Change the recipe,
change the out come.
A consistent pattern
has formed through the
2002-03 season; the
Flames will come up
short on special teams,
have their goaltender
out played by the
opposing stopper, and
have their best players
generally not play up to
the title of their best
players.
Against Chicago on
Thursday night, at least
two of the above three
changes leading to a 3-3
tie.
Jamie McLennan was
solid in net, matching
Chicago backup Steve
Passmore save for save
in a thrilling finish to
a somewhat mundane
contest.
Flame stars, Jarome
Iginla and Chris Drury
both scored for the home
side giving the Flames a
well over due boost and
a point at home, ending
a three game losing
skid.
Iginla opened the
scoring just under eight
minutes in by doing
something that he
regularly did last
season, but has seldom
done this season - drive
to the net.
Passmore turned aside
his effort, but Iginla
was bulled over from
behind, colliding with
the goaltender and
skittering the puck into
the cage.
The score stayed 1-0
Calgary through two
periods and into the
third frame until
Chicago defenceman Lyle
Odelein fired a screened
shot from the point to
tie things up at one.
Seven minutes later
the Hawks were back for
more when Mark Bell and
Tyler Arnason combined
to set up Kyle Calder in
the slot to make it 2-1
Chicago.
Given the struggles
faced by Calgary through
the season you could
understand the visible
sag at the Saddledome as
witnesses observed what
seemed to be yet another
home loss in a very regretful
season.
Just a handful of
seconds later however,
the Flames tied the
score when Oleg Saprykin
knocked down a clearing
attempt in the Hawk
zone, took the puck to
the net and fed a
streaking Martin
Gelinas. Gelinas had his
shot brilliantly turned
aside by Passmore, but
Chris Drury pounced on
the rebound, cradled the
puck towards his body
and beat the fallen
goaltender to tie the
score at two.
The Flames enjoyed a
fairly dangerous
powerplay in the last
few minutes of regulation
time but couldn't beat
Passmore with their
chances.
With less than 20
seconds left in the
third Gelinas was
whistled for hooking,
sending the Hawks to a
4-3 powerplay in
overtime.Â
Queue Jamie
McLennan's heroics.
The Flames stopper
was forced to turn aside
10 Chicago overtime
shots, including five on
their man advantage but
stood tall to preserve
the win.
The tie does little
to the Flames standing
in the west, as they
still reside in the last
position in the
conference. Chicago
moved into a tie with
Anaheim for the 8th and
final playoff spot, with
an extra game on the
books.
Calgary travels to
Edmonton to play the
Oilers on Friday night.
