Natural Hat-trick Mike Cammalleri
A red hot Vancouver Canucks team welcomed the Calgary Flames for the third game between the two teams and the first of a brief two game home-at-home series. Vancouver is unbeaten in 10 whereas the Flames are on-again off-again winning two of the last three. Calgary had the most to prove getting beaten badly by Vancouver to open the season.
The start of the game had less apprehension and energy as the season opener, however, the teams quickly found their feet and started the crashing and banging.
The biggest hit came two minutes in when Brown smashed Cory Sarich. Both Andre Roy–drawing into the lineup due to a bruised foot suffered by Wayne Primeau–and Brandon Prust were ready to drop the gloves, Brown chose the smaller of the two for a brief tussle.
Vancouver struck first from an unlikely source in Darcy Hordichuk. Calgary responded in the powerplay courtesy of Mike Cammalleri who banked a shot off the leg of Edler. The deadly red-headed Sedin sisters continued their Flame dominance quickly putting Vancouver back on top with a pretty roof top shot.
The second period gave the opportunity for the refs to get involved, calling a weak penalty on Adam Pardy, and then Calgary too-many men, meant a 58 second 5v3 PP. Calgary responded with perfect penalty killing through the first two periods. Late in the second they managed to tie the game again, this time on a delayed penalty. With 6 skaters on the ice Jarome Iginla sent a sweet no look pass to Cammelleri who potted his second of the game.
Right out of the gate in the third Calgary dominated play, the second shift on (first line) continued their downlow pressure. Jarome Iginla provided another pretty pass to–yet again–Mike Cammalleri who wired shortside his third of the game and his first career natural hat-trick.
Calgary continued to dominate the play maintaining puck possession and catching Vancouver taking chances. Moss and Conroy broke down on an odd-man rush but couldn’t score. On the ensuing rush by Vancouver, on what looked like a clear off-side, Vancouver got their 2v1 and Mason Raymond tied the game.
Not to be outdone, Curtis Glencross capitalised on a Vancouver turnover breaking in alone and scoring a nifty backhand top-shelf against Sanford. Calgary back on top and continued their forecheck. The refs put away the whistles missing a huge hit from behind on Rene Bourque who himself had two great chances to put the Flames up by two.
Calgary withstood the pressure late and won the game drawing within three points of the NW division leaders and rivals the Canucks. A great win on hostile territory, now a chance to come home and draw even closer Saturday at 8PM.
Notes: Jarome Iginla was instrumental in Cammalleri’s hat-trick yet struggled mightily clearing the zone defensively.
