It was the first game for Craig Conroy and the new Calgary Flames.
I thought I told Kerry Fraser never to come back after Game 6 of 2004. You think I forget Kerry? No way, if I was at the game I would have booed you every time you touched the puck. Of course Kerry and the new helmet didn’t disappoint. 8 minutes in Godard was called on another weak call (WTF is wrong the refs against Calgary?). Luckily, it’s LA, and nothing happened.
Aside from the one powerplay, Calgary dominated the rest of the play, as we expected against the worst team in the West. (17 shots in the first period.)
Never ever get your hot dog at the beginning of any period just to beat lines. In this game, you would have missed the first two goals. The Flames forecheck continued early, and wouldn’t you know it, the usual suspects were behind the Flames first goal. Tanguay, Phaneuf maybe, you know, Conroy scored, the usual.
Wait a minute, Conroy scored? CONROY SCORED! HAHA, Mr. 5 goals all season got his sixth in his first game back as a Flames. The crowd game him a standing-O and it was all smiles all around. Before everyone had a chance to sit down, the Kings took a tripping penalty and it was the usual suspects on the goals.
Dion Phanuef sent a wrister from the point and David Moss appeared to tip it in from in front of the net. The Flames would keep their 2-0 lead throughout the second largely due to some incredible saves by Kipprusoff.
Not sure what Hamrlik was doing at the end of the second. For some reason he was mad for a phantom cross check and ended up taking a bad penalty. The Kings would capitalize making it 2-1. Kiprusoff thought he’d get into it and took a penalty giving LA a lengthly 5v3.
Shots slowly crept up for LA as they caught up to the Flames early 17 shot lead from the first. In fact, you might say that the Flames are getting used to playing 40 minutes games, and loosing them. A number of people were probably wondering if the Flames were going to drop one to a crappy team.
Well worry no more. The 3rd line was getting a worthy shift in when the new daddy Yelle scored his 4th of the year. This put Calgary up 3-1. By the way, Calgary scored right after, the new ‘top line’ with Conroy in the C SCORES AGAIN! That’s right, Conroy scored twice against his old team!
That would be it for the Flames, but wow, what a game by Conroy. Somebody stepped it up, and wouldn’t you know it, it was the first start of the game, Craig Conroy! The guy almost got a hat-trick with 3 minutes left.
Notes: Langkow left the game in the 3rd with a knee injury. Looked Jarome Iginla like, hope he’s alright. I’d hate to see him fall off the map with Conroy in town.
The Flames would go on the powerplay 5 minutes in but nothing doing. The PP was labouring to get going, and this was against LA folks.
