heartbreaking loss for the Flames who were two minutes from taking two points in a crucial game against an opponent with only one point more (with a couple games in hand) in the standings.
This post will be made in point form to outline a few items about Calgary’s loss, a game that they should’ve won. Anaheim was one point ahead of the Flames going into tonite’s game; a win would put Calgary in 6th spot.
Plainly put, Henrik Karlsson should have plated this game. calgary can’t ride Kipper with 70+ games and expect great performances. Is Kipper going to play tomorrow night again back to back? It looks like it, but tonight he could have used the night off because 3 of the 5 goals were very weak.
I don’t claim to be an expert on when to play your NHL goalies, but Kipper was off and looked tired tonight. Suggests to me he needed to sit this one out.
Goal 1 was shortside from the goal line. Simply put this was plain laziness. The book on Kipper is that he’s sometimes lazy in covering the shortside post. Really basic goal tending but when Kipper is off his game he lets in bad goals.
Anaheim scored two goals about 6 inches off the ice on both sides. On SH and the other in OT. World class goalies do’nt let goals like that in, but when they do, it’s usually a perfect shot. In goal 3 and 5 Kipper was off in his positioning.
The plus side is Calgary has points in 14 of their last 15. They are staying in the thick of the important race int he West, but they are giving up points as well.
The final game tying goal with two minutes left was off an appalling ‘hooking’ call committed by Glencross. This was a clear make up for the noncall on Regher moments earlier. In the first period Anaheim scored their second goal despite goalie interference. The ref missed that one then called a weak goalie interference penalty moments later.
Calgary can deal with this kind of inconsistency, but it’s tough to watch when points are squandered. That one bogus call gave Anaheim two points and Calgary one. One questionable call gave away three points. But let’s not dwell on the past….. :lol:
Scoring for the Flames were the surprisingly hot second line with Glencross and Jokinen (which is good because the top line is pretty cold as of late.) Rene ‘I Don’t Pass’ Bourque and iginla got goals 1&3.
Notes: Go Edmonton, let’s hope they can beat the Ducks tomorrow. calgary can’t rest, they fly to Vancouver tomorrow for a game in the evening which will be very very tough test.
I have to say I am pretty pissed off with the officiating costing Calgary their 2 points. We deserved a better fate than what we got, but all in all we got a point out of it. That being said, why couldn’t it have been anyone else than Staios on the 2 on 1 with Iggy in overtime? If it had been one of our forwards, Gio or Bouwmeester I think we would have won. Anyways, good game Calgary, keep it up. GO FLAMES GO!!!
I totally forget about staios! Totally that was the game right there butno, we have to pay him 2.5 mill to miss.
Mcelhinney was weak too. Should have shot more
Undoubtedly, it had been disappointing not to see Karlsson in the net. Although Mikka’s netminding had been exceptional of late, netminding is a critical thing and tired goal tenders cannot make sensational saves…..However, more importantly, it was upsetting to see the Flames give up a power play and short handed goals to their opponents…although in all fairness, they had a two men disadvantage… and for this I totally blame the zebra’s on ice. Officiating has always been a problem and tonight was no exception.
Nonetheless, applause should be in place for Bourque and Morrison (for the goal and an assist respectively). Cheers to Glencross, Iginla and Jokinen for a goal and an assist each. Congrats to Moss and Regehr for their two assists. Keep on crashing the net, boys! We need two more points against the Canucks!
Slip sliding away oh the more you near your destination the more you keep slip sliding away….I sure hope this Paul Simon song is NOT about the Flames season :( So close yet so far Flames you do everything the hardest way!!