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Flames
Foil Visiting Sabres
Flames 4 � Sabres 1
Darren
Linn
January 21, 2006
The
fear of the unkown is a
common conception in
almost all aspects of
life, and indeed,
sports. It's no
different in the NHL
this season as some
teams are facing one
another for the first
time in many moons. The
last time the Calgary
Flames and the Buffalo
Sabres hooked up for a
game, the guys in red
had the names Oliwa,
Conroy, Gelinas, Clark,
Lydman, Turek, McLellan,
Gauthier, Green, Betts
and Lowry among others
on their roster. The
Sabres sported guys the
likes of Satan, Taylor,
Patrick, Delmore, and
others. Much has changed, and as pointed out, much is unknown from
that time 27 months ago,
but there was little to
fear, at least from a
Flames perspective.
With
a re-invented lineup, a
very long run in the
playoffs in their pocket
of experience, and a
mini winning streak of
two games, Calgary took
the ice to gain some
momentum as they head
out on one of the oddest
5 game road trips they
will see all year.
On
The Line
Hmmmm,
nothing much
really...other than
keeping pace with the
Canucks and Oilers,
while distancing
themselves a couple
points from Tuesday's
opponent the Colorado
Avalanche who lost
earlier in the day. It's
a tight, tight, North
West division, and it's
not likely to change a
whole lot until sometime
in late March or early
November.
The
Flow
The
Flames were prepared
when they hit the ice at
7:05 and it showed. They
came out flying in
comparison to the Sabres
and held a 1-0 lead
before the Sabres
registered a shot on
net. The Sabres had been
touted as the best
skating team in the
East, and the Flames
went stride for stride
with them and actually
were the quicker bunch.
In the 2nd period the
referees took over with
a parade of penalties to
both squads which slowed
things up for a while.
The 3rd was a typical
Flames showing when they
have a lead. Dump the
puck deep, check check
check, and not give the
opposition a whole lot
of room through the
neutral zone. The Sabres
broke through a couple
times and made for a
nervous moment or two,
but all in all Calgary
was the best team all
night long.
Three
Stars
1
� Robyn Regehr. Many
around the NHL have no
idea just how good this
guy plays the game. Yes
his goal should not of
counted, but it was
everything else he did
on the night that I am
going to give him the
nod for. An absolutely
crushing hilight reel
hit, the little things
he does at both ends of
the ice but especially
in his own end, and the
poise with which he
handles himself even in
the face of panic on the
ice.
2 � Miikka
Kiprusoff.
The fabulous
Finn proves once again
why he has to be
considered one of the
top 3 goaltenders in the
world right now. When a
goalie is in the zone he
is in, things come easy
and it looks even
easier. He has been
doing both for a while
now and this one was no
different. Surrendering
only 1 goal on 30
shots...that's world
class goaltending folks.
No ifs, ands, or buts
about it.
3 � Maxim
Afinoganov.
The slick
Russian was the most
dangerous offensive
player for either team
all evening. He scored
the Sabres lone goal and
was stoned by
"kipper" on
one other clear cut
break away.
Big
Hit
This is going to be the
easiest call of the year
in this department.
Robyn Regehr took all of
his 235 lbs and helped
Ales Kotalik complete
his line change. When
all was said and done,
Kotalik was upside down,
his legs in the air, and
on the Sabres bench.
This was the classic
"ass over tea
kettle" scenario,
and one that Charlie
Brown would of been
proud of.
Big
Save
Though both goaltenders
turned away many good
chances on the night, as
evidenced by the shot
totals, I have to give
the nod to Kiprusoff
this one for his stoning
of Maxim Afinoganov with
about 6 minutes in the
3rd after the winger was
sent in on the Flames
net all alone. It may
not of been his toughest
save of the night, but
the timing was
imperative and stopped
any chance of giving
Buffalo a second wind.
The
Goat
The NHL, referees Kevin
Pollack and Tom Kowal,
linesmen Mike Cvik and
Brad Lazarowich, and
anyone else associated
with the most obvious
blown call of the NHL
season. Though the goal
didn't matter in the
outcome of the game,
Robyn Regehr's marker
during a PP in the 2nd
period was clearly one
that should not of
counted. He kicked it
in. No way to get around
it, even if he didnt
mean too. Horrible
decision by all involved
and something that, in
this day and age
particularly, should
never ever happen in a
professional league of
this caliber.
Mr.
Clutch
One Mr. Andrew Ference
gets the tip of the hat
tonight, for a couple
reasons. Playing with a
raw rookie, logging over
20 hard minutes, getting
into a spirited fight
late in the game, and
playing a poised PP QB
position when called on,
earns him some kudos. He
is so very much
underappreciated for
what he contributes. A
solid game all around.
Odds
and Ends
As
I am writing this, the
Oilers have just lost in
a shoot-out, the Canucks
scored 6 in the 1st 14
minutes of their game
and are cruising and the
Avs lost earlier. The
Flames will still be
sitting in 1st when you
open the papares Sunday
morning with a bit of
space between the Oil
and Avs.... The Flames
defense first attitude
was never more prevalent
as early on when they
held the Sabres shotless
for over 14 minutes to
open the game.
Unfortunately that shot
was a goal, but the only
one......Anyone else
know that for the 4
years Toni Lydman was a
Flame we alla apparently
pronounced his name
incorrectly? Loodman is
now the way it is to be
said. Everyone got
that?.....Darryl Sutter
rarely loses his cool
during a game, but when
Dion Phaneuf was called
in the 2nd period to put
the Flames down two men,
MSG network showed the
Flame grand poobah let
loose with a series of
"F" bombs
towards the referee and
not letting up right
until the puck dropped
again. Hope those kids
watching cant read lips
yet.....5 of the Flames
dmen logged over 20
minutes with Regehr 2.0
skating for just over 12
minutes...Flames won the
hitting battle 21-11
according to the off ice
officials....They also
won blocked shots 22-9
and in the faceoff dot
went almost dead even at
49%....Just a couple
personal observations on
my part. With Ottawa
smoking the Leafs yet
again I am going to go
out on a limb and
suggest that should the
Leafs lose on Monday
night in the rematch,
Pat Quinn loses his job.
With the Devils now on a
9 game winning streak,
Lucky Lou doesn't need
to make a move anytime
soon and may wait and
see who shakes out
around the league (yes
im suggesting Quinn
should he be cut loose).
Next
up � Up
highway 2 to the pill
bottle and part 6 of the
BOA.
Lines
-
Reinprecht-Lombardi-
Iginla
McCarty- Yelle- Kobasew
Simon-Nilson- Donovan
Huselius-Langkow-Amonte
Hamrlik-Phaneuf
Leopold-Regehr
Ference-Warrener
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