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Flames
Goal Funk Continues
Tom
Barrasso Shuts out Flames
November 16th, 2002
D'Arcy McGrath
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AP Photo |
| Another Blank Job: Rob
Niedermayer and the Flames couldn't get one by Tom Barrasso. |
A common term used to describe hockey
players suffering through extended periods of unproductivity is to be
snake bit.
Must be a really, really big snake.
The Calgary Flames pitched a shutout -
for the other team - for the third time in their last five games as they
dropped a 1-0 decision to the St. Louis Blues.
The team has now scored only two goals
in those five games, all against each club's backup, or backup backup
goaltender.
Makes one think that Curtis Joseph,
having sat out tonight in Toronto, must be rubbing his hands together
with glee knowing he has his crack at "team tight" on Tuesday
night.
The Flames came out hard in this one
... carrying the play to the Blues and enjoying a 13-4 advantage in
shots on goal.
Then the game changed with one play.
Denis Gauthier stepped up to the
blueline and leveled Dallas Drake with what appeared to be a hip check.
The NHL has levied new laws recently however, stating that a hip check
is allowed when skating backwards but not when advancing on an attacker.
Gauthier received five and a game ... his penalty extending into the
second period when the Flames effectively killed off the remaining 2:54
left in the first frame.
Just over a minute in, however, the
Blues made Gauthier and the Flames pay when Eric Boguniecki scored his
ninth of the season on a rebound. Flame goaltender Jamie McLennan
actually made the save on the play, getting the paddle of his stick on
the puck, but the shot caromed off his stick and into the net.
That was all the Blues needed ... and
quite likely they knew it ... throwing a defensive blanket over the rest
of the game.
Your next shut out loss at home in your
schedule is Tuesday night when the Detroit Red Wings come to visit.
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