Marc Ciampa
April 9th, 2004

Now that they’ve got the first game in seven years out of the way, just two days later the Flames are back at it, looking now for their first playoff win since a 5-0 triumph over the San Jose Sharks on May 15, 1995.

What Darryl Sutter has likely been stressing to his team over the past 24 hours is don’t panic. The only win in a playoff series that matters is the fourth. If the Flames come out and play their game tonight they’ll still be heading home Sunday with a split, having stolen home ice advantage.

FLAMES KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• Special Teams: Judging by how the first game was called, with a total of 16 power plays handed out between the two teams, the Flames need to tighten up on not only their penalty killing but also their ability to take stupid penalties at inopportune moments.
• Iginla: Jarome Iginla had several spurts of brilliance Wednesday night where he simply dominated the puck along the boards. However, he was unable to generate much in front of the net and only had four shots on goal (all in the third period). He needs to be better and he needs to score.
• Flames Hockey: All season long scoring three goals has been enough to win most games. They need to limit the Canucks to two goals or less, whether it’s playing better defensively or more timely saves from Kiprusoff.

EVERYBODY KNOWS...

Stephane Yelle likely would have made a big difference in Wednesday’s game if he was not injured. In particular, each of Vancouver’s first two goals were originated from a point shot up the middle—shots that Yelle has been particularly adept at blocking for most of the season. With someone like Yelle on the penalty kill it would likely force Ed Jovanovski back to the blueline and away from the front of the net for fear that one of his blocked shots could spring a breakaway with only one D back there.

Brendan Morrison has been a Flames killer this season. In addition to his goal and two assists Wednesday, he had six points (4 goals, 2 assists) in six regular season games versus Calgary to lead the Canucks.

EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW...

Oleg Saprykin was Calgary’s best forward on Wednesday. The way he drove to the net and created chances all night was exactly what Darryl Sutter was looking for. If he has a similar type game this evening, don’t be surprised to see him on the top line at some point in tonight’s game.

Mike Keane’s role with the Canucks has increased in the playoffs as Vancouver draws on his postseason experience. During the regular season he averaged just over ten minutes a game while Wednesday he was on the ice for 14:20, including over six minutes on the penalty kill.

ROSTER UPDATES:

Calgary: Stephane Yelle (hip) is again questionable for tonight. Toni Lydman (upper body) returned to the lineup Wednesday. Dean McAmmond (back) and Steve Reinprecht (shoulder) are both out for the rest of the season. Dave Lowry may return later on in the series.

Vancouver: Todd Bertuzzi (suspension) is out for the playoffs. Mats Lindgren (back) and Magnus Arvedson (knee) are done for the season.

FAST FACTS: 

Proof that the playoffs are a whole different season: Vancouver’s power play ranked the worst of all the playoff qualifiers at 22^nd in the league (14.9%) but they still managed to light it up against Calgary’s above-average penalty killers (84.6% ranked 13^th). In the regular season, the Flames were outscored by the Canucks 8-2 and that trend continued on Wednesday with Vancouver registering a pair of goals… In the regular season when the Flames scored more than one power play goal, they were 11-1-1-0. Another reason the playoffs are a whole new ball game. 

QUOTABLE:

"You have to drive to the net and he comes out so far in the goalie crease. He tries to play like a third defenceman out there and it's hard to avoid him. The problem is, you can't touch him. As much as a small bounce against him and he's going to go down." – Flames enforcer Krzysztof Oliwa on whether the Flames have a strategy to run Canucks netminder Dan Cloutier.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

Apr. 7: Calgary 3 at Vancouver 5

Calgary: Simon, Saprykin, Oliwa (Kiprusoff 22 shots, 17 saves)