I will admit, coming in, the Flames were setting up for a three goal loss in this one.
A hungry Canuck team that needed to win coupled with a Flames club that can’t find their Mojo at all in back to back games this season; you could almost see it before it started. Two big Vancouver shifts, a Calgary penalty, and boom a powerplay goal by the home team. Then … as the visitors reel in chaos bang bang it’s 2-0 and the game never had a chance.
So what actually happened? A three goal loss naturally, but not to the tune I strummed above. The Flames were the better team almost coast to coast, and deserved far better in a 4-1 setback in Vancouver on Tuesday night.
On The Line
The division. The Flames can clinch with a regulation victory, while the Canucks can keep their hopes alive with a big win and then two more wins this week. Crank it up!
The Flow
The Flames started very well. My theory had a good first ten minutes by the Flames being crucial in putting two points on the board, but they exceed all expectations and pretty much ran the board early. Shots chances, and should have been up two or three. But all for naught. The Nucks late in the period pop one and lead despite being out shot 21-9 in the first period.
You’d guess a push back by Vancouver in the second, but no,. … it was the Flames pushing the issue again. Luongo huge again in the second, with Iginla finally solving him to tie the game. Mattias Ohlund tied the score less than 30 seconds later in a goal that probably sealed the fate in a lot of ways.
Calgary a good start in the third again until they ran into penalty trouble, going four straight minors in the middle of the period culminating in the silly Glencross penalty that resulted in a 3-1 score and lights out. One of the Sedins (who cares which) buries a late one to make it look like a blow out when really the Canucks never had a chance. Odd game.
Three Stars
1. Roberto Luongo: Kiprusoff is good, this man is great. Square to the puck all night foiling rebounds, and great reactions on rebounds that did occur. The single difference maker.
2. Mattias Ohlund: Two huge goals including the back breaking game winner after the Flames finally tied things up.
3. Jarome Iginla: Calgary’s only goal and a pretty solid all around performance along with Mike Cammalleri.
Big Save
You know what. …. I won’t even pick one. What is the point. Luongo made about 18 amazing saves in this one to salt away a win the Canuck’s Ohlund admitted after they didn’t deserve. But like Kiprusoff stoning rivals in the past you can’t discount a team’s best player if he’s a goaltender. He’s a Canuck, and the Canucks beat Calgary based on the solid play of their best player. Nuff said.
Big Hit
No clear cut game hit that stands out though Hordichuk on Adam Pardy might take the bill, though Hordichuk’s stick caught Pardy in the process.
The Goat
Queue broken record … Flames powerplay costs them the game. An ouch for six night when the Canucks go one for five is the difference. They had a few more chances, especially on the first three chances, but didn’t get it done. Practice is Keenan. I see the let skill be theory, but you can couple that with some set plays as well.
Mr. Clutch
First star or not, this game was Luongo. And he was clutch to the max. Give him credit … he pooped the bed in Edmonton, but was solid tonight. Or … are the Flames still firing blanks. Stay tuned.
Odds and Ends
The Flames out shot the Canucks 47-25 on the night, likely their best back to back second night performance of the season. The team lost, but if they put that same game on the ice in the next two they will win the division. More importantly, if they do the same in the playoffs they advance regardless of opponent, home ice, or injuries. They were that good. … Jokinen better game, Cammalleri second straight good game, Iginla good game, overall Calgary skill is coming out of the funk but not getting results. I hope the funk continues for two more games and then gets unkeged. … Sad to see the Panthers lose tonight. I liked their Boumeester stance and would have liked to see them in the playoffs ahead of the Sather run gong show from mid Manhattan. … The Devils lost another one tonight, this time to Toronto, what is up with that? Tough time to slide. … Look for Rene Bourque this weekend against Edmonton, but where does he fit in? Do you bump Cammalleri again while that line has looked better? Or do you put him on the second line with Langkow and Bertuzzi. Good options all around. Now to find some luck on the blueline.
Next Up
Game on of a home and home, Friday night in Edmonton. Game time 7pm on Sporstnet.
Lines (To Start):
Cammalleri – Jokinen – Iginla
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Bertuzzi – Langkow – Lundmark
Nystrom – Peters
Vandermeer – Phaneuf
Leopold – Aucoin
Pardy – Pelech
