Calgary 2 Vancouver 3 (OT)
Another early April, a second straight season where the Flames come short of the playoffs. While this season’s 3 month glorious run to end the season made the end result a little bit more palatable than last year’s quick start and quicksand finish, but the fact that, for a second straight year, the offseason ends up being as long as possible for the Flames organization and its fans, tempers any warm fuzzy feelings about that run, no matter how close it was. Tonight, the capper of the roller coaster season.
The Vancouver Canucks is town…three short years ago at this time, the Flames were blowing them out in Vancouver, Iginla scored his 50th, and the Canucks were saying farewell to the spiritual and actual captain, themselves missing the playoffs. Last year, the Canucks turned the last game into a carnival, blowing out the Flames 7-3, a game that today Flames coach Brent Sutter commented on as bugging him the entire summer last year.
On The Line
Tonight, very little on the line. The Flames hoping to end on a 4 game winning streak and points in the last 5 of 6 games and erasing Sutter’s nightmare from last year. The Canucks have zero to play for; besides trying to stay healthy, also want to stay sharp for their next game, which may not be for 4 or 5 days. One thought that this would be the game that Miika Kiprusoff could pass Mike Vernon on the all time goalie wins (as a Flame) list, but Henrik Karlsson gets the start.
The Flow
A quick start to the game, with Maxim Lapierre and Alex Tanguay both with high quality chances within the first 30 seconds. Although the Flames took 2, and the Canucks 3 penalties in the first, no team was successful, but the shot totals and flow of play made it an entertaining period, although it certainly wasn’t an end to end style game. 13-11 Vancouver is shots after the first, with the Canucks having the better quality of chances between the two clubs.
The Flames came out stronger in the second, aided by the continuing trips to the penalty box of Vancouver players. Ryan Kesler was in the box for two Flames powerplay goals this period. The first, quick passing by the Flames lead to a (patent pending) Jarome Iginla quick release on the off wing, finding its way under Cory Schneider, and giving the Flames captain his 43rd goal of the year and 1006 point as a Flame just about 3 minutes into the period. 8 minutes later, with Kesler again in the box, Mikael Backlund jumps on a errant puck in the slot and snaps the puck in for a 2 goal Flames lead. Kesler’s flair for the dramatic wasn’t yet over, and akward toe-pick near the boards and his subsequent hobbling off to the bench and dressing room had Canucks fans lamenting the back side of Matt Stajan, who assisted in Kesler’s tumble. Fear not, Kesler was back on the ice within 3 minutes. The Flames poured on the chances to a seemingly disorganized Vancouver defense, who finally had many of their “regulars” finally back and paying together. Breakaway chances from Tanguay and Tim Jackman went unrewarded for the Flames, and the score remained 2-0 after two. The Flames fired 19 shots on net that period, compared to 7 for the visitors.
The third period was a swing the other way as far as momentum. It started out with Vancouver’s turn for a broken play. Alex Burrows was able to tap in a puck that made its way across the crease, after a Daniel Sedin original shot got blocked, and the pass game across to Burrows a past a (for some reason sprawling) Karlsson. The period then became chippy, with some after whistle antics over the next few minutes. That culminated in Robyn Regher getting slashed by Mikael Samuelesson, and Regher smacking the Vancouver player in the mouth. As those two were escorted to the box after the scrum, Burrows decides its time to rub it in, and makes a comment to Jarome Iginla while skating away. Iginla skates to Burrows, and challenges him by dropping the gloves and taunting Burrows. Even Vegas wouldn’t give odds on Burrows’ fists cashing the cheque his mouth wrote, and Burrows trods off to the penalty box along with the still-profanity-spewing Iginla. Next shift saw Aaron Rome hit Steve Staios into the boards roughly. Lapierre decides he should say a few words to Staios as well, so Matt Stajan skates by and says a few words to Lapierre, and then introduced his stick to Lapierre’s body. The ensuing Vancouver powerplay saw a good outlet pass to Daniel Sedin, who was somehow behind Regher. A drop pass to his brother, and then another pass to Kesler, and the quick passing and quick shot had Karlsson going the wrong way, and the game is tied. From that point on, the game settled into one that was destined to head into OT, with no major chances, or, penalties, the last half of the OT.
OT was non descript. The Canucks once again did get the Flames running around in their own zone. An Alex Edler shot hit the cross bar, and with the subsequent scrambling around by Flames defenders, the puck made it back to Christian Erhoff, and off the skate of Jay Bouwmeester, and under a once again scrambling Karlsson, the final NHL goal at the Saddledome for about 6 months was scored. Vehement protests by Karlsson claiming interference on the goal were rightly immediately dismissed, and the replays made you wonder why there was such an outburst. Final score, Flames fall 3-2 in overtime, to end the season, and go 1-5 vs. Vancouver this year.
Three Stars
- Mark Giordano: Although not going to 100% agree with Kelly Hrudey that Giordano is going to win the Norris at some point in his career, a solid game tonight. 2 assists, and can certainly move the puck and skate with complete vision of the ice. Since Darryl Sutter left, a guy he truly seemed to like, Giordano’s play statistically hasn’t been as impressive as before Sutter left, but hopefully this offseason gives him a chance to regroup and come out for a great 80+ games next year again.
- Daniel Sedin: Two assists, and the scoring title to boot.
