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Flames Grind Down Oilers
Flames 3 – Oilers 1

Kris Fernet
January 23, 2006

On The Line

Tonight archrivals meet in an important Divisional contest.  A Flames win will see them at the top of the Northwest Division.  Edmonton is looking to turn their recent fortunes around.  A loss for the Oilers will add extra pressure to the team who is looking to stay in a playoffs spot 

The Flow

Tonight’s game was a textbook game from both teams.  The Flames played their usual style.  Solid defense, great goaltending and strong offensive zone pressure are what the Flames need to win and tonight they executed.  The Oilers also played a typical game.  Plenty of speed, long passes and shots were not enough to beat a hot Flames team.

Three Stars

1 – Miikka Kiprusoff.  He made a number of spectacular saves over the course of the night.

2 – Jarome Iginla.  Its been said before and I will say it again.  As Jarome goes, so do the Flames.  When he is on his game the Flames more or less add an extra line of skill to the overall team play.

3 – Kristian Huselius.  The creative and speedy winger helped get back the Flames momentum with a goal just 16 seconds after the Oilers first and only tally.

Big Hit

I am told that Radek Dvorak flattened Sean Donovan in the 1^st period.  I admit I was watching the election coverage at the time.  There weren’t very many great hits tonight.

Big Save

It is hard to pick just one.  Twice in the game Kiprusoff was able to stop the Oilers on great scoring chances.  The best of the series was probably the blocker save he made on a falling puck.  He was off balance at the time but he was still able to stretch out and bat the puck out of the air.

The Goat

No Goat on the Flames tonight.  Chris Simon missed a couple of chances but not enough to hang the Goat label on him.  I suppose the Oilers deserve the Goat for not being able to solve the riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma that is Kiprusoff.

Mr. Clutch

Jarome Iginla, happily for this fan, gets the award tonight.  As mentioned previously, when he is on his game the overall team play of the Flames is noticeable elevated.

Next up – Tuesday January 24^th.  At Colorado.

Lines -

Reinprecht-Lombardi- Iginla
McCarty- Yelle- Kobasew
Simon-Nilson- Donovan
Huselius-Langkow-Amonte

Phaneuf-Warrener
Leopold-Regehr
Ference- Regehr

 

Kiprusoff