Calgary Spends Entire Game Shooting Straight at Goalie

Two steps backwards and one step forward. That’s the way the Calgary Flames have been six game winning streak in October. Two divisional rivals faced each other for the third time this season with Calgary taking the first two. Calgary returned home to play against Colorado and a hot Peter Budaj. The Flames faced the same stoic netminder, albeit they didn’t test him hard, but they did throw over 30 pucks at him, 20 blocked, after two periods.


The score was indicative of the play, however, two goals came in the last 15 seconds after over 50 shots saved by Peter Budaj.

Calgary dominated play after two on all facets. It was rare for Colorad to maintain sustained pressure in the Flames zone, however, they did strike first when Dion Phaneuf forgot that he plays defence leaving Marek Svatos open in front.

Sustaining pressure deep in the Colorado zone for much of the second, Calgary finally capitalized on a bouncing puck sequence that went from Boyd to Cammalleri to Bourque who chipped in his forth of the season.

One aspect of Calgary’s game that was clicking was the powerplay. Special teams were incapable again to get quality chances on the five chances in the first two periods. They started the third period with a two man advantage and got nothing out of it except Colorado’s first powerplay.

Both teams returned to full strength and that meant Calgary resumed their dominance downlow racking up their 40th shot, most of the season. Calgary again went on the PP where Bertuzzi, showing some soft hands, almost put the Flames up with a sweet between the legs attempt but Budaj came up big again.

Not to be deterred the Flames again relentless on the puck finally made the Avs pay the price for failing to clear the zone. Scott Hannan tried to flip the puck out of the zone but Adrian Aucoin elevated to grab the puck, put it on his stick, and blasted (he has the hardest shot not Phaneuf) a shot top corner to give the Flames the lead.

The blast would prove to stand as the winner as Colorado couldn’t wake up in time to mount an attack against the Flames. When tested, which was rare, Kipper stood tall in net. In the last 15 second two goals by the Flames, an empty netter by Iginla and a nice snap shot by Moss with 5 seconds to spare.

Notes: Yet another night where Jarome Iginla was largely non-existent. Is the guy injured or is just losing his edge? And not, the empty netter doesn’t count.