Not sure why or how but Calgary has a knack. They loose to terrible hockey teams and beat the league’s best. Detroit is the measuring stick since they sit atop of the league, Calgary seems to be capable of beating them. This fuels the rhetoric of the Flames being an elite Cup contender, but then they turn around loose to St. Louis and Toronto. Weird.
Tonight a step in the right direction was made with Calgary retuning back to their bread and butter of solid defence and relentless down low pressure. It does help when, despite Detroit’s dominance, they still have a weakness in goal.
Calgary skated with Detroit through the first, and at times surrendered the expected odd man rush versus the likes of Zetterberg, Hossa, and Datsuyk. However, Calgary drew first blood.
First goal came courtesy of Dion Phaneuf would made two, count them TWO, solid defensive plays in the first period. Defence and offence from Phaneuf, who woulda thunk it!?
Second period tallies from Lundmark (6) and Cammalleri (36) were both softies much like the first, both shortside around the feet and post. Cammalleri mid-way through the second period was already working on a three point night. Too bad we won’t be resigning him.
Christ Osgood apparently has found his game, but let in three soft goals and was pulled for Ty Conklin after the Cammalleri goal.
Despite having last change somehow the top line of Detroit lined up against the fourth line in the first and second period. About two minutes left in the second period the match-up paid off for Detroit as Datsuyk put a puck into the open net after sustained pressure and minor goalie interference.
In the third, the second and third lines continued consistently pounding the Detroit defence down low and were finally rewarded for their efforts. Moss, Conroy, and Glencross gave Calgary a three goal lead when Glencross snapped home his 13th of the season.
Glencross’s goal was more important that you could imagine. Much like when Calgary came back against Detroit in Detroit, the league’s best team could never be counted out for a comeback. First Franzen, then Hudler, drew the Wings to within 1.
Tense moments with two minutes left and Detroit pushing hard to equalize but the Flames were equal to the task. Craig Conroy capped the night off with an empty net goal. THe second and third lines did all the scoring tonight.
Notes: Kiprusoff solid tonight with his 42nd win.
[tags]cammalleri, conroy, kiprusoff[/tags]
Great win last night to put the puck in Vancouver’s end for keeping the difference at three points. Good to see Phaneuf playing solidly throughout the first two, he seems to gain extra confidence whenever he pots a goal. However, I don’t like seeing him get taken inside out like Hudler did in the third. Overall, if we can hold off the likes of Zetterberg, Hossa, Datsuyk, Franzen etc. enough to win we can for sure hold off Crosby and Malkin for another big win on Wednesday.
Yea, well put. Consistency is the name of the game at this point.