In the 80's and early
90's it was common place
to attend meaningful
hockey games in short sleeves,
shorts and wearing sun
glasses.
Frankly the city of
Calgary took it for
granted.
Today, in an
afternoon game on
American television,
those sunny, sunny,
sunny days were here
again as a packed full
crowed took in an
exciting 3-2 overtime
victory over the L.A.
Kings, in a game that
may put a halt to those
"Saddledome is a
library" monikers
that have haunted the
local barn.
It wasn't easy.
Players can't
criticize officials, nor
can team officials or
the coaching staff - to
do so results in a fine
- but I certainly can.
The rink team of Don
Koharski and Mick
Mcgeough gave the Kings
four powerplays to the
Flames three in game
that should have had a
70-30 spit against the
visitors.
In a word it was
insane.
From the opening
faceoff when the Kings
were allowed to attempt
a line brawl to get
Jarome Iginla off the
ice to a second period
Chris Simon breakaway
that resulted in a
chop/trip with no call,
the officiating was
bizarre.
The haphazard call of
the game seemed to
engage the home crowd,
which eventually passed
some momentum on to the
home team as Shean
Donovan iced it with
some good hands in an
overtime two on one.
The Kings opened the
scoring in the first
period when super-pest
and NHL penalty minute
leader Sean Avery took a
pass and one timed one
past Miikka Kiprusoff.
The Flames got close
a few times later in the
period, but the Kings
retained the 1-0 first
period lead.
Calgary drew even in
the second when Chris
Simon, moments after
having goal waved off
for kicking the puck
into the cage, scored
another when Jordan
Leopold's point shot hit
his shin pad and bounced
into the cage.
The goal added
another element to a
great return to the
lineup for the suspended
player, with Simon
winning a clear first
period decision over
former Flames Jeff
Cowan, his first fight
in a Calgary silk.
The Kings went back
up 2-1 six minutes later
when the same Jeff Cowan
finished a two on one on
an Andrew Ference give
away to give the
visitors some life in
their now near
impossible playoff
quest.
Craig Conroy,
fighting the puck all
night long, tied the
score with a wrister
that trickled through
Cristobal Huet's pads
and into the twine.
The third period was
a hesitant affair with
the Flames somewhat on
their heals playing a
disjointed style of
hockey.
But in overtime the
Flames took a massive
step towards a playoff
spot when a puck chipped
off the boards by Craig
Conroy resulted in
Donovan's goal.
The win moves the
Flames back to three
points ahead of the trio
of the St. Louis blues,
Edmonton Oilers and
Nashville Predators, who
lost in overtime to the
Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Flames host the
Phoenix Coyotes on
Wednesday night in a
possible chance to
clinch a playoff spot.
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