A call to focus.
The Flames pushed into the toughest point of their schedule but without a second line was looking to rebound from a strange effort against Tampa and grab that focus on their defensive game. A game in Ottawa, once a powerhouse in the NHL, but now a confused bunch that just isn’t the sum of their talented parts. A well set up show, a seven game curtain raiser that got off on the right foot with a 6-3 Flames win, a game that was all about that road mojo.
With the trade deadline tomorrow, the Flames move on to Philly in an effort to keep things going and hold the Canucks at bay.
On The Line
A win in game one of any road trip is key, but add in the fact that it’s a seven game trek, you have a hot team chasing you and your second line is in Calgary with TV trays and you have a necessity to start strong on a trip.
The Flow
Great start for an injury depleted road team with an equipment failured airplane as the Flames start calmly and then take the lead when Lombardi powered by the defender and dropped to Calgary’s hottest player. Lombardi takes a call sending the Sens to a powerplay, the Flames PK a bone of contention against Tampa on Monday. And to keep the ball rolling down the hill the Sens strike when Kuba wiggled the puck through Kiprusoff’s legs. A weak one? Cammalleri tips one of the post, the puck goes down and another tip ends up in the Flames net when Foligno finishes it. Then a great sign for the trip as the AHL line dominates a shift, hemming in the Sens and then scoring when Van Der Gulik picked up his first assist in setting up Warren Peters for his first NHL goal. Iginla with a very Iginla-ish shift fighting traffic to the front and roofing it for the period’s 5th goal.
Flames come out strong in the second, forcing the play and having a few good chances early. Some great chances finally rewarded when David Moss took a Conroy pass and rifled one across the grain and past Auld to stake the Flames to a two goal lead. At that point you had a feeling that another Calgary goal and this one is done. But the rest of the period was quiet, with the Flames playing solid road defense and Kiprusoff refinding his game in an attempt to find win #37.
A Dion Phaneuf hit pushes things Calgary’s way early in the third, a push that results in a Calgary powerplay goal by Moss to put things out of reach. The Flames continue to keep the defense first angle and keep the Sens at bay to shut down a third period lead. Some penalty trouble creates some intrigue through the third but some good bounces and some great goaltending kept things at bay.
Three Stars
1. Jarome Iginla: I know Moss hit the net three times, but his third was an empty net and both of Iginla’s markers were all world. The Flames need #12 more now than ever in the season and it appears he’s ready to deliver.
2. David Moss: His three goals lacked highlight reel attraction, but the simplicity of his game is attractive as hell. Don’t have the puck go to the net. Have the puck shoot it on net. Simple. Logical, but damn rare in the NHL these days.
3. Craig Conroy: Two assists, plus two, and some great work killing penalties for Mr. Congeniality.
Big Save
Alex Auld was sharp when he squeezed the pads and foiled David Moss when he tipped a point offering towards the net through traffic. But the nod goes to Kiprusoff for his glove robbery on Daniel Alfredsson with a few minutes left on the clock in the second and the Flames up two.
Big Hit
Adrian Aucoin fumbled the puck at the line on a Calgary powerplay but followed the turnover and popped Kelly with a stiff open ice check that looked like it hurt. Or so I thought until Dion Phaneuf train wrecked Dany Heatley in the third with a shoulder to the jaw. Ouch.
The Goat
No goat for the Flames in this one, they played a pretty solid road game. But it’s clear why the Sens are a team on the outside looking in. Too many turnovers, too many soft plays, they need to change that whole culture.
Mr. Clutch
Kiprusoff. Didn’t have to be the difference in this one, but was solid in the third with the Flames giving up powerplays in the third, and giving up chances late. Probably a good confidence restorer with Philly on tap.
Odds and Ends
After years of nights of enemy fans filling the dome from Toronto, Montreal and Western teams Edmonton and Vancouver it’s been nice to see a massive Flame contingent in Phoenix two weeks ago and again in Ottawa tonight. Be respectful Flames fans. … What a great testiment to the Flames development system to see that AHL line dominate that first period shift. The boys on the farm are being taught the Flames system and they have it down. … Some media have been teasing the boo birds for ever suggesting Iginla was missing, but he was and it looks like he’s back. Personal problems? An injury? Confidence problems? Don’t care he’s back. … board rumour making the rounds tonight that the Flames have their first round pick in play chasing a top four defenseman with some upside. Interesting … OK, so Rob Kerr was on the Flames charter to Ottawa that left Calgary late on Monday, but he was surprised that Todd Bertuzzi wasn’t at the morning skate today? How do you miss a guy like that on a charter? … OK Vancouver and Toronto guy in the crowd. I know it’s a hockey game so you wore a hockey jersey but does that make sense? It’s Ottawa, or Calgary, or if you want Canada, but not some other team. Odd. … More on Kerr, despite his hatred of all things Calgarypuck the guy brings energy and talent to PPV, I like Roger Millions too, but Kerr does a good job. … What is it with Phaneuf in Ottawa? He tea kettles Hamel two years ago in the capital and tonight he shuts down Heatley. Then he quickly handled Keanu Reeves with a brief scrap after wards. … Has Ruutu ever liked a call against him? Perhaps they should give him a skate to chew on as he cools his heels. … David Moss, man the guy goes to the net every single time. He’s Ryan Smyth so Sutter doesn’t have to deal for that fossil. … Andre Roy on the PPV behind the scenes, just classic. “My back is itchy, I hope they washed those sheets”. …
Next Up
PPV game #2 on the trip as the Flames head into Philly to take on the Flyers on Thursday, game time 5pm local.
Lines (To Start):
Cammalleri – Lombardi – Iginla
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Nystrom – Boyd – Lundmark
Peters – van der Gulik – Roy
Phaneuf – Vandermeer
Regehr – Aucoin
Sarich – Pardy
