Flames Best Buds In OT 

Club Finally Plays A - Game At Home

November 18th, 2003
D'Arcy McGrath

They finally brought the road show home.

This still relatively young NHL campaign has been characterized by gutsy road efforts and for the most part flat displays on home ice.

But not this one, as the Calgary Flames dropped the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 3-2 in overtime.

McAmmond Reinprecht Iginla
Saprykin Lombardi Clark
Lowry Conroy Donovan
Oliwa Betts Oliwa
Ference Lydman
Leopold Regehr
Gauthier Warrener

The Leafs opened the scoring on a screened point shot from Bryan McCabe. The shot seemed helpless enough but sailed into the Flames cage behind McLennan, with the goaltenders arms in the air to signal he didn't see it.

The Flames tied the score later in the first on a powerplay with another delayed call coming up to Toronto.

Jarome Iginla took the puck toward the Leaf cage attempted a shot, then collected the rebound and put a crafty pass through his legs to Steve Reinprecht who had nothing but net in his sights.

For Reinprecht it was his third goal of the season, and tenth point.

The Flames out shot Toronto by a 10 - 3 margin in the first.

The Flames penalty killers went to work in the second, keeping the game tied at one despite back to back Leaf chances in the first ten minutes of the period.

They club went up a goal late in the frame when Dean McAmmond, with the Flames on a powerplay themselves, collected a bouncing puck and fired it high past Belfour for his fourth of the season.

The Flames kept it simple in the third period, but got in some penalty trouble midway through and gave up the lead.

First Tie Domi took a whack at Jamie McLennan resulting in he and Andrew Ference heading off for roughing. About a half minute later Denis Gauthier was penalized for holding Mats Sundin sending the Leafs to a dangerous 4 on 3 powerplay.

Sundin himself tied it up when he beat Jamie McLennan on an un-sreened off angled wrister through his pads.

Both teams then settled down for a careful period trading minor chances and keeping things tight.

The last five minutes features a change in pace however, with the Flames taking it to a tired and slow Toronto defence victimizing them for a breakaway chance to Jarome Iginla, a close in break for Shean Donovan and a parital break to Oleg Saprykin.

Eddie Belfour stood tall however, sending things to overtime where Toni Lydman played hero.

Lydman took the puck behind the Toronto cage off a face off and then shoveled it to Steve Reinprecht when he ran out of real estate. Reinprecht beat his check and back handed the puck towards the goal which created a rebound to Lydman. Lydman fired a shot that hit Belfour but carromed into the top corner.

The win ends the Flames futility streak in overtime - they has lost their previous two extra time games - but keeps their tie-less streak alive throughout the season.

Next up is the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

The win moves the Flames to one game under .500 and to 16 points on the season, good for a share of 10th pace in the west - just two points of 8th place.

 

 

SCOREBOARD
FLAMES 3
MAPLE LEAFS 2

1) Steve Reinprecht - One goal and two assists to lead the way for the Flames.

2) Eddy Belfour - Best Leaf on the ice, keeping things close in the first and third periods.

3) Jarome Iginla - Three assists and a lots of his old self in his drive to the net in this one.

Eddy Belfour had to be solid in the third as he stoned Jarome Iginla on a breakaway, and Shean Donovan in close. 

Denis Gauthier stepped up and dropped Darcy Tucker (always a popular target) with an in your face body check along the glass in the Leafs zone. Gauthier was immediately hunted down for words by Tie Domi. 

The Flames were once again penalized for having too many men on the ice. This has become somewhat of a trend this season and has one wondering why? Youthful inexperience or some coaching errors on the bench? ... Robyn Regehr and Owan Nolen renewed acquaintances in the second period when Nolan cross checked Regehr starting a melee in the Flames zone. Regehr picked up quite the face wash, and the Flames a powerplay. ... Sportsnet's Calgary focused coverage is a huge improvement this season, but they need to fix that penalty clock in the top left corner of the screen. It always shows an extra three to five seconds more than the actual penalty. ... Have to wonder what Tomas Kaberle was thinking when he stopped skating to signal off side himself instead of pursuing Jarome Iginla on a breakaway. ... I know the average reader hates a goalie rant, but there's another game with two rather weak goals against, and an almost miss on a late goal post. The Leafs were held at bay most of the night, they didn't have that many chances, but the average Eastern media desk will point out to another game where McLennan allowed only two, completely missing the point. ... I for one must admit that the Flames got a lot more in that minor deal with Pittsburgh last March than I bargained for. Shean Donovan is not the speedy, ham handed mucker that I thought he was. A real asset to the team. ... Oleg Saprykin may be getting it! The skilled young winger was feisty, had a few chances and was robbed by Belfour with a glove save late in the third. .. The Yelle-less Flames took the battle of the dot by a fair margin, taking 58% of the draws. Jarome Iginla led the way, taking 82% of his face offs. ... Oleg Saprykin led all shooters with four on the night. ... The three point night by Reinprecht, and Iginla vault them both past Matthew Lombardi and into first place for the club. ... 

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