In an 82 game schedule you sometimes struggle for the theme or driving element in writing up game stories. Some games are much like any other; goals are scored, some stuff happens, but in the end they blur into the hockey malaise of a season.
Not tonight.
Tonight you have to great story lines, both authored by citizens of Finland in a memorable hockey game played in San Jose. The first? Miikka Kiprusoff winning his 300th NHL game, just the 27th goaltender in league history. The other Fin, Olli Jokinen wasn’t to be outdone as he figures in all four goals leading the Flames with a hat trick in a 4-3 win over the Sharks.
On The Line
A come from behind point in Anaheim wasn’t a bad start to yet another crucial road trip through the summer region of the NHL; the Pacific Division, but with Leland Irving expected to get the start in Phoenix, tonight would be an ideal night for Miikka Kiprusoff to bag his 300th NHL victory.
The Flow
Not quite the first period you expect from a Calgary team playing careful in a very difficult building. The Flames come out hard and take the play to the Sharks, running up a shot advantage and some good action. The middle part of the period sees the expected push back from the Sharks, but the Flames don’t fold the tent or hold on; they answer again. The last 7 minutes is all Calgary with numerous chances and finally a goal on a Jokinen tip of a Butler shot. Great period.
A solid start to the second as well as the Flames come close on a wrap over powerplay and then get the man advantage right back and cash when Jokinen scores his second of the night; 2-0 Flames. They press for a few more minutes but then a delayed call to the Flames sets up a momentum changing Sharks goal and the Flames are on their heels. Another quick goal by the Sharks (Pavelski) and with 12 minutes to play in the second you start to wonder if the Flames have the horses to survive until the Zamboni warms up. They do. In fact soon after the Flames strike back when Iginla and Jokinen work a give and go that results in an Iginla one timer to put the Flames up 3-2 after 2.
The third started about as poorly as you could draw up with a quick high sticking penalty to Giordano and an even quicker powerplay strike by the Sharks; tie game. The Flames once again don’t quit, as a turn over results in a great pass by Alex Tanguay over to Jokinen for the hat trick goal, putting the Flames and Kiprusoff back out in front. The Flames play a decent back and forth period until the final five minutes when it’s CLING time for the Flames but they prevail with a 4-3 win.
Three Stars
- Olli Jokinen: Three goals, a brilliant assist, and another clanging off the goal post for the big Fin center.
- Miikka Kiprusoff: He doesn’t give up three often, but stopped 34 shots to bring home the 300th win of his career.
- Joe Thornton: Two assists and simply dangerous every time he stepped on the ice.
Big Save
Both for skill and for timing; the Kiprusoff glove hand larceny on Marleau in the first period was something to behold. The Flames had just taken the lead when a bad change gave the former Shark’s captain nothing but a clean alley to walk in and wire one. He made it look easy.
Big Hit
Going with the “tap”. No it wasn’t actual body contact, but Blair Jones tap on the top of Joe Thornton’s helmet caused a game changing stir in this hockey game. It was harmless but the “dis” was enough to drive the Sharks batty for a good 20 minutes of the game.
The Goat
Oddly enough Mark Giordano. Brutal giveaway in the second almost led to a Shark’s goal, and a careless high stick in the third gave the Flames lead up. Didn’t hurt them in this one.
Mr. Clutch
Jarome Iginla. Didn’t get a star in a game that had two pretty big stories to serve, but scored a goal, had an assist and continues to play a noticeably more involved game up and down the sheet. Different player in the last 25 games.
Odds and Ends
In the new NHL (clearly it’s not that new anymore) teams rebuild in a variety of ways. One constant in teams that turn the corner is contributions from unexpected sources. Yes teams like Tampa finish out of it and draft players like Stamkos and Hedman and we can all watch the progress. But other teams add cast offs, promote players, make smart trades and suddenly things come together. Why am I saying this? TJ Brodie. A solid 3rd round pick not on anyone’s radar outside of Calgary. Not invited WJC team camps, not listed highly on prospect lists. Yet here he is. Add in the Derek Smith signing today, and the Flames have gone from a team with a big, but defensive blueline core to a very mobile defense without the use of a first round draft pick. Interesting to watch. … Blake Comeau is a shattered hockey player when it comes to confidence. Another game where he’s put in shooting positions on a few occasions but hesitates just enough to have the lane closed, puck blocked. … Have to hand it to Olli Jokinen, another solid game with three goals and an assist. He now has 96 points on his two year contract that caused so much dismay across the hockey world two July’s ago. Back then I thought it was nuts, but I also offered this “Value: Here’s where things get a little more interesting. Personally I think bringing Jokinen back is nuts, but if you get dispassionate about it and look at the numbers it isn’t bad. Looking at NHL players that produced roughly 50 points last season (Jokinen had exactly 50 points) you’ll find 55 players and an average salary of 4.0 million. Hard to argue that there is value in the contract given a) the numbers don’t lie and b) the chances of Jokinen having a worse season that last year seems remote.” And he’s added a defensive side to his game while producing at the same clip or better. … Have to love TSN’s Mike Johnson calling Kiprusoff’s desperation save in the third the “scorpion”, classic. … The Flames now sit smack dab in the middle of 5 teams separated by just two points, and they play one of them tomorrow night. Wow. Great time of year. … Kiprusoff is now 27th all time in wins, but will move up quickly. Five more goaltenders will be brought into the fold with just 5 Kiprusoff wins (Nobokov is active, but come on, … he plays with the Islanders).
Next Up
The Flames have a chance to have an epic road trip with a game in Phoenix against the Yotes tomorrow night at 7pm (Sportsnet). Guaranteed 3 points, but a chance at 5.
Lines (To Start):
Tanguay – Jokinen – Iginla
Cammalleri – Kolanos – Jones
Bouma – Backlund- Comeau
Kostopolous – Stajan – Jackman
Bouwmeester – Butler
Giordano – Hannan
Sarich – Brodie
Kiprusoff
