Calgary Flames 6 Montreal Canadiens 2

Five Goal 3rd Sinks Habs

D'Arcy McGrath

November 3rd, 2001

Much of the off-season focus for the Calgary Flames surrounded offence.

Spectators in the press box, on the street, and likely within the dressing room looked at the Flames lineup and wondered from  where the scoring would come. Fingers pointed at a lineup very thin in top two line forwards.

One of the most significant changes to the Flames roster this season, has been largely overlooked.

Calgary coach Greg Gilbert started his fourth line against Montreal on Saturday.

The puck never left the Montreal zone.

Getting off on the right foot on home ice is so crucial in the NHL, and a noticeable upgrade to the team's bottom six forwards has provided the spark the team needs.

Players like Craig Berube, Steve Begin, Scott Nichol, Clarke Wilm, Ron Petrovicky and Jamie Wright take the body, keep it simple, and never take a shift off.

The little things that have as much to do with the Flames hot start as Roman Turek or Jarome Iginla.

Of the six goals scored by the Calgary Flames on Saturday night in downing the Montreal Canadiens, only one came from a predictable source. 

The game's first goal came from the Flames big line however, as Jarome Iginla and Craig Conroy set up Dean McAmmond off to the side of the Montreal cage on an extended Flames cycle.

The play was actually set up with the previous shift as Clarke Wilm's line kept the Canadiens pinned in their own zone, allowing for a line change that led to the goal.

McAmmond took the puck out from beside the net and slid it along the ice past a sprawling Matheiu Garon.

The second period featured numerous chances for the Flames to add to their lead, but the Canadiens scored twice to take a two to one lead.

Much like the Columbus game of two nights earlier, the stage was set for the typical Calgary Flame home defeat.

But also like Thursday night, the Flames found a way to win - this time in explosive fashion scoring five in the third to run away.

"We were all confident going into the third period and that's been our attitude all year," said Iginla.

Jarome Iginla, converting a clever goal mouth pass from Dave Lowry, tied the score with his ninth of the season.

Two minutes later Ron Petrovicky, with his first of two on the night scored the eventual game winner, on a play set up by yet another thundering hit by the Slovak winger.

The game was essentially put out of reach on the tail end of a Montreal two man advantage. Criag Conroy outmuscled a Hab defender near the Flames blueline and chipped the puck out of his zone. A streaking Lowry, just out of the penalty box caught up to the puck and fired a chip shot over Garon's shoulder.

Petrovicky and Conroy finished out the scoring to give the Flames their tenth win on the season, and their seventh on Saddledome ice.

Jarome Iginla and Craig Conroy finished with three points each, both with a goal and an assits.

Iginla's three points extend his points streak to seven games, and his overall total to 23 points in 14 games.

 

Box Score


OUR THREE STARS

1) CRAIG CONROY - Three points on the night, and a gritty overall performance. 

2) RON PETROVICKY - Two goals, another injured opponent and numerous highlight reel hits. 

3) JAROME IGINLA - Break out season continues as Iginla adds another three points to his league leading tally.


HIT OF THE GAME

Ron Petrovicky again. Petrovicky stepped into Stephane Quintal as the Montreal defender fought for the puck with Clarke Wilm along the boards. Quintal immediately left the ice and appeared to be favouring his shoulder on the Montreal bench. "I tried to hurt him a little bit", Petrovicky told CBC, "We keep winning, I'll keep doing that".


FIGHT OF THE GAME

As the clock was running out a retro line brawl broke out in the Flames zone, with Robyn Regehr, Bob Boughner and Chad Kilger in the eye of the storm. Boughner and Kilger dropped the gloves with Boughner pounding out the decision to add a little insult to six goals of injury.


NOTES & STATS

The Flames appear to have met their match in the face off circle as Yanic Perreault and his 70% success rate led the Habs to a 51% night on draws ... Craig Conroy still had a great night, winning 58% of his face offs. ... Speaking of Craig Conroy, is he not a microcosm of the team itself? Off to a good start that just keeps on extending? When does the Conroy scoring touch no longer represent a good start, and start becoming a good season? His career best season was back in 1997-98 when he notched 14 goals and 43 points. Through 14 games this season Conroy already has 7 goals and 16 points, on pace for 41 goals and 94 points. ... Speaking of paces ... Jarome Iginla's additional three points tonight has him on a 53 goal, 135 point pace. ... The Flames out shot the Canadiens tonight by a 36-24 mark, and were led by Chris Clark with seven, yes seven shots on goal. ... Want an obscure statistic? The Flames had ten takeaways during the game to Montreal's two. Dave Lowry and Jamie Wright had two apiece. ... Montreal and Calgary have shared more than just Stanley Cup history in the 1980's. Both teams get hurt ... often. Tonight the Flames sent two additional Habs to the sidelines as Martin Rucinsky and Stephane Quintal both had to leave the game with an eye and shoulder injury respectively. ... For the record, the Flames didn't win their tenth game until December 16th last season. .... The win gives the Flames seven out of a possible eight points on a home stand that many felt was crucial to sustaining the team's good start. Next up a swing through California.


 

 

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