Canucks Full Marks in Closer

D'Arcy McGrath

April 13th, 2002

That's a wrap.

The Calgary Flames put a less than impressive cap on their at times impressive 2001-02 season, when they dropped a 4-1 contest to the playoff bound Vancouver Canucks.

With 79 points in 82 games the Flames improved six points from their record in the 2000-01 season, but still came up 15 points short of a playoff spot. A margin that they'll try to close next season.

The Vancouver Canucks rode the wave of their top line once again, as Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison ran rough shod over the Flames; especially late when the Flames got themselves in deep penalty trouble.

The Canucks moved into fifth place in the Western Conference though they may find themselves as low as 8th again by tomorrow, depending on the results of games involving Phoenix, Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Flames actually scored the first goal of the game when Craig Conroy sliced a shot through Canuck goaltender Petr Skudra's pads, shorthanded at 10:57.

The goal was Conroy's 27th of the season, and the team's 10th short handed goal of the season; eight of which have come since February 1st. 

From there it was literally all Vancouver.

The Canucks tied the score when Jan Hlavac pounced on a a Trevor Linden rebound for his 16th of the season.

In the second period the Canucks forged ahead for good when Bryan Helmer notched his 5th of the season.

The score held until the third period, when the Flames buried themselves in penalty chaos.

First Bob Boughner was chased for a cross check on 'Nuck superpest Jarku Ruttu. For good measure, Boughner doubled his sentence, taking an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to boot.

Just over a minute later Flame rookie Micki Dupont was chased for cross checking, putting the Flames down two.

The Canucks cashed in on this golden opportunity when Brendan Morrison slapped a rolling puck over Mike Vernon's shoulder.

Soon after a minor line brawl broke out that ended with Derek Morris sentenced for instigating a fight with Trevor Letowski.

The Canucks went up 4-1 soon after when Markus Naslund scored his 40th of the season, sending Boughner back on the ice.

All tallied the Canucks scored two powerplay goals two men up on three back to back two man advantages, putting the game away.

The game was a sell out for the 1oth time this season.

 

Scoreboard
	Vancouver Canucks	4
	Calgary Flames	1

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

OUR THREE STARS

1 Markus Naslund - Canuck captain scored his 40th of the season in pacing the Canucks. 

2 Brendan Morrison - The least heralded member of the Canucks' super line, notches a goal and an assist. 

3 Mike Vernon - Because I say so. Last game as a Flame, and likely last game as an NHL'r, Vernon was solid in the net, keeping the game close. Vernon had a solid career, and a cup win in Calgary that will never be forgotten.

SAVE OF THE GAME

With the game very much in doubt Petr Skudra stoned Scott Nichol on a shorthanded two on one set up by Rob Niedermayer. Niedermayer slid the puck across the crease to a wide open Nichol who was foiled by a sliding Skudra pad save.

HIT OF THE GAME

Derek Morris, burned by a Jarku Ruttu mid way through the third period chased the Vancouver winger down behind the net and pounded him high in to the glass.

NOTES & STATS

Should Derek Morris be fighting? Likely not. However, what a sight to see a club's offensive catalyst from the backside drop the mitts and pound a clear decision in the third period over Trevor Letowski. ... Peter Maher, the Flames radio play by play man, mentioned a ghastly statistic on his broadcast this evening. Since the Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens to win the 1989 Stanely Cup, their record in their last game of the season (final playoff game in playoff years, final regular season game in non playoff years) is a brutal 0-10-1. ... The Flames led the way in hits and face offs on the night, as usual, but once again came up short on the score board. Ron Petrovicky led Calgary in hits with four, while Bryan Helmer had the same number for Vancouver.