Clearly the Flames do have pride.
Blasted in the media in the past few days for their complete inability to compete with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, the Flames turn the tables by handing the Wings their 6th straight loss; this one a 4-1 setback to the visitors from Calgary.
On The Line
Can there be more negativity surrounding a 4-5-1 hockey team? I think not. The Flames were humiliated at home, a fact that has the city up in arms and essentially writing the season off. Can anyone honestly blame them? What perfect situation then a game on death row, that of the Red Wings in Joe Louis to give the Flames a chance at redemption.
The Flow
The Flames come out semi decent for a sputtering hockey team. They get a chance or two in the Wing’s end, do a decent job of keeping their feet moving, and defend well in their own zone. A hooking penalty to Sarich had trouble written all over it but an aggressive PK crew stood tall. The Flames get a chance of their own but do little to test Howard, but enough to hold a little momentum after the extra time. The Flames finish strong, getting most of the chances and are rewarded with a fortuitous bounce off the boards and then off of Howard for a Lee Stepniak goal.
More of the same from the Flames in the second as they keep it simple and get pucks deep. Not many chances for either side through the first 5 minutes but a Flames powerplay results in a classic three way passing play and an important Jarome Iginla one timer to make the score 2-0. Soon after it was the Wings turn with the manadvantage and they too would strike when a flubbed shot caromed off of Dan Cleary and past Kiprusoff to make the score 2-1. Wings the better team after their goal as they continue to push and direct pucks to the net. Blue chip chances maybe not, but territorial pressure for sure.
The Flames start the third on a powerplay but fail to generate any true chances; opportunity for breathing room missed. Five minutes in the Wings enjoy an entire shift in the Flames zone as Curtis Glencross fails to clear the zone on three occasions. Oddly enough they really didn’t get any blue chip chances in the pressure. The Flames take advantage of a Bertuzzi – Zetterberg miscommunication and Glencross passes to Iginla who one times it again for his second of the night. Flames quiet things down and play a pretty confident, controlled road period the rest of the way for the win.
Three Stars
1. Jarome Iginla: Not a great start to the game as he looked to be dragging behind his energetic new linemates, but found his game in the second half, scored two lasers and added an assist.
2. Miikka Kiprusoff: The Flames were outplayed by a margin through 40 minutes before really coming on in the third so #34 was a big difference maker by keeping his squad ahead.
3. Dan Cleary: The lone marksmen for the home club.
Big Save
By skill and by timing; Miikka Kiprusoff’s first period crease crossing pad save on Niklas Kronwall was simply huge in a building as tough on the Flames as the Joe Louis. A goal there and the Flames likely see shades of Tuesday against Vancouver and self destruct. Howard on Iginla for the hattrick late had some meaning as well.
Big Hit
Anton Babchuck took down Filpula in the first period with a hit that sort of looked like a high cross check. The only real “bump” in a hitless game.
The Goat
Curtis Glencross. A good hockey player with a two point game but his inability to get the puck out in the third period could have easily have resulted in a blown Flames loss.
Mr. Clutch
Curtis Glencross to complete the “guy wasn’t a star with two points so I’m going to make him both the goat and the clutch guy” master plan. Two great assists and some jam in the corner in a game where he was noticed good and bad every time he was out there.
Odds and Ends
This won’t sound very good, in fact it will sound awful; but am I alone in honestly not enjoying watching the Flames play hockey? There is no way I’d watch this team if they didn’t have that crest on their chest. I think they work hard for the most part, I do … but there is nothing exciting about how this team plays hockey and that’s been the case for far too much of the last 2 and 1/7th hockey seasons. … Have to give Brendan Morrison credit for being a great spokesperson since the debacle on Tuesday. He says it like he sees it and it’s refreshing. Other players were suggesting the Vancouver game was an anomaly and they played well in the previous two wins but not Morrison who said they were bailed out by Kiprusoff. Refreshing. … Give Brent Sutter credit for the line mix ups for tonight’s game, all four lines had a lot more jump and the theory of two skating wingers with Iginla seemed to have a positive effect. … Can’t say enough about Scott Hannan. Great example of a player you’ve always known and seen playing elsewhere but you get a new perspective when he’s wearing the home side jersey. Pretty solid, keep it simple, veteran hockey player. …. Crazy game for Glencross with two great assists, a whole bunch of cough ups and an untimely penalty. … Wings? What do you think? They’re still dangerous, but no where near as dangerous tonight as I’m used to. They still cycle well but don’t seem to generate the high quality scoring chances.
Next Up
Right back at it tomorrow night with a date in Buffalo against Robyn Regehr and the Sabres; game time 5pm on Sportsnet.
Lines:
Tanguay – Morrison – Stepniak
Glencross – Jokinen – Iginla
Bourque – Horak – Moss
Jackman – Stajan – Kostopoulos
Butler – Bouwmeester
Babchuck – Hannan
Giordano – Sarich
Kiprusoff
