In previous seasons, more recent seasons, the Flames managed to make the playoffs despite a complete lack of ability to put one away in a shoot out; the NHL’s skill competition to make sure fans get home on time.
This season? The Flames can only win in shoot outs; as was the case on Christmas Eve Eve when they turned a late 2-1 deficit into a rousing 3-2 shoot out victory in Dallas.
The last time the Flames won on the road without the circus coming to town was November 9th in Denver, a whopping seven weeks ago!
On The Line
Nothing? The Flames need to run a .650 clip over 60 some % of their season in order to possibly squeak into the playoffs. Can it happen? Of course it can, but should any sane person bet on it? Clearly no.
The Flow
Despite what I said above, the Flames are not a team that has shown they have any concept of NHL Standings, or general mathematics as they once again show up with their work boots on. A smothering brand of team defense has the Stars generating nothing and the Flames generating nothing plus a smidge. Calgary goes up 1-0 on a goal when Anton Babchuck blasted a puck through Curtis Glencross with a second left on a powerplay.
Second and not much changes as Calgary limits the Stars to very few shots or scoring chances. The homeside does tie it on a powerplay of their own with a great tic tac toe play to which Kiprusoff had no humanly answer.
The Stars go ahead when Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla get caught cheating offensively, and from there it looks like another “Flames play well but find a way to lose” game story. Not so fast. Alex Tanguay gets loose with the goalie pulled and wires one over Lehtonen and it’s off to over time.
Scrambley for the Flames and the Stars have the better chances, but Kiprusoff is solid; his first real work of the night.
Shoot out and all it took was a Tanguay laser and the Flames win.
Three Stars
1. Alex Tanguay: Scores to tie the game late and wins it in a shoot out; both erasing some tough plays earlier in the game.
2. Kari Lehtonen: Stars don’t get to overtime if not for his third period heroics.
3. Mike Ribeiro: Mike Ribeiro. His team loses, but pounced quickly whenever he was given a chance and found a goal and an assist for his efforts.
The Save
With the Flames still down 2-1 late, Jarome Iginla is set up for a patented one timer only to get stoned by Lehtonen on both that shot and a wrister for a rebound.
The Goat
Could have been Miikka Kiprusoff for allowing two goals on only a handful of shots. He’s been good enough to not be the problem of late, but not good enough to be a positive difference maker just the same.
Mr. Clutch
Jarome Iginla. Fought a young turk, took a haymaker and didn’t go down. Came back stitched up and was pretty good the rest of the night.
Odds and Ends
Watching some of the players that have escaped Atlanta and gone on to greater things (Kovalchuk excluded) one has to wonder if the Flames should talk deal with the Thrashers. Lehtonen looked washed up in Georgia but certainly looks to be back on track now. … Yet another game where it looks like Rene Bourque couldn’t care less. Is it just me? Is it his size that makes him look listless? But there are so few minutes in a game where you seem gumption from the big Albertan. … Another great shot block from Giordano tonight. Guy has uncanny timing. … Anton Babchuck is really growing on me, it’s true. … The win moves the Flames past Buffalo and Florida and away from a lottery pick in the overall NHL standings. Still plenty of time to only score one or two in a game and chalk up losses though!
Next Up
Christmas break followed by a home date with the Sabres on the 27th, 7pm start on Sportsnet
Lines:
Tanguay – Jokinen – Iginla
Hagman – Stajan – Bourque
Glencross – Morrison – Kotalik
Kostopoulos – Moss – Jackman
Regehr – Bouwmeester
Giordano – Sarich
Babchuck – Pardy
Kiprusoff