- Jarome Iginla: Why not? All over the ice tonight, solid goal, mixing it up and trying to get the rest of his team as fired up as he was. Frustrated more then anyone else on the team or in the Flames universe, but his play this past 14-18 games especially, his single handedly given the Flames a chance at an epic turnaround. Next year, will pass Lanny McDonald in career points and goals, and lead this team into bigger and better places.
Big Save
Henrik Karlsson made a couple big glove saves in the 3rd period to keep the game tied. Was tonight a final audition for the Flames continuing to write him cheques next year? If he does, as displayed tonight, and all season, he has to use his large stature more to his advantage, not be overzealous in getting down on his knees and giving the shooter more net to shoot at.
The Goat
Take your pick, Ryan Kesler or Alex Burrows. Kesler with two undisciplined penalties with allowed two Flames goals, or Burrows sad attempts to act like a tough guy.
Mr. Clutch
Have to admit it, the Sedin’s have developed, some say as late bloomers, into pretty clutch players. First brothers in NHL history to lead the league in scoring in consecutive years. 3 years ago when Vancouver was out of the playoffs, and Linden and Naslund retired, the torch was passed onto them to lead Vancouver, and they have taken it. Craft with the puck, hockey sense and chemistry with each other that is hard to match, but also being able to avoid being hit or in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Odds and Ends
Where to begin? First the game. 10 forwards and 8 defenceman, with Steve Staios and Brendan Mikkelson playing in that forward positions. Good game from the Flames, given the circumstances. Iginla ties Lanny McDonald with overall career points, of course Jarome has done it with one team…on Backlund’s goal, Iginla was the second last Flames to touch it, but it doesn’t appear he got credit as a second assist.
Points in 5 of last 6, and either 97 or 98 points was the threshold in the Western Conference last year. Crazy, as 7 weeks ago, that number was trending towards 94 or 95 as being the 8th spot. Flames one of the best teams in the last half of the year, so as mentioned, the end of this season is a little bit less bitter to swallow than last. Because it is the second straight year, virtually gone is the “it was one bad year, lets give this roster a chance to redeem” thought process, which was held by Darryl Sutter and eventually ownership for the most part. Not that it was a mistake last offseason to do that, but even with a bit of an evolving roster this year thanks to injuries, there will be significant changes.
Although I am sure technically everyone on that roster in “touchable” in this writer’s opinion, that does not include Iginla, who’s a lightning rod each year for rumors about his departure that become press stories that then get passed on as being fact. Iginla brings too much to the table on the ice, off the ice with the team (free agents see Calgary as desirable because of him), off the ice with the community, to be dealt away.
With the Flames roster restrictions, the GM, and ownership, will have to look at various options to be able to work towards the formula which will bring sustained consistency and success to the franchise once again. In this writer’s opinion, that first decision has to be on the general manager for next year and beyond. Is Feaster the guy? He’s well spoken and can maintain a GM role, which isn’t a surprise. However, looking past this year is he going to the Flames general manager in 4 or 5 years? One has doubts about that, and the rumored rebuild/significant retweak may as well start from the top first, before too many personnel decisions, that will also possibly reverberate years down the road, are made by him or the ownership.
Back to players, one can see that ownership this summer will play as big a role as the new GM. One could go on for a couple pages regarding each payers value and role on the team, this is not the forum for that. What can be said is that this season, more than any other in the recent history of the franchise, tough decisions will be made regarding underperforming/over valued assets, that, yes, the GM will have to deal with, but will need the ownership to bite the bullet on buyouts, for example or trades of players with decent stats but questionable consistency. Plus, I think one or two players, somewhat unexpectedly to many, will be dealt to begin the “moving on” process, for better or for worse.
All in all, always sad as fans to see the season end…all the buildup through the 4 or 5 summer months, the hope of a new season, the day to day and week to week ups and downs, for 6 months, all becomes academic at this point, like hitting a brick wall. Although the break from that emotional roller coaster of looking at the schedule, looking at the standings, and watching the out of town score is somewhat welcome for a month or so.
But, salutations to the run this roster put together since late December. Winning all those games and finding a way to persevere in tight games, that the team didn’t do in the 2010 calender year. Tanguay and Jokinen didn’t turn out into the huge busts predicted at 2pm July 1, 2010 by “smart hockey people” who acted like children, a guy like Morrison was vital to helping this team. Kiprusoff solid, the team scoring many more goals then anyone expected. The Winter Classic was one of the highlights of the year and wil be remembered by those who attended for a long time to come. The stepping down of the man who saved this franchise from years of despair. Getting to see Daymond Langkow come back when many thought he was done. Seeing Craig Conroy beam at his 1000th game, and then be pushed in to retirement out of the blue a few months early. Watching the greatest Flame of all time getting 30 goals yet again, and hitting 1000 points. Many highlights, and although no one will mark this season down in Flames history as outstanding, that doesn’t mean that it was any less memorable in many regards for those who live and breathe the Flames year round.
Next year…next year will be better. Until then friends, have an enjoyable summer.
Next Up
Next up, a division title. Plus, Jarome Iginla leads the newer and improved Flames into round 2 of the playoffs, starting April 28, 2012, 8pm on CBC and Fan 960.
Lines (To Start):
Tanguay – Backlund – Iginla
Glencross – Langkow – Bourque
Kotsopolous – Jokinen- Jackman
Staios – Stajan – Mikkelson
Carson – Giordano
Bouwmeester – Regher
Babchuk – Sarich
