I think it's safe to
say that Rembrandt
wouldn't have been all
that impressed.
Who cares?
The Flames may have
had trouble solving Blue
Jacket goaltender Marc
Denis, but the end
result was very much
appreciated as the
Flames skated past a
visiting Columbus squad
by a score of 2-0.
The result kept two
streaks alive, the
Jackets have now lost
eight straight games
while the Calgary Flames
have now managed to go
unbeaten in seven
straight, at the most
critical time of the
season.
For Calgary the
victory had double
importance - not only
did it keep them at pace
with the Vancouver
Canucks for fourth spot
in the west (The Canucks
dropped a decision to
Dallas moving the Flames
within two points of
home ice in the
playoffs), but it also
vaulted them seven
points clear of a
playoff spot with the
Kings losing 5-3 to the
Sharks.
Seven points ...
eight games, a squad
with a more appealing
recent playoff history
would be cause for
popping bottles and
subdued celebrations,
but one can forgive the
Flames for playing it
down.
The Flames opened the
scoring in the second
period, when the team's
upteenth rebound finally
found it's way onto the
stick of a Flame player
- in this case Matthew
Lombardi - who deposited
the gimme in to the
empty net.
The goal would turn
out to be the game
winner.
After 40 minutes the
Flames only held a score
of 1-0 despite 24-15
edge in shots, and the
lion's share of the
play.
The Flames were not
content to sit on a one
goal lead in this one
however, as the club
poured it on in the
third period and only
had Marc Denis to thank
for a nail biter down to
the finish.
Ville Nieminen made
it interesting when he
was flagged for hooking
with 62 seconds left in
a contest that the road
team had little reason
to be in.
Luckily for the pine
sitting Finn, the Flames
were equal to the task
on the penalty kill,
with Jarome Iginla pin
pointing a 160 foot
empty netter for the
short handed, empty net,
insurance goal.
The win moves the
Flames magic number to
six for clinching a
playoff spot, a good
number to have on one's
side with eight games
left.
The possibilities for
a Calgary finish seems
endless in the wake of a
Canuck loss as the team
could possibly end up in
4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or
8th place when all is
said and done.
I'd like a head count
of the number of Flame
fans that though finishing
ahead of Vancouver or
having home ice
advantage in the first
round was possible when
the first puck dropped
on opening night in
British Columbia.
Next up the Flames
host the Nashville
Predators in another
game that could go along
way in deciding the
Western playoff picture.
