I’ve said it from the start, the Flames will win the season series 6-2, however, with play like today, I may be wrong. The Calgary Flames got new coach Jim Playfair’s first win in game two of the 2006-07 NHL season. The season opener at home was met with much fanfare (20 minute pre-game) and also produced results on the ice.
A slow shaky start made many wonder if it was going to be another long night. Once again, the power play for the Flames failed to produce any goals, albeit it looked better than the previous night. Certainly an aspect of the team that needs to improve if post-season success is to come. Lucky for Flames fans, good old Flames hockey of forechecking and crashing the net turned into success as both Flames goals came in the last minute of the 1st and 2nd periods.
One has to be proud of Jarome Iginla, despite a lacklustre performace from the top two lines, he still is coming out every shift and leading by example. You could tell the whole team, including the top two lines, were feeding off of his play as both lines started to mesh as time progressed.
Tanguay and Huselius showed spurts of why much is expected of them this season, however, it was the secondary scoring, actually the tertiary scoring, that gave the Flames the W today. Yelle had a two point night, scoring with less than a minute left in the 1st period and then assisting on Nilson’s second period goal with less than a minute left.
By the way, I’m still not sold on Roloson, I still think the guy is more lucky than good, I could be wrong, but I’m not convinced he’s ‘great’. On the Flames front lots of improvement yet to be made but things are slowly coming together. Next up San Jose at home Monday.
