Everyone wants something for Christmas. Three more goals for Jarome Iginla. A first career NHL victory for Leland Irving. New ponies for the Sedin twins. With the big day right around the corner, one thing is sure: ’tis the season to be……well, winning. Having concluded a short but successful homestand with victories over two very good teams from Minnesota and Detroit, the Flames now hit the road to test their mettle in a tilt against the reviled Vancouver Canucks. It is definitely a litmus test for a Calgary team that hasn’t tasted much success in recent times against their west coast rivals. The Canucks have owned the Flames lately, and regardless of the Christmas season they won’t likely be in a giving mood tonight. The Flames, however, could definitely use some holiday season goodwill as they claw their way back into the Western Conference playoff race. Would they get an early present in the form of two points, or will the team in pacific blue and green play the Grinch and deliver a lump of coal to the boys in road whites?
On The Line
Plenty. A chance to get Leland Irving his first NHL victory. A chance to head into the holiday break on a three game winning streak, two games above .500, and that much closer to a possible playoff spot. A chance to gain a rare victory over a Vancouver squad that seems to be in the Flames’ collective head. This could be a game that could go miles towards establishing confidence on a Calgary team that needs to continue believing in itself if it wants to replicate the second half success of last year. Plus, it’s Christmas! Who wouldn’t want to celebrate the holidays with a win?
The Flow
Despite having played a tough one the night before, the Flames come out fired up to start the first. Kostopoulos and Bieksa drop the gloves right off the opening whistle with Bieksa seeking redemption for the beating Kostopoulos laid on him last time around. The fight turns into more of a square dance than a boxing match, and ends with Bieksa in the box for 5 minutes and Kostopoulos in the dressing room for a few small repairs. The Flames seem energized though, and generate several quality chances. By the midpoint of the frame, the scoreboard is still blank but the visitors hold a 9-2 edge in shots on goal, many of them of the dangerous variety. The teams trade chances the rest of the way, and what starts out as a very fast-paced period ultimately settles down and ends with the Flames holding the edge in play but neither team scoring a goal.
Vancouver starts the second with an early push, forcing Irving to make some key saves. The Flames respond with some chances of their own, but Luongo is equal to the challenge and the teams remain knotted in a scoreless tie. The period seems to go in waves, with the Flames applying pressure only to have the Canucks respond immediately. Each team has its chances, and the goaltenders at both ends of the ice have to make excellent saves in order to keep the game even. It’s a pretty entertaining period to watch. The Canucks generate a flurry of shots that get the Flames scrambling in their own zone, but Irving somehow manages to keep the puck out of the net each time. Lee Stempnak has an excellent opportunity to stake his team to a one goal lead when he gets sprung on a clear breakaway, but Luongo stops him cold. A late hooking penalty to Rene Bourque gives the Canucks a chance to go to work with the NHL’s number one-ranked power play unit, but the Flames do an excellent job on the PK and don’t give Vancouver much. Curtis Glencross even gets away on a shorthanded breakaway, but time runs out on him and the teams go to the dressing rooms again without having any red lights turned on.
The Flames start the third with Bourque getting a chance as he steps out of the penalty box, but he can’t convert and the stalemate continues. Four minutes in the Canucks get the Flames scrambling in their own zone, and only some heroics from Bouwmeester and Irving combined with what can only be described as a Christmas miracle keep the puck out of the Calgary net. Hockey is a game of dramatic swings though, and a few seconds of sheer panic culminates in Jarome Iginla streaking into the offensive zone and feeding a cross-ice pass to a trailing Curtis Glencross, who rips a shot past Luongo to put the Flames up 1-0. Immediately after the goal, Chris Butler gets called for hooking and gives Vancouver another chance on the power play. Irving stands tall, looking every bit the seasoned veteran as he stops everything the Canucks throw at him. Every time the Canucks start pressing, he has the answer. A rebound off a pad save through thick traffic leads to the Flames carrying the puck into the Vancouver zone, where a somewhat broken play ends up with Mikael Backlund firing a quick shot that surprises Luongo and puts the Flames up by two. You had to know the Canucks would push back though, and they did. With about 3 minutes left, they manage to get set up in the Calgary zone after Scott Hannan loses his stick and leaves the defense in a bit of disarray. Dan Hamhuis puts the Canucks on the board when he bombs a wrister past a screened Leland Irving to pull his team within one. The Flames don’t go quietly into the yuletide night though, and work together to repel the Canucks’ comeback attempt. With Luongo on the bench for the extra attacker, Irving would make several dazzling saves to preserve the lead until Olli Jokinen could salt away the victory with an empty netter.
