Just about the only story not involving the trials and tribulations of the Vancouver Canucks has been the appearance of one Sidney Crosby inside the boarders of Western Canada, so all eyes were on the national broadcast of the Flames and the Penguins on TSN Wednesday night. The story leading up to the game has been the Flames inability to put the puck in the net, and the less than stellar play of the Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (at least in Minnesota).
Take one guess at which story continued?
On The Line
The Flames are treading water along with the Canucks and Colorado Avalanche, so each and every one of these games are big for the Flames.
The Flow
The ever anticipated start to the game of Sidney Crosby started off with a bang as the Penguins captain drove hard to the net and then roofed a perfectly placed shot over the shoulder of Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff to put the visitors up by one. Calgary would push with most of the offensive pressure in the rest of the period, taking the edge in the shots on goal total, but still down by one.
The second period was more of the same, except for some uneven penalty calls. The Flames benefited from two calls going their way, and with one of the worst power-plays in the NHL actually looked pretty good, so good in fact that they scored! Mark Giordano snuck in from the point to bury his sixth of the season top shelf. But then the Flames got into penalty trouble and the Penguins scored on their first of four chances in the period as Bill Guerin scored his fifteenth of the season to put the visitors up by one.
The third period was all Calgary as the Flames dominated in the shots on goal, scoring chances, and possession, but could not get anything behind the Penguins netminder. Tyler Kennedy would score late for the visitors put the Flames to rest.
Three Stars
1. Marc-Andre Fleury: The young Penguins goaltender was far and away the best player on the ice tonight making 37 saves to lead his team to victory.
2. Mark Giordano: The Flames defenceman is starting to make a big name for himself as one of the best defenceman on what should be a stacked Flames defensive corps.
3. Evgeni Malkin: Even though he didn’t put up any points, he was a big presence for the Penguins and was a lot for the Flames to handle.
Big Save
There were almost too many to count for M.A. Fleury tonight, but none bigger than Nigel Dawes on a breakaway after exiting the penalty box. If that puck goes in, it’s tie game, and this could be a different ending.
Big Hit
Dion Phaneuf almost had a highlight reel hit on Micheal Rupp, but Rupp shifted just in time. So give this to the tilt between Brian McGrattan and former Flame Eric Goddard.
The Goat
Plain and simple this game came down to the fact that the Flames, while generating chances, are simply unable to do much of anything to get the puck in the net. The offence will bring the Flames to their knees this season.
Mr. Clutch
Without a doubt this has to go to Marc-Andre Fleury. He managed to get a skate, glove, blocker, stick, use of the force on almost everything the Flames tried to throw on net.
Odds and Ends
While the past few games have a lot of good things to say for the Flames in terms of possession, chances, and shots on goal, the fact that they aren’t scoring is extremely disheartening. But before you go blaming the team and demanding that someone be traded, think about how you’re feeling and imagine that feeling of frustration multiplied by 100. All that being said, holy crap is this ever frustrating. You get to watch the best player in the game score a highlight goal against you, and your heart just sinks knowing that there is not a single player on your roster who seems capable of making anything even remotely similar. Even the people that you think you can do it aren’t doing anything (read: Jarome Iginla). Perhaps it has something to do with facing three straight Olympic selection goaltenders while trying to get the offence going, but with three straight contests where the Flames have had a massive edge in shooting, yet they still can’t get anything in the net? This is bordering on insanity.
Next Up
The Flames welcome the Nashville Predators back to Calgary on Friday night at 7PM. Catch the game on Sportsnet West.
Lines:
Lundmark – Jokinen – Iginla
Dawes – Langkow – Bourque
Glencross – Conroy – Moss
Nystrom – Boyd – McGrattan
Regehr – Phaneuf
Giordano – Bouwmeester
Pardy – Sarich
Kiprusoff
