Just win baby!
The immortal words of the late Al Davis have never wrung more true for the Calgary Flames. Over halfway through the season, and once again eyeing the playoffs from outside looking in, the Flames are in desperate need of points and they’ll take them anyway they can get them.
The key is to ride out positive stretches for as long as possible, finding a way to string together some undeserved wins along with the deserved ones. The Flames have been the epitome of a streaky team as of late, beginning with a three game win-streak in early December. That preceded a four game losing stretch, momentarily erased by a four game winning streak, just before an ugly road trip finished with five consecutive losses. But back-to-back victories have the Flames once again trending in the right direction, and with the grounded Ducks waddling into town a chance to build on another winning streak that could fly them back into the playoff picture… before it’s too late.
While the Flames and Ducks skated to a mostly tepid affair on the ice, the real excitement was generating upstairs, where management announced a trade with the Montreal Canadiens to reacquire super sniper Mike Cammalleri for inconsistent power forward Rene Bourque. Cammalleri, who registered career highs in goals (39) and points (82) in his one season with Calgary, returns to a team in desperate need of a offensive kick.
The building already abuzz with the return of the player affectionately known as Squid was further treated to roasted duck as an overtime goal sealed up another critical two points, leaving thousands of happy patrons to file out of the Saddledome and straight onto China town to satisfy some sudden and delectable cravings.
On The Line
The once plucky ducks have been thoroughly plucked. Although with wins in three straight they’ve been regaining their form. The Flames need to sustain a win-streak of their own. And with a flock of games against the Pacific division the rest of the way, who they’ve traditionally struggled against, they’ll need to find a way to just win baby.
The Flow
Almost 10 minutes into the first period and the shot clock read 2 shots… both for the home side. The stat was a little deceptive, as the Flames managed three high quality chances in the early going. First Iginla stripped the Ducks’ defender to find himself all alone with bountiful time, but a stoic Hiller outwaited him and denied a glove-side snipe. Soon after Jokinen sliced through the middle with speed and also found himself alone but his backhand deke missed the mark. Finally it was a sneaky backhand centering by Blair Jones finding the tape of Stempniak but Hiller slid across to make the save. That was about all the action on the ice during the first, but the real excitement was peculating in the stands as the news of the trade began to spread. If anyone was at the game they might have caught a glimpse of me in the second bowl celebrating the confirmation like an OT game-winner and shouting like a madman. Not everyone shared my immediate enthusiasm but during the intermission as they played GM Jay Feaster on the Jumbotron officially announcing the trade and the return of Cammalleri a roar erupted throughout the building. Just like Vernon, McAmmond, Conroy, Tanguay, Fleury and Jokinen, another fan favourite (or fan foe, depending who you talked to at the time) returns home to the C of Red.
The buzz in the building persisted in starting the second, but was soon killed by the murderous nothing happening on the ice. The Ducks, who looked completely disinterested in the first, were beginning to find their wings so to speak, while the Flames looked like they were waiting for Cammalleri and his wicked wrister to arrive. By the end of the period the Flames had mustered six shots total. Six! Coupled with the Devils game on Tuesday they had totaled 20 shots through five periods. Or roughly one shot every five minutes over that span. As Feaster comically pointed out on his return to the Jumbotron in the second intermission, he’s anticipating Cammalleri to double that shot count (6) personally in his debut on Saturday.
The Flames began to throw a little more at the net in the third, but in doing so opened up the ice more for the Ducks to counter attack. Which meant a sleepy Kiprusoff who hadn’t faced much threat to this point was suddenly thrust into action. Despite some close calls at both ends the score remained at zeros late, when some good hustle by Backlund drew a penalty with just 2:30 remaining. Unfortunately the Flames lacked urgency with the late man advantage and the game stalemated into overtime.
Overtime produced the greatest action of the night, as short lived as it was. First Iginla settled a bobbling puck in the slot and managed to snap the puck on net, but Hiller shouldered it away. The play returned up the ice to create a glorious chance for Getzlaf off a give-and-go infront of the Flames net, but was denied by an anticipatory Kirpusoff. Shortly thereafter it was newcomer Blair Jones assuming the role of hero, following his own rebound and chipping a backhand over Hiller to grab the victory.
