There’s an old adage in pro sports; judge teams by their losses, not by their wins.
A disappointing missed opportunity tonight at the Saddledome, a chance to move past both the Wild and Canucks and claim first in the division was squandered tonight with a 3-1 Stars victory, but the adage holds true.
If that is a bad game for the Westside Flames, then things are really looking up. They limited chances against, they carried the play, but just couldn’t find the back of the net to claim a decision that was there for the taking. The quality of scoring chances wasn’t high, as the Flames lacked the cohesion seen in an “on” game, but all in all a great effort from the homeside.
On The Line
A whole lot in this one with the Wild and Canucks losing last night first was there for the taking for Calgary, an improbable happenstance given their deficit just five days ago. Yet there it was on a platter at the Dome with the injured and Avery suspended Stars on tap for a beating.
The Flow
The Flames carried the first five minutes, holding the play in the Star’s zone despite not getting anything towards the cage. Then boom, the Stars strike to lead 1-0, a lead that held into the second. Shots 9-5 Calgary after twenty.
The second period was a good burst for Calgary again, as they hemmed in the Stars and took it to them before David Moss finally found the back of the net to tie things up, his sixth of the season. The Stars tied it a few minutes later despite limited chances, but held the lead into the third.
The trapping Stars were looking for the rope a dope in the third, and were then given a four minute powerplay to put the final nail in the Flames coffin. The Flames killed that infraction off and came oh so close a few times, but just couldn’t find the equalizer before Dallas hit the empty net.
Three Stars
1. Marty Turco: Was the difference maker in this one, though one has to point out the Flames just didn’t have the flow needed to garner blue chip after blue chip chance in this one.
2. David Moss: Scored the Flames only goal and lead the team with an eye popping eight shots on goal. Eight?!
3. Toby Petersen: Increased ice time because of injury and moron suspensions gave Mr. Petersen all the time he needed to likely score the game’s most important goal. The ice breaker.
Big Save
There were two that stood out in this one. Miikka Kiprusoff stoning Brad Richards in the first with the Stars up 1-0 and pressing to double the lead. In the third Adrian Aucoin had not one but two chances to tie things up but was turned away by a sharp Marty Turco.
Big Hit
Mark Giordano did his best to keep the puck in the zone in the first period when he stretched out to get a stick on the puck and push it towards the corner. What he didn’t see coming was journeyman Landon Wilson who slammed the off balance defenseman into the boards.
The Goat
Dion Phaneuf had goat horns in this one. Minus three on the night, and instrumental in the Stars two goal tended goals, he simply has to be better at his salary and his importance despite his age.
Mr. Clutch
Marty Turco. Yeah he’s the first star so you want to toss it somewhere else, but he was the story in this one. Given his struggles this season and his share of the blame for the Star’s first quarter, he was huge in this one.
Odds and Ends
I touched on it in the opening, but give me a “bad” game like that anytime. The Flames have had a few stinkers this season, and things weren’t out tonight in terms of flow and cohesion, but you have to hand it to the team for keeping at it when they didn’t have it. Good sign as they continue to move forward. … Eight shots for David Moss? That’s crazy. Hopefully there’s a message in there for him. He has good size and great reach you need players like that going to the net. … Matthew Lombardi was called for a high stick (four minutes) in the third by what looked by the linesman and perhaps a few minutes later. Did I see that right? … The Flames out shot the Stars 37-23 on the night, including 28-18 over the final 40 minutes. They started slow with a 9-5 margin, but got right back to the puck on the net mojo that they’ve showed in the last half dozen games. … Big road trip for the Flames, four games in three tough buildings. A five or more point trip will solidify the improvement we’ve seen from the team. Three or less and you’ll have some head scratching again I’m sure. … I’ve been a big defender of the Phaneuf Evolution Experiment, but he struggled tonight. Could the Avery situation have rattled him? Possibly, but either way he needs to play better than that. … Still convinced Jarome Iginla is hurt. He’s moving the puck well, skating well, but he’s not taking the puck off the half boards with authority, isn’t winning a lot of one on one battles and isn’t shooting the puck with vigor. Wrist? Hand? Shoulder? … Amazing to see how well Adrian Aucoin is playing given the left for dead montage that he displayed to start the season. Good to see. They need him.
Next Up
On the road with a Friday start in St. Louis at 6pm. Sportsnet has it on the tube.
Lines (To Start):
Cammalleri – Lombardi – Iginla
Moss – Langkow – Bertuzzi
Glencross – Conroy – Bourque
Prust – Primeau – Nystrom
Phaneuf – Giordano
Regehr – Aucoin
Sarich – Pardy
Kiprusoff
