Another divisional game and another opportunity for the Flames to turn their lazy fortunes around. A home game should mean a home win right? Probably not given the latest string of efforts the Flames have put together. After two nice wins against Minnesota and Edmonton they got spanked against Detroit. Colorado twice in one week are on tap, and although the Flames were at home they also came into the game with some of the league’s worst special teams.
Third line Comes Through
The teams traded chances in the first period with Colorado holding the upper hand with grit and determination. Flames fans were dormant for the opening period and seemed to be falling asleep at the wheel as it where much like their team on the ice. The first period ended without and scoring.
In the second it didn’t take long for Colorado to pick up where they left off against the Flames. It is becoming increasingly noticeable that Calgary defensemen are the slow non-puck moving type (agreeing with Dowbiggin and his article today in the Herald). An odd man rush 2 minutes in coupled with a lazy poke check by Phanuef (that’s how you play defense?) put the Avs up by one.
However, Mr. Hot Hands Owen Nolan responded only 7 seconds later with a blast from the slot that beat iffy Theodore. The momentum that Colorado built from the first period was lost as the Flames turned the tides. 6 minutes later off a nice feed from Iginla Lombardi broke in out-maneuvered a sprawled out Colorado defender return the pass to Iginla who slid home his 12th of the season. The Flames took the lead 2-1.
New glass and boards were installed last month in the ‘Dome which are supposed to give a bit more than the old stuff. You wouldn’t know it as Langkow went out with an injury earlier and in this game Smyth bounced his face/nose off the glass. Maybe their injuries would be worse without the new glass…..
The third period arrived with Calgary tenuously holding onto the slim lead. Calgary had a glorious 8 total shots for the entire game half way through the third. Although Colorado only had 14, the game was certainly lacking in the offense department. A late penalty opportunity gave Colorado a chance to tie things up, but strangely the Calgary PK came through all game.
Minutes after the kill Colorado defensemen started to take chances which meant numerous odd man rushes for Calgary. Two players looking to get their offensive game together connected for Calgary’s third goal. Huselius took a drop pass from Moss who drove to the net hard and received the return pass for his first of the season.
Owen Nolan scored his second of the game on the empty net, Flames win 4-1.
Notes: Smith drew in the lineup for a concussed Marcus Nilson. McElhinney was called up and keetley sent down. Regehr returned to the lineup after leaving the Vancouver game after being hit in the head with the puck.
