Calgary 2 Colorado 6
For the second time in as many nights, the Flames faced a team with something to prove…
After all, Colorado is in a dogfight for a playoff spot, and came into the game having lost three games in a row. Perhaps more critically, they had lost the last 4 games against the Flames, and needed to prove to themselves that they could knock off this division leader if need be.
And once again, the boys in red had markedly less on the line in this game–and it showed. In a way, it’s understandable; Calgary had started to get a little comfortable given their play of late, and a loss or two in the middle of the season isn’t likely to hurt them yet, unless it snowballs into a major losing streak. However, there were some worrisome signs: for the second night in a row intensity and compete levels waxed and waned throughout the game–and for the second night the Flames failed to capitalize on opportunities where the momentum could have swung in their favour. In the end, it was a milestone night for the Avs, with Milan Hejduk and Ryan Smyth both notching their 300th goals as Colorado ran roughshod over a sloppy, unprepared and exhausted Calgary Flames team.
On The Line
Once again–not a whole lot. But lose a few games in a row and these will start to matter in a hurry. With Vancouver bound to shake the monkey off their backs sooner or later, these points will become crucial if the Flames don’t return to their winning ways soon. One senses that this mini-slump is rooted in emotion and preparation–and the next few games should be where Mike Keenan earns his money, in finding a way to motivate this team to come to the rink a little more ready and focused.
The Flow
The Flames opened with a scoring chance inside the first minute, with Iginla just failing to convert on a Cammalleri pass. His puck luck has been terrible lately, but he also looks frustrated and a little off his game. Andre Roy (of all people) would get the next scoring chance as Budaj shut the door on the Flames early, to set up a first period in which Colorado would pepper young Curtis McElhinney with 20 (yes, you read that right) shots on goal. All in all, Calgary was lucky to escape the first down only 2 goals, and but for some hard-to-spell heroics this one would have been a laugher early.
In the second, Cammalleri threatened to make things interesting with a scoring chance early and then a patented one-knee goal on a five-on-three to make it 2-1 Colorado. However, Petr Budaj would hold the home team in the game, making 16 saves in the second stanza to squash the comeback. Ryan Smyth would notch a shorthanded marker to restore the two-goal margin, and Milan Hejduk would make it 4-1 on a late powerplay, with a low shot from the point that eluded the left pad of Curtis McElhinney.
The third period wasn’t much better–again, there were moments where you almost felt the Flames might mount a comeback, scoring another powerplay marker on a crazy goal-line carom from Rene Bourque and taking the play to the Avs for a few minutes. But when Ruslan Salei restored the three-goal cushion on a set-up from milestone men Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk… let’s just say this writer started to think it might be time to open another beer. Cody McLeod would add insult to injury with a final-second marker, but in the end the 6-2 score may even have flattered the Flames, who had better hope to come out with a little more determination in their next outing.
Three Stars
- Petr Budaj: The knock on Budaj has always been consistency–like many NHL goaltenders, he can dominate individual games, or even a period when called upon to do so. But let’s face it; Colorado’s problem is not goaltending, or at least not only that. Budaj held his team in the game early and then weathered a brief second-period storm to give his team a chance to win. In the end, that’s all any coach can ask.
- Ryan Smyth: Will someone please hit this guy? He was a force in front of the net all night long, and in addition to a milestone, a three-point night, and a hard day’s work in Curtis McElhinney’s kitchen, he somehow managed to avoid that trip to the barber that he is so very overdue for. In all seriousness, an impressive night for the Alberta product.
- Ruslan Salei: It would have been easy to go with Hejduk here–and Salei’s 6 minutes in minor penalties might make this an even stranger choice. But one of those three penalties negated a goal from Adam Pardy and the other one was a bit of a phantom call. In spite of a few unscheduled vacations, Salei ended the night +1 with 2 points, and made a number of strong defensive plays.
Big Save
There are often many difficult saves in a game like this, with nearly 80 shots on goal from the two teams combined. But Curtis McElhinney’s first-period larceny on Ryan Smyth who was all alone in front with plenty of time certainly makes the grade. In the end, it was all for nought–but this loss can’t be pinned on McElhinney, in spite of six goals against.
Big Hit
This was a physical game, but not one that was full of what I’d call “big” hits–more a collection of “medium” hits in quick succession. But this honour goes to Ruslan Salei, who erased Rene Bourque in the second period with an old-fashioned hip-check. It was a solid, effective hit–and what’s more, it brought back memories of Gary Suter sticking that great big keister out along the boards in the good old days.
The Goat
It’s time to point some fingers at the captain. Jarome Iginla was a non-factor tonight, in spite of an assist on the Cammalleri goal. Calgary can win games without him–but it’s better if they don’t have to. Now that the home stretch is starting, it’s high time Iginla got his game back on track.
Mr. Clutch
I have to give Milan Hejduk his due. With the Flames threatening to swing the momentum back their way again, Hejduk notched his milestone tally at the perfect time, essentially salting the game away before the second intermission.
Odds and Ends
Another powerplay goal for Cammalleri–he has been Calgary’s best forward in recent games, which in my view is not good news for anyone named Iginla or Langkow… I hate to criticize the officiating, but the tripping call on Matthew Lombardi that gave Colorado a 2 man advantage was just awful–and then the high-sticking penalty to Salei that returned the favour to the Flames was equally bad. Here’s a tip, refs: don’t make the first bad call and you won’t feel compelled to make the second… I realize that Colorado had more to prove in this game, but isn’t it a bit rude to drive to the net with under a second to go in a 3 goal game, as Cody McLeod did?… I hate to say it, but this team has started to miss Todd Bertuzzi. I love Jim Vandermeer, but he doesn’t have Bertuzzi’s hands, and he showed it as he had time to make a move around a prone Budaj, but shoved the puck into his pads instead. He’s dragging that second line down a little in my view, but the problem is that if he’s back on defense this team suddenly has too many bodies… Calgary has not been good in back-to-backs this year, and have been lights-out with multiple days of rest. Could conditioning be a problem? In the end, it’s still hard to get exercised about this loss, but a lot rests on whether the team can stop this mini-slump from snowballing into a big one…
Next Up
On Wednesday night, the Flames host the Columbus Blue Jackets, who softened the blow of tonight’s loss by beating Vancouver in a shootout just moments ago as of this writing. Game time is 8:00, and the broadcast will be on Sportsnet West and the Fan 960.
Lines (To Start):
Cammalleri – Lombardi – Iginla
Bourque – Langkow – Vandermeer
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Nystrom – Boyd – Roy
Phaneuf – Pardy
Regehr – Aucoin
Sarich – Giordano
