Former Friend-Foe Finishes Flames

D'Arcy McGrath

January 5th, 2002

It was a night of inevitable destiny.

At least for everyone but the Calgary Flames.

On a day ten years past the worst trade in team history, the principal player in that deal returned the Pengrowth Saddledome to kick a little more sand in his former teammates faces.

With the game tied at two in the third period, former Flame Doug Gilmour broke the game open with a goal and then later added an assist to take first star honors, and conclusively end the Flames four game homestand on a sour note.

Gilmour was shipped to Toronto on January 5th, 1992 along with Rick Nattress, Jamie Macoun, Rick Wamsley and Kent Manderville for Craig Berube, Gary Leeman, Alex Godiniuk, Michelle Petite and goaltender Jeff Reese.

The deal marked the start of a down hill slide for the Flames franchise, just like Gilmour's goal marked the start of a down hill slide in last night's contest.

Montreal opened the scoring when Roman Turek flubbed a weak backhanded effort from Stephane Quintal, the puck finding a way through his legs.

The Flames tied the score before the end of the period when Montreal goalie Jose Theodore essentially gave one away himself. Unable to handle the rebound from a weak point shot from Robyn Regehr. Jarome Iginla had a whack at it before Dave Lowry banked it off a Montreal skate and into the cage. For Lowry it was his first goal in two full months which was evident by his Mike Foligno dance when seeing the puck in the net.

The first period was a classic example of what has been ailing the Flames of late. They came out strong, carried the play and should have been up a couple goals on their tired visitors. But for whatever reason they abandoned their game plan and fell into a familiar trap in the next frame.

In the second period the Flames took the lead for the first and only time on the night when Iginla intercepted a neutral zone pass from the Montreal defence and wired a 40 footer past a startled Theodore.

From that point on however, the Canadiens took over.

Pressing the Flames into their own zone, and forcing error after error.

By the third period the Flames were firmly on the ropes unable to generate any good offensive opportunities due to each and every player abandoning the system and attempting to go it alone.

The loss moves the Flames back to four games over .500 and in some serious trouble with both L.A. and Vancouver winning last night. No fewer than three teams now sit within five points of the Flames.

The road trip ends on a sour note, but stood at 2-1-1 for five points in four games.

The Flames now travel to Long Island to play the bolstered Islanders on Tuesday night.

Last night's game was a sellout. 

Box Score

FLAMES LINES

OUR THREE STARS

1) Doug Gilmour - former Flame had great jump on the night, scoring once and adding an assist. 

2) Stephane Quintal - Scored the game's first goal and added an assist. 

3) Jarome Iginla - Also picked up a goal and an assist.

SAVE OF THE GAME

Roman Turek did a masterful job on a diving poke check to keep Doug Gilmour from getting on the score sheet midway through the first period.

HIT OF THE GAME

Stephane Quintal leveled Craig Berube in along the side boards midway through the second period. 

NOTES & STATS

It was surprising to see CBC's Bob Cole call the Flames - Canadiens game on Hockey Day in Canada instead of the Leaf - Senator game as is the norm. By the end of the contest I would suggest many a Flame fan may have hoped he'd have stayed in Ontario. A hockey announcer can often have difficulty hiding what side he's pulling for but Cole made no such effort on the night. It gave Calgary viewers the feeling the game was on local Montreal television. ... The Flames won 54% of the face offs on the night, led by Rob Niedermayer at 61%. All four regular centers were on the positive side. Every Hab but Yanic Perreault were on the losing side on the evening. ... The Flames out hit the Canadiens by a margin of 20-18, with Bob Boughner and Petr Buzek leading the way with three apiece. The Habs had three from Quintal and Reid Simpson. ... Montreal won the battle of the special teams going 1-4 on the night while the Flames came up empty on two chances.