All the chatter after Calgary’s last game against Phoenix was about having to win the ugly hockey games. Calgary did just that when they defeated the Coyotes, winning a 2-1 scramble at home. Ugly hockey, ugly win. The Flames may need to do it again tonight in Detroit, a building they are just 1-8 in during the last 9 meetings.
On The Line
Jarome Iginla has not scored in Detroit in 5 years – a span of 18 games, he’ll definitely be looking to reverse that curse tonight. Calgary can take the division lead as they currently trail Colorado by just 1 point, with 3 games in hand. Detroit is languishing in mediocrity and would like to turn that around quickly. They are used to being at the top and surely aren’t liking where they sit at this point. The Red Wings have lost 3 straight games at home. The Flames haven’t lost on the road in regulation since October 13th, a span of 7 games earning at least a point.
The Flow
The Flames have scored the 1st goal in 18 of their 23 games, and tonight they got off to the start they wanted again. The ice was still wet as Jamie Lundmark banged home an Olli Jokinen pass at the 28 second mark. Calgary then ran in to a bit of penalty trouble, giving the Wings 3 powerplay chances (albeit 1 questionable call). Detroit did find the back of the net, but the goal was waved off immediately due to Daniel Cleary standing a little too close to Kiprusoff. Probably a questionable call, but something the Flames will take – especially in this building where historically, that doesn’t happen. The Flames would add to their lead when Nigel Dawes and David Moss botched a 2-on-1 rush, but the loose puck came back to Dawes who slid it 5-hole past an unsuspecting Osgood. Shots were 15-6 in favour of Detroit, but the fortunate Flames took a 2-0 lead to the dressing room.
The second period was basically all Detroit, again. And again it was mostly due to penalties giving the Red Wings all the momentum. The Flames benefited by the strong goaltending of Kiprusoff who was very solid in keeping the game scoreless. The Wings had chance after chance and outshot Calgary 17-4 in the period. Miikka Kiprusoff stood on his head and the score stayed 2-0 heading in to the 3rd.
The 3rd period started exactly how the Flames needed it to. A two goal lead with the kind of pressure Detroit was applying may not have been enough, so Olli Jokinen decided to add another, this time, just 25 seconds in to the frame. Jokinen took a Lundmark pass and quickly wristed an absolute laser of a shot that easily beat Osgood on the short side. The shot was amazing, but came from far enough away that Osgood would surely like to have it back. That goal seemed to lift the Flames spirits and the two teams played a fairly even 3rd period. Kiprusoff made a few more nice saves to preserve his 2nd shutout of the season, and a Flames 3-0 victory.
Three Stars
1. Miikka Kiprusoff: An easy choice. The Flames netminder is in the best form I’ve seen him since 2004. A 40 save shutout, and made it look easy.
2. Olli Jokinen: Had a great game. Led the Flames with 4 shots on goal and registered a goal and an assist. His 3rd period goal was a sight to behold – check it out if you can. Ever since his 1-on-1 practice session with Brent Sutter has been one of the better Flames.
3. Jamie Lundmark: 1 goal and 1 assist as he fit in nicely with the top line. Its so nice to have a guy like Lundmark that can just jump in and produce. Played a really heads-up game tonight.
Big Save
So many to choose from. Not many of the highlight reel variety, but Kiprusoff was very good all game. His best showing came in a 2nd period penalty kill, where he made consecutive saves on Ville Leino, Todd Bertuzzi, and Leino again in a mad flurry of Detroit shots. The timing of these saves was crucial as had Detroit found 1 goal, they floodgates may have opened up wide. These saves preserved the 2-0 lead.
Big Hit
It was a chippy game, but more in the way of stickwork than bodychecks. No big hit to report here.
The Goat
Well, there were a couple. As far as players go, Chris Osgood had a game to forget. He was out done by his counterpart and that is why they lost. He really should have stopped the 2nd and 3rd Flames goals. The other goat, although they got better as the game wore on – was the officiating. Their penalty call on Langkow for roughing when he dodged a body check was absurd. Then their disallowed goal call on Daniel Cleary, even though it went in the Flames favour, was completely incorrect. I’m sorry, but that is a legal NHL goal and I would be very angry if I was the Red Wings and coach Babcock. Could have and probably would have been a totally different game.
Mr. Clutch
Miikka Kiprusoff was so good, its hard to believe if you didn’t see the game. This in my mind, is in the top 10 games by Kiprusoff as a Flame, and that is saying a heck of a lot considering his career here. The Flames penalty kill deserves a lot of credit as well, going 6 for 6 on the night.
Odds and Ends
Its hard to believe the Flames just shut-out the Wings in Detroit. That was unfathomable in any recent season. They have now been shut-out twice in a row at home, and have only scored twice in their last 4 home games. Definitely not the same team we’re used to. I still think they are a playoff team, but no longer the powerhouse perennial Stanley cup contender. Final shot tally was 40-17 in favour of Detroit. I hate ripping on the officials, they have such a tough job…but tonight was bad. Very bad. The Flames got the win, so that’s all I’m going to say about it. Jay Bouwmeester led both teams with 28:11 in icetime. Surprisingly, Lidstrom and Rafalski were both a -3. Can’t remember the last time I saw Lidstrom’s name and a negative 3 beside it on a scoresheet. Iginla is now at 19 games without a goal in Detroit, although he did register 2 assists and played pretty good overall. Nigel Dawes scored his 6th of the year and is now on pace for a 20+ goal season. Pretty good for a signing which was considered to be an afterthought by most. With the 2 points, Calgary leapfrogs Colorado for the division lead with 33 points. With Colorado slipping of late and Calgary playing the way they are, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this lead last a while. In fact, Calgary trails only Chicago, New Jersey, and San Jose for point per game ratio in the entire NHL. Calgary’s road record of 8-1-3 is the best in the West, and the Flames are the only team with 1 or less regulation loss on the road in the whole league.
Next Up
Calgary gets no time to rest as they head straight to Columbus for a game Saturday night against the Blue Jackets. Gametime 5:00, and you can watch the action on HNIC on CBC.
Lines:
Lundmark – Jokinen – Iginla
Dawes – Langkow – Moss
Glencross – Conroy – Nystrom
Sjostrom – Boyd – Prust
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Pardy – Johnson
Kiprusoff