Three Stars
1. Leland Irving: Had a little trouble with rebounds early on, but settled in to deliver another excellent performance and earn his first career NHL win. Henrik Karlsson had better watch out, because Leland Irving is ready for the big time.
2. Jarome Iginla: Two assists and some excellent play from the Captain to lead his team to victory. Iginla turned in a great all-around game; backchecking, playmaking, and getting under the skin of the opposing players every time he was on the ice.
3. Dan Hamhuis: The Canucks’ best player tonight; turned in a rock-solid defensive performance and spoiled Irving’s shutout bid with the only Vancouver goal of the game.
Big Save
With less than a minute remaining in the game and the Flames clinging to a one goal lead, Irving swept laterally across the crease to rob Daniel Sedin of a sure goal. Irving got stronger and stronger as the game went on, and was positively spectacular by the end. This kid has a very bright future in a Flames uniform ahead of him.
Big Hit
Early in the first with the Flames trying to establish a physical tone, Cory Sarich lines up Andrew Alberts at the Vancouver blueline and throws a heavy bodycheck that he unfortunately takes the worst of. Not the greatest hit in history, but it set the table for a gritty performance from a Calgary team that really wanted to win this game. It’s nice to see the Flames playing with more of an edge lately, and probably not much of a coincidence that they have a lot more success on the scoreboard when they get involved physically.
The Goat
No goats tonight; the Flames turned in as complete of a road game as they have played all season. Here’s hoping that this game is the good tidings of great joy we have all been hoping for: an indication that this team may have actually turned the corner.
Mr. Clutch
Curtis Glencross has looked great on the top line with Iginla and Jokinen, and he continued his strong play tonight. Not only did he contribute a goal and and assist, but those points were timely points. He was also solid defensively, killing penalties and blocking shots. Look for a big year from number 20.
Odds and Ends
A bit of a mixed bag from the Flames young players tonight. Byron did a good job of showing his speed in the limited ice time he received, and looked dangerous in the offensive zone once again. Irving was very good; despite struggling a bit with rebound control at first, he was excellent under pressure as the game went on and showed surprising composure in difficult situations – like when Chris Butler allowed Alexandre Burrows to wander into the Flames zone unmolested midway through the first. Brodie didn’t turn in his strongest performance but still played relatively well. Horak wasn’t terrible, but seems to be struggling much more than he did earlier in the season. It is still really nice to see the Flames with such an injection of new talent. How long has it been since Calgary iced a lineup this young?……..The Kostopoulos-Morrison-Jackman line was excellent again tonight, turning in another stellar, gritty performance. In addition to generating several quality offensive chances, they kept the Canucks in check all night, pinning them in their own zone for nearly a full minute during the first period……..it has been a long time since the Flames have had such a mobile, puck-moving defensive core. After years of dump & chase, it is so nice to see them exit their own zone with speed, and actually begin to play the puck possession game they’ve been talking about for so long……..The Iginla-Jokinen-Glencross line has been dynamite lately. After years of trying to get Iginla and Jokinen to work together offensively, it has finally clicked – and it’s a beautiful thing……..the Flames are a very exciting team to watch when they’re playing with desire. They wanted this game tonight badly, and it showed. Nice to see them finally slay the dragon in Vancouver, and the Christmas break will be a well-deserved one for our heroes!
Next Up
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
The Flames take a couple of days off to celebrate with family, and hopefully get a visit from old St. Nick. They get back into action on December 27, when they kick off a long road trip by paying a post-Boxing Day visit to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Puck drop is 5pm MT.
Lines:
Glencross – Jokinen – Iginla
Comeau – Backlund – Stepniak
Kostopoulos – Morrison – Jackman
Byron – Horak – Bourque
Butler – Bouwmeester
Smith – Hannan
Brodie – Sarich
Irving