Three Stars
- Blair Jones: It wasn’t just his OT goal that earns him the honours. Solid all night in both ends, he set up some quality chances and is adding that offensive element down the middle that the Flames have been sorely lacking aside from Jokinen.
- Miikka Kiprusoff: The fantastic Finn does it again. 3rd Shutout of the season, and the Flames desperately needed it tonight.
- Jonas Hiller: Certainly no vertigo here. He didn’t need to be spectacular but denied the Flames when the chances came.
Big Save
Corey Perry was the only Duck buzzing around the net on this night, but he certainly kept Kiprusoff on his toes. Which was exactly what Kiprusoff used to deny Perry of his best chance, when the dangerous winger swung out from beside the net and attempted to sweep the puck around his outstretched pad. A game of inches they say, or in this case… feet.
Big Hit
Rod Pelley bulldozed into the zone and right over Cory Sarich early in the first period. But his momentary save-of-balance was short lived as T.J. Brodie greeted him in the corner where both combatants joined Sarich on the seat of their pants. More about the duo shortly.
The Goat
Six shots? Through two periods?? Six??? Perfect time for the infusion of a top sniper as the Flames offensive corps look a little depleted at the moment. They might be generating some quality, but certainly not with any quantity. That must change if they wish to continue their winning ways.
Mr. Clutch
The man upstairs. In more ways than one. Always nice to get a friendly call from the control room in Toronto, like in the first period soccer goal. The second review returned just as favourable, but I’m still amazed how that puck managed to stay locked under the pad of Kiprusoff and on the blue side of the line. Kiprusoffarians in fine form tonight.
Odds and Ends
What a pairing Sarich and Brodie have been the last stretch. Since an ornery Sarich returned from the press box he has been nothing but solid, and its allowed young Brodie to take some chances with the puck. The veteran and the rookie. The defensive with the offensive. It’s how they draw it up but you usually don’t see it work in such fine form… Great to see Giordano make a return to the Flames blueline. Here’s hoping the time off will help him return to the arguable team MVP he was last season. Certainly was a little rusty on this night, but that’s to be expected coming off a long injury… Might as well finish off the defense… Bouwmeester and Butler. I’ve been hard on them in my previous game takes and tonight tried watching with a fair and unbiased eye. And either I failed, or they failed, because they were certainly painful to watch tonight. Most of the Ducks quality chances were a direct result of a misplay by one of the two (or both). Now granted they are situated again the Ducks top line, the only line who generated anything tonight. They certainly play the hardest minutes, but it seems they are making it harder than it needs to be on themselves. Credit to Brent Sutter who evenly distributed the minutes tonight, all six defenders coming in just under 20 minutes of ice time.
Duck domination, the Ducks have won 20 of the past 25 games against the Flames, losing just once in regulation. That’s a trend that the Flames will have to buck if they wish to make it back to postseason play. Starting tonight 20 of their remaining 38 games feature a Pacific division opponent. And seeing how they’re fighting with the Kings, Coyotes, and Stars for one of the few remaining playoff spots, the Flames are still very much in control of their own fate. And that includes taking care of home ice where the Flames have been red hot. Eight straight W’s and points in 11, keep that home fire cookin!
One last point. I find it kind of humorous that when the Ducks fired long time coach Randy Carlyle, they went ahead and replaced him with his exact doppelganger in Bruce Boudreau. They may have different coaching philosophies, but I’m sure there’s been a few casual hockey fans who have just figured Carlyle’s packed on a few pounds and lost a bit more hair. Although by the same token these fans might think Brian Sutter has just shifted his look a bit since 1997.
Next Up
Darryl Sutter returns to town Saturday in a highly anticipated face-off against his former team and brother. Kings vs Flames, 8 pm puckdrop on CBC’s HNIC. Don’t miss it!
Lines (To Start):
Glencross – Jokinen – Iginla
Bouma – Backlund – Stempniak
Bryon – Jones- Comeau
Kostopolous – Horak – Jackman
Bouwmeester – Butler
Brodie – Sarich
Giordano – Babchuk
Kiprusoff
