April 22, 2008 at 10:48 pm
· Filed under Post Game
Typical Flames Show Up - Inconsistency is Their Game
After a convincing 2-0 win at home against the Sharks in game 6, Calgary looked to move ahead to the next playoff round tonight in San Jose. Sports enthusiasts pegged San Jose with all the pressure coming into game seven and Calgary all the experience. Turns out everyone was wrong. The Calgary Flames were victimized by their consistent MO--inconsistency. Few can point to two consecutive games (other than the run in December) where the Flames were able to string solid back-to-back efforts. Tonight was no exception, from puck drop to final horn Calgary was a step behind and played more reminiscent of a pre-season game rather than a game seven.
In no particular order here are the top reasons why the Flames were manhandled.
Refs Turns Tides In San Jose Yet Again
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April 20, 2008 at 9:02 pm
· Filed under Post Game
Flames Deliver Shut Out Performance
There's one good thing about the recent snow dump in Calgary--it feels like hockey. Cold, snow, ice, that's what old-man winter brought over a month into Spring. Cold, stone-wall performance is what Miika Kirpusoff and the rest of the Flames delivered to the SJ Sharks at home in the Dome. Kipper made made 21 saves as Calgary once again kept the Sharks shot total below 25 for the second game in the row.
New Look On Lines Produces
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April 18, 2008 at 12:10 am
· Filed under Post Game
Second, Third, Forth Lines No Shows
Yet again, Calgary came out, displayed some grit and dominance in flashes, and also the reverse in defensive lapses. The top line for Calgary literally handed the Sharks the series on the tieing goal in Calgary Tuesday. Tonight they came out with a better effort, yet an issue plaguing the Flames since DAY ONE is the problem of ZERO secondary scoring.
The Flames have the names, but in the playoffs it's becoming reality that the soft hands translate into useless players.
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April 15, 2008 at 10:47 pm
· Filed under Post Game
Calgary Blows Lead in Last Five Minutes
The Flames did exactly what they shouldn't have done if they wanted to explore any chances of winning the series--give the Sharks life. For a brief period in the third Calgary's top lines literally shut it down, and were scored on as a result. Lackluster efforts to clear the zone, poor decisions, and overall lazy defensive play were no match for SJ's relentless assault with 5 minutes left. Calgary could have gone up 3-1 in the series, had the peddle to the metal, but now are coasting along with more questions than opportunities. The best of seven is now a best of three with SJ accepting home ice advantage.
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April 14, 2008 at 10:41 am
· Filed under Post Game
Terrible Start Ends With Awesome Win for the Flames
The home town was ready, the Flames were ready, everyone was ready, except for Kiprusoff and the penalty parade. San Jose scored 3 goals within a span of three and a half minutes, and outshot the Flames 8-4 in the first period in a game that seemed to take a twist for the worse. Flames seemed to lack the 3D’s (determination, defense and discipline) as the Shark's first goal was scored on the power play 25 seconds into the game with Yelle being penalized for slashing.
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April 10, 2008 at 10:35 pm
· Filed under Post Game
Referees Reward San Jose Divers All Night Long
Two games in two nights. Occasionally that's the norm during the course of a NHL schedule. Both teams need to show up banged in bruised, only problem, this time it's a playoff game. What's the big deal? Well have you seen the crash and bang style San Jose and Calgary adopt on the ice? It's a surprise nobody hasn't gone off with more injuries yet--soon and very soon we suppose.
Calgary marched back into the HP Pavillion for the second of two games in as many nights looking to go up 2-0 in the best of seven series. The Flames took an early lead in the series last night with an unexpected win against the second seeded Sharks. No matter about last night though, task at hand was tonight's game and questions on how Calgary would respond.
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April 9, 2008 at 11:55 pm
· Filed under Post Game
They said it couldn't be done. Our own Calgary area news writers predicted all out defeat--some even a sweep. But lo and behold the Flames came out with fire and burned the Sharks in the first game of the best of seven series. Calgary, the 7th seed in this year's playoffs, lined up against a red hot Sharks 2nd seed team that have only lost twice in the last fifteen games (make that 3 times in the last sixteen). All signs pointed to blow out, but only one wildcard, which Flames team would show up for game one.
If you believe in averages then Calgary should get blown out next game victimized from their own mistakes and slow starts, tonight they were neither. Lead by their captain, Calgary battened down the hatches and played gritty hard hitting game to steal game one.
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