The Vancouver Canucks need all the help they can get. Hopefully with more wins they’ll get so air headed that their inability to score goals will come through and a playoff berth will be unattainable. Albeit, they work hard for 60 minutes, something the Flames sporadically complete, perhaps once every 4 games.
Again, a slow start killed the Flames as they could have jumped into first place using some games in hand against the NW division rivals. Instead, they are in last place, outside of a playoff berth.
Who should blame them? Well everyone should. Bad turnovers, lackluster efforts, and absolutely disgraceful officiating contributed to the win. No need to complain about officials outloud since the league will deal with tonight’s tandem that included Mick ‘Wingy’ McGeough (sp?).
Vancouver had eleven powerplays and converted one. Dumb penalties for both sides were called, however, blatant poor sportsmanship class were lost. Ference gets instigator and 10 minute misconduct for his role when Bieska speared Lombardi after getting beat badly. Later at the end of the second Matt Cooke shoots a puck against Kiprusoff 5 seconds after the buzzard. For some reason no Flames player saw that, Cooke keeps his head, and Regehr gets a penalty for roughing.
Fact of the matter is, the Calgary Flames have trouble getting going for games. This is a preparation issue. The forwards are either playing hurt (Friesen, Mccarty, Tanguay) or not playing at all (Lundmark.) Come out and play 60 minutes and maybe you’ll win a game IMO. By the way, props to Luongo, finally making his 6 million dollars, he played well tonight.
Matthew Lombardi scored twice for the Flames, who lost for only the second time in their past 14 home games — both to Vancouver. (One of them shorthanded no less.)
Notes: Apparently Zyuzin is not hurt but is a healthy scratch. Not sure what he’s doing so bad? Giordano really crapped the bed tonight and will sit against Florida for sure.
