but it didn’t seem to have much effect as the play went straight back to the Calgary zone. Some good pressure for Calgary once again resulted in a powerplay which couldn’t get untracked. Soon after the man advantage though the Hawks pounced on an Adam Pardy turnover and made it 5-3. Pressure was on. A terrible defensive shift highlighted by a Keystone Cop gong show in the crease highlighted by Daymond Langkow and Dion Phaneuf … 5-4. Ouch. An Iginla scrap settles thing down and gets them out of the period up a goal.
A quiet beginning to the third as the Flames mount some attack and burn some time with some stress free minutes of play. But you just knew it was coming, a tipped puck and a goal and a five five tie. Going in a tied game in the third would be great success, but to blow a five goal lead? No place to hide. The Flames actually garner a chance coming back but then a penalty to Nigel Dawes and trouble with a capital T. They survived that onslaught but were clearly playing for a tie and just that with the help of a late goal post.
Overtime was brief and Hawk goal completing the Flames collapse, and a 6-5 Chicago OT win.
Three Stars
1. Patrick Kane: Only thing that could wreck this kid’s night is choosing to take a cab home (ok … low blow). Two goals and two assists to pace the Hawks.
2. Dave Bolland: Great draft pick by the Hawks, and dividends tonight with a goal and atwo assists.
3. Jarome Iginla: Goal and a key fight in the best push back by anyone in white on the night. He’s coming on.
Big Save
With the game tied in the third period, Kiprusoff was huge in taking away a Dustin Byfuglien chance on a wrap around coming out of the corner on a Hawk powerplay. Point secured on that play.
Big Hit
Troy Brouwer caught Mark Giordano and his reconstructed shoulder with a solid off the boards hit that sent the Calgary dman blasting into the boards head/shoulder first in what has to be a good test of off season surgery.
The Goat
The players, or more succinctly, that gooey stuff between their ears. The script is easy with a five goal lead. It’s natural that you will try and sit on it to a certain degree, but to a complete degree? A bounce or two did provide the Flames with some chances on Hawk risk taking, any of those go in and you know it’s a different outcome, but the Flames veterans have to be tougher between the ears.
Mr. Clutch
I hate to give the first star and the Mr. Clutch to the same guy but Patrick Kane was that good on the night. Teams don’t come back from 5-0 deficits without unreal individual performances, and Patrick Kane was all world in turning the game around.
Odds and Ends
Very early, but could Brian McGrattan be the perfect mix between the puck skills of Andre Roy and the pugilistic prowess of Eric Godard? His first shift was very calm with the puck, a very good sign. His second shift saw his hit creating a turnover and a Dustin Boyd goal. Good start. … The Flames simply have to solve their face off woes. Losing the battle each night is one thing, but getting pants-ed is quite another. … I can be as critical about Jarome Iginla but you have to hand it to him for getting into a scrap soon after the score was made 5-4. Brouwer is no petite player, and Iginla handled him. … Tough season start for Daymond Langkow coming off a finish last season with two busted paws. But he’s really fighting the puck. Minus six coming into the game, some gaffs, and and some blown tires offensively. Amazing the Flames have gotten as far as they have given how many skilled players have had tough starts to their season. … I know Rob Kerr and Peter Maher would like the city of Calgary to just focus on the record and ignore obvious issues in the Flames game, but Robyn Regehr just doesn’t look right. I know he’s having trouble adjusting to Dion Phaneuf, but he just doesn’t look right. Maybe his knee just hasn’t recovered to the extend that he’d like, or the long time off has him a little rusty, either way he’s too young to have lost it and should recover. … Another small victory on the night for the start. Flames 4-1 coming in despite not playing all that well at times and giving Brent Sutter ample footage and reason to read the riot act. Tonight on a micro-basis they get a point, but collapse and give Sutter a great chance to rip a strip. Process right? Time … Love Eric Nystrom as Flames spokesperson. He just speaks to the heart and from the heart. Annoyed, embarrassed, ticked off. Future assistant captain. … Nigel Dawes was -3 tonight, as was Daymond Langkow. Langkow came into the game tied with Robyn Regehr at a -6, so he’s now -9. That’s getting to the point where he’ll be in tough to get that number back to a positive when the season comes to an end. Dawes is now -8, Regehr -7. The team’s best players have simply got to get their games together soon. … Anyone wonder how this game would have gone if Jokinen had scored on that breakaway in the last minute of the first period? 6-1 then, probably a different game.
Next Up
No time to lick wounds, the Flames play in Columbus tomorrow night 5pm Sportsnet.
Lines (To Start):
Sjostrom – Jokinen – Iginla
Dawes – Langkow – Bourque
Glencross – Conroy – Nystrom
McGrattan – Boyd – Prust
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Sarich – Pardy
