Calgary returned home to face the Dallas Stars after seven games on the road over fifteen days.
The extent of the first period fireworks was a fight between Steve Ott and none other than Jamie Lundmark. Jamie Lundmark?! WTF?! He hung in there like a champ.
Flames continued to struggle on the PP having two chances in the first and struggling and generating nothing.
Powerplay in Disarray
The first line was doing nothing on the PP yet still started with fresh ice in the second. Nothing again, but they did manage to blow assignment on defense and right as the penalty ended Dallas scored the game’s first goal.
Dallas had 4 shots in the first period and scored on their first shot in the second. As the top line tried to figure out their defensive game the rest of the team returned to the bread and butter puck pursuit game.
The first shift for the fourth line produced an energy laden body banging 35 seconds. A couple shifts later the second line produced a nice give and go play with Jamie Lundmark popping the water bottle top shelf.
Calgary continues to struggle on the PP and gave Dallas at least four different looks yet producing nothing. One of the main problems is still Dion Phaneuf who literally coasts back and forth rarely exerting himself. The PP requires urgency and tenacity, both missing in the Flames game.
Keenan started shaking up the lines mid-way through the third period which got things moving. Cammalleri dropped to the second line, Glencross came up, and the forth line had Boyd instead of Roy.
Turns out the fourth line combo would pay off after a couple of shift of solid pressure Dusty Boyd made a wicked single hand back, that was literally in inch from being off side, that caught a streaking Nystrom who beat Turco through the legs. Flames with the lead with eight minutes left.
Calgary shut the door even with a bogus too-many men penalty call with four minutes left. Calgary scrambled to secure two poin
Notes: Still a long way to go for the Flames to find their game, especially important with Vancouver three points away. Langkow’s hand may still be hurt as he rarely took a draw. Kipper had a quiet night with only 20 shots on goal.
