Chicago is one of those teams that Calgary has had some difficulty finding two points against. Despite being locked in the basement of the Western division, the Chicago Blackhawks have Calgary’s number this season. For two periods one thought if history would repeat itself and leave the Flames without much needed points.
The first period was the most eventful with three goals being scored, two of them by Chicago. Early on in the first Huselius scored short side on the Bulin Wall. However, it was Chicago that came out on top, scoring two goals to take the lead.
The second period saw the teams trade penalties. Once again, 5v5 Calgary dominated, but with penalty trouble they were lucky to be playing against the lowly ‘Hawks. Things could have been worse but after 40 minutes the score would remain unchanged.
Particularly non-existent was the top line yet again. Conroy is old and slow and iginla is still caught on the outside looking in. You wondered if the rookie defencemen assigned to the top line would get the upper hand, and they did. Calgary’s top line was useless against a bunch of rookies. Luckily the other lines took up the slack.
The third period would prove to Calgary’s best. Something must have been said in the dressing room, something like, “we need two points”. On the first shift the checking line managed to maintain pressure and get the puck back to Phanuef for the bomb. He unloaded and Yelle managed to get the tip for the tying goal.
5 minutes later Dion would unleash a bomb that hit ‘Bulin square in the face. He would be fine, but the ensuing faceoff, Hamrlik took advantage of a dazed goalie and score shortside again. 3-2 Flames. Things were tight at the end with the goalie pulled, but Calgary would hang on for the come from behind win. That leaves the team with 90 points, seven games to go, 2 against Minny, 2 against Colorado, six points behind the next placed team in the division, and seven points ahead of Colorado.
Notes: Lombardi played on the 4th lie and deserved to stay there causing two goals with weak D.
