To be as plain as possible - the Flames "got 'er done" during the weekend. Despite losing half a dozen regulars to injury and playing a bunch of games in a short span of time, Calgary managed to ensure a play-off berth for the second straight year!
The Minny game on Friday was everything I expected it to be: boring. Aside from the performances of Lombardi, Lundmark and Kipper plus the notable (fluke) ending of Amonte's scoreless streak, the Wild game was anything but...however, Iggy and crew got what they wanted, ultimately, so yay for that.
As for the Vancouver contest...I'll admit, I was pretty convinced that Calgary was done for in this one: 3rd game in 4 nights versus a rested and desperate team lacking a lot of your veterans typically = blowout loss. And after the first 2 periods, I was fairly certain I was right.
Wrong.
Thanks to the heroics of Kipper and Iginla, Calgary managed to claw back into the game and garner the play-off clinching point. The fact that we eventually lost this game doesn't bother me a whit - by all rights we shouldn't have been in it in the first place...
Positives and Negatives (combined)...
Positives:
- Play-offs! YEAAHHHH BABY!!
- Amonte finally scores. Although, really, Wes Walz scored with an Assist from Bones. But that's nit-picking.
- Lombardi/Lundmark/Amonte. By far the most dangerous forward unit against the Wild.
- Lundmark versus Minny. 2nd GWG in as many games.
- Jarome Iginla. Plays a ton and is a difference maker in the 3rd period against Vancouver.
- Mark Giordano (Canucks). The leading scorer on the farm stepped-up his play big time. Scored (assisted..?) the first Flames goal and had a number of big hits.
- Kiprusoff. Simply superhuman in both games.
- Byron Ritchie (Canucks). Tireless forchecker is finally rewarded with a (very important) goal.
Negatives:
- Thoroughly lack luster powerplay against Minny. 0-6 on the evening.
- Lack of killer instinct versus Wild. Lead most of the contest, but needed a last-minute goal to seal the deal.
- Dion Phaneuf/Roman Hamrlik (Wild). None too effective on the PP and allowed the Rolston shorthanded goal against.
- Discipline (Vancouver). Wayyyy too many penalties taken. Some of the calls were odd, but still need to find a way to stay out of the box. Fatigue probably a factor here, however.
- PK in Vancouver. fatigue and lack of Leo/Warrener were definate factors.
- Andrew Ference (Vancouver). On for all 3 opposition goals. Yup, again. *Sigh* Could have drawn assists on the first 2 Canucks tallies...oh, Leopold! How I miss thee and lament thy ailments!
The next goal facing the Flames is to clinch the division. Colorado helped out with that one a bit last night by losing to the Wild. Also, accoring to mudcrutches numbers, the Flames are a 92% lock to win the NW anyhow. Impressive!
Now we just need to get healthy before the first round starts...
