It was a game chalk full of built in excuses to lose.
Back to back games, only 16 skaters because of cap issues, and only three of the team’s normal six defenseman dressed in a game the team would certainly love to win.
Yet there wasn’t enough of the game played by the time they were out of it to blame body count, the young guys weren’t on the ice for any of the early strikes, and the back to back thing was barely a half period old when the Flames were well on their way to a 4-0 setback in Minnesota.
On The Line
Well lots of course. The Flames need to win and win every game for the rest of the season to ensure themselves first place in the Northwest. However, given they were two skaters short and three blueliners short this wasn’t a game that sportsselect fans would play as the underdog. Uphill climb all the way.
The Flow
A pretty good start for the short staffed Flames after a few quick bumps in their own zone and some running around. Jokinen scored a goal early that was disallowed due to the whistle going before the puck entered the net. The two youngsters on the blueline managed their way through their first shifts without a blemish. The Wild went up on a powerplay when Daymond Langkow was in the box, then the dreaded Clutterbuck scored to put the Wild up two and really … that was it. Kiprusoff would like to have that one back. Keenan took him out for a shift and then promptly put him back in. Hey another appearance for McElhinney. Kiprusoff bobbled another one when former Flame Owen Nolan had one his his glove and bounce in.
The second wasn’t much of a period with the Flames powerplay continuing to sputter and the Wild essentially sitting on a three goal lead. Through forty this wasn’t really a 3-0 game, though clearly it was just that.
More of the same for the third, Calgary getting some chances but once again couldn’t solve Backstrom and the game stayed with a big fat doughnut for the Flames. Once again however, this wasn’t a 4-0 game in terms of play. Happens. The Wild posted that fourth goal on another weak one when Kiprusoff failed to hug the post.
Three Stars
1. Nicklas Backstrom: He’s had more difficult nights, but a shut out is a shut out. The man got the better of his countryman finally.
2. Kim Johnsson: A horse in all areas of the ice, both offensively and defensively. Why did Philly let this guy get away?
3. Owen Nolan: Ex-Flame scored once, had four shots and continues to his great season.
Big Save
Though it was as much to do with ham handed Wild forwards, Kiprusoff’s back to back stops on Koivu and Miettinen in the first kept the game in reach as the Flames were short handed. In the third Backstrom stoned both Phaneuf and the rebound to David Moss.
Big Hit
Not a big hitter … no big plaster jobs, but the Skoula / Jokinen dust up in the third had some agression.
The Goat
They didn’t score a goal so it would be easy to target the powerplay and Calgary’s skill players for once again coming up empty (Iginla scored in Dallas of course and two straight coming in) but I’m going with Kiprusoff for his first period work. The Flames need their goaltender to Luongo one for them, especially with the injuries. Didn’t get it.
Mr. Clutch
The Wild in general. The Flames have owned them, they’re pretty much left the Wild for dead in the past few seasons. Yet it’s the Wild that come out and own the first and keep their season alive.
Odds and Ends
You know you have injuries on the blueline when Adam Pardy gives you a sense of security when he’s on the ice. He actually gives you that grizzled vet feel compared to the two youngsters. … Not much to go on in evaluating Negrin in his first NHL game, they were using him sparingly and in situations that didn’t expose his inexperience. Pelech showed the extra two years of draft time in his play, especially on a solid shift early in the second. Overall Pelech played over 17 minutes in his first NHL game which is way more than I expected. Much like Pardy, the man can play at this level. He’s had some tough stretches in the AHL this season, but he was way above my expectations in this one. … Sportsnet had a great graphic up showing the Flames defense core with an average age of 24.9 tonight, the youngest such core Keenan has ever coached. … Flames powerplay (sigh), just seems like they play catch along the boards until someone flubs it then it gets shot down the ice. There doesn’t seem to be a plan at all. When someone is in front of the net no shot. Nobody is moving around. Complete lack of confidence. …
Next Up
What a great time to have two full days off between games. Next game up Monday night when the Kings come to town, game time 7:30pm on Sportsnet.
Lines (To Start):
Bertuzzi – Jokinen – Iginla
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Cammalleri – Langkow – Lundmark
Nystrom –
Vandermeer – Phaneuf
Leopold – Negrin
Pardy – Pelech
