Other than finishing the chances, the Calgary Flames have looked a lot like their 1989 predecessors of late. Dominating at both ends of the ice, and having total control the last 180 minutes of hockey was only enough to garner 3 of a possible 6 points. This would lead one to believe the Flames would come out and continue that trend against a very good Nashville team on a Friday night at the ‘Dome. Best laid plans never prosper.
The Flames were as flat as a Wimbledon tennis court for the most part, and the Predators of Nashville were not much different. In what can only be described as a snoozer or a Friday Night Fizzle, the Flames gassed a golden opportunity to re-establish home ice superiority as they laid an egg at the Dome in a game they very much needed.
On The Line
Beyond 1st place in the division, keeping a gap on those behind them including 9th place Detroit, assuring the paying faithful that all will be OK, and rewarding head coach Brent Sutter something for his installation of an identity long lacking….not much
The Flow
Flow? What flow. This game from both sides had all the attractiveness of a Sunday night C circuit wrestling show. There was a good guy and a bad guy but neither could deliver a performance good enough to make you care about either role. Mikka Kiprusoff was good early on making a couple dandy saves but between the two teams there was little to get excited about. No sustained pressure in either end, not a whole lot of physicality from either squad, and a very hum-drum sounding crowd that had the feel of a group of teenagers waiting to finish Friday night dinner with mom and dad before escaping for the nightlife of downtown. Even from over 2000 miles away, this scribe could feel the effects of the attendees was as much a difference as drinking down a bottle of Unisom.
Three Stars
1. Patric Hornqvist: The young Swede continued a stellar rookie campaign by notching his 19th goal of the year and was probably the best player for the Predators all night long. The guy looks like one of those 7th round gems every teams hopes to find once a decade.
2. Dan Ellis.: Though he was only tested a few times throughout the night, he was sharp when he needed to be stopping all 22 shots directed his way for his 1st shutout of the season and 10th goose egg of his career.
3. Mikka Kiprusoff: Again the best player on the home team but has little to show for it when all is said and done. Several agile and clever saves wasn’t enough to put his team over the top. He really should consider a lawsuit against his teammates for non-support.
Big Save
Miikka Kiprusoff robbed David Legwand 11 minutes into the 2nd period with a brilliant anticipation play. It just reinforced how well the man is playing right now and has been for most of the season. He really should be a lock to start for Finland in the Olympics….unfortunately for Brent Sutter whom I sure would love to see the franchise goaler get some rest for those 2 weeks in February
Big Hit
Cory Sarich clobbered Patric Hornqvist midway through the 3rd period along the defensive zone blueline/boards at a time that could of been a momentum changer. However his club never responded.
The Goat
Unfortunately in a 1-0 hockey game, the losing team can usually look at one play that ended up being the difference, and tonight was no exception. With just over6 minutes to play in the 3rd in a 0-0 game, any defenseman on the ice should know to make whatever the safe play is, and not compromise his hockey teams chances of getting out of the night with at least one point. Robyn Regehr forgot that most important tenant when he had a chance to clear the zone but instead got cutesy with the puck and lost it to Steve Sullivan. To compound things he then went chasing the wrong player behind the net and in a flash the puck went past him back in front and then behind a bewildered Mikka Kiprusoff and 19,000 other fans. Bad play all around, but in that circumstance, unacceptable.
Mr. Clutch
The only guy this can go to on the night is the 23 year old from Sollentuna Sweden, Patric Hornqvist. Beyond the only goal and game winner, he was a problem for Calgary’s defense all nght long. The kid just looks like a really solid NHL player and one that is likely to be a round a good long time because of his work ethic and the way he thinks the game. Just a real good find by the Preds.
Odds and Ends
I am not a big fan of Sportsnet’s productions, but I do appreciate their efforts. It is blatantly apparent to me however that Gord Stellick has been taking Dick Clarke vitamins on a regular basis. I mean seriously, does the guy EVER age??….A very uninspiring effort in this one from the home side, and a real reason for concern in my opinion. It wasn’t the fact they lost, it was the way they did. A game they certainly needed before embarking on a nasty stretch of tough teams……It’s fairly apparent to me that David Moss has entrenched himself firmly in Brent Sutters doghouse. With only 6+ minutes of icetime, the Michigan grad may be playing himself out of Calgary, though he may not be alone…………watching the “Town Hall” meeting live from Flames Central last night was better entertainment than what was witnessed this evening………….Found it awfully strange that Craig Conroy found himself with a regular shift on the “top” line tonight. He has not earned it in my ever so humble opinion………..speaking of which, Jamie Lundmark is a guy I really want to see succeed but again he reminded me why he is an AHL/NHL yoyo……Jay Bouwmeester-where for art thou………….though he only saw less than 2 minutes on the night Brian McGrattan once again fulfilled his role on the club, and for my money is simply the best heavyweight that the Flames have employed in a decade……Olli Jokinen was the best skater by a good margin that was wearing a Flaming C. If he buries that one in the 3rd instead of a dead on ‘doink” we may have had a very different outcome
Next Up
Sunday night in Anaheim against a very hot Duck squad.
Lines:
Lundmark- Conroy- Iginla
Bourque – Langkow- Dawes
Glencross- Jokinen- Moss
McGrattan- Boyd- Nystrom
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Sarich – Pardy
The Man
