You just can’t create chemistry.
It’s either there or it’s not. Today though a team was missing their entire second line and added two players just 24 hours earlier the chemistry was found. A new first line boosted by addition Olli Jokinen scored three times, and a new defense pairing with Jordan Leopold helping out Dion Phaneuf looked charged as the Flames blew out the Flyers in Philadelphia by a 5-1 score.
Thank you Darryl Sutter, that’s an exciting 24 hours.
On The Line
The Flames seven game road trip features three winnable games (Ottawa, Atlanta and Toronto), three losable games (Philadelphia, New Jersey and Detroit) and a question mark (Carolina). Winning their first winnable is nice, but finding points in their first losable game on the trek is likely at least as important.
The Flow
What more can you say? The Flames had a rough couple of minutes to start including an early slashing call to newcomer Olli Jokinen, but then simply took the game away for the next 15 minutes of the first. Goals by Mike Cammalleri, then two by Jokinen, and finally the newcomer completion goal when Jordan Leopold scored on a bank pass and boom … Flames 4-0. Game over.
No scoring in the second, but chances both ways despite some powerplays for the Flyers. The Flames kept the puck outside and road out the push that was expected from the home side.
The third was an odd period, with chances both ways and a trade off of goals. The Flyers tossed aside Kiprusoff’s shut out on a deft deflection from Mike “silent K” Knuble, but Craig Conroy got it back to salt the game away. Two games, four points for the Flames.
Three Stars
1. Olli Jokinen: Looking forward to this new name in the game star section. Dude is big. Dudge is fast. Dude scores goals. Good dude.
2. Jarome Iginla: Two very good assists to welcome his new centerman and further cement his new role as the team’s best playmaker. Have to hand it to the evolution of Jarome Iginla, and I’ve been a critic.
3. Martin Biron: Flames had some serious chances in the third and could have blown the thing wide open. Probably the best Flyers despite only playing 20 minutes.
Big Save
Olli Jokinen set up by a great back pass from Jarome Iginla was staring down a third period chance for a hat trick only to have Martin Biron flash the leather and take away a sure goal.
Big Hit
Not much of a physical game to be honest. Caught Cory Sarich high bridging someone in the corner midway through the third, never did get that Flyer’s name, but it was the hit of the game.
The Goat
Flyer blueliners as a group. How the hell is this team sitting in a home ice position in the East with a defense core like that? Starting to understand the chase for JayBo when I see guys falling down, turning the puck over and missing assignments.
Mr. Clutch
Flames third line which is now it’s second line. They had good chances, and finally a goal by Craig Conroy, but they were solid on the forecheck and causing chaos all night. They are in good shape when this is their third line.
Odds and Ends
Was fun to watch the new Flames in town. Olli Jokinen is as advertised. He’s big, and he has great hands, but his speed, though talked about still blew me away. When he dragged his leg to stay onside and take that Cammalleri pass I couldn’t believe the burst of speed that followed. Big guy with hands going fast and in Calgary for 18 months? Good. Jordan Leopold is more personal. We all knew the Flames were a solid team that lacked scoring. Trading Jordan Leopold for a player of Alex Tanguay’s ilk made sense on so many levels. But still … so nice to see #4/40 back in the Flames lineup. He moves the puck well, he’s tough on the wall and he puts the puck right on Phaneuf’s stick time after time. Great to see him back. … The Flames started with the two new Flames on the second powerplay unit, a move that resulted in a first unit goal early to Cammalleri. I noticed they both moved up by the second. … Hard to imagine this team with the entire 2nd line back in the fold, lots of options five on five and on the powerplay. … Will Adam Pardy spend a bunch of time on the sidelines or will he and Vandermeer flip in and out? Vandermeer and and Sarich had a solid third pairing game. Depth … love it. … The Canucks are idle tonight and tomorrow night meaning the Flame are back up 10 points as of now, and possibly 12 if they can discard the Canes tomorrow night. The Nucks will have two games in hand when they hit the ice on Saturday night. … Nashville beats Columbus tonight to move into a tie with the Jackets for 6th in the West, the spot likely to hook up with the Flames. The Canucks seem to have 5th by a margin leaving a bunch of teams to sort out 6-10.
Next Up
he Flames travel to Carolina to take on the Hurricanes tomorrow night on Sportsnet, game time 5pm..
Lines (To Start):
Cammalleri – Jokinen – Iginla
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Nystrom – Boyd – Lundmark
Roy – Peters – Chucko
Regehr – Aucoin
Leopold – Phaneuf
Sarich – Vandermeer
