On to the good stuff...so The Flames managed to pull out an all too familiar 2-1 victory Saturday night against the Oil. From a Flames perspective, there was lots to like about the win - as well as the odd concern as well.
Good to see support players like Yelle and Nilson contributing on the scoresheet. Unfortunately, much like last season, most of the primary cast failed to record points in concert with the grinders. The Flames have suffered from this kind of "one-or-the-other syndrom" for awhile - either the scorers score or the checkers score, but almost never both in the same game. A consistent and unified attack is part of the challenge facing this club this season...
Kipper played another excellent game, helping to further dispell any Flames fan's anxienty about a repeat slow start for him this year. He made a number of key saves in the third period to conserve the lead and eventual victory. At least one part (and major strength) of the Flames game is performing well.
Which brings me to the limp and abhorrent Calgary PP. Zero for 15 in the first two games, the Flames seem rather pensive and unsure when they have the man advantage. While there were a couple of opportunitues generated and wasted, the bulk of the Flames PP was spent chasing the puck back into the defensive zone. Areas of improvement for Calgary in this regard include:
- Developing a more dynamic system. Calgary still seems focused on point shots driving the action. Thus far, of course, that has proven ineffective because Edmonton employed a high pressure PK that cheated towards the point. Coupled with their penchant for blocking shots, this strategy almost totally neutralized the Flames attack. Calgary has a number of players that can excel down low in the offensive zone - Iginla, Huselius, Tanguay - and should therefore be looking to make that the fulcrum of their attack.
- More time for primary scorers. So far this season, Jim Playfair has frequently used secondary PP units at the onset of the man advantage. Usually this results in one or more minutes being needlessly pissed away. I'd like to see the likes of Iginla and Tanguay on the ice at the start of almost every man advantage - and for a majority of the time. In addition, I'd prefer to see a Juice/Iginla/Tanguay top unit, with Jarome at center. Not only does this combine your three most skilled forwards, it also puts Iginla in the face-off circle where he has so far been very effective.
- Continue to generate traffic in scoring areas. While this aspect of play was highly improved on Saturday night over Thursday's game, the next step is to adequately bear down and bury the chances that present themselves. Calgary missed something like 3 open nets last game - a nightmarish case of deja vu for any fan who watched chance after chance go unfulfilled last season...
Positives:
- Even up the Battle of Alberta at one a piece. Not sure I could have endured the insufferable Oiler fan gloating should we had lost two in a row to the Grease.
- Jarome Iginla. Looking strong, determined and dangerous. Thankfully his inept doppleganger, Jarmoe, has yet to make an appearance in this young season.
- Alex Tanguay. Definately started to look more comfortable in the second half of the game. Made a nifty pass to set-up the Flame's second goal. Was a siginficant presence during a few dominating shifts by the first line in the third period.
- Kristian Huselius. Was frequently the most dangerous guy on the ice. Made a series of highlight-reel dipsy-doodles in the offensize zone during one impressive sequence. Is bound to start putting up points.
- Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr. Still leading by example.
- Stephane Yelle. Scores a goal and assist and continues to block shots with every part of his body. Great game for the third line center.
- Kiprusoff. Came up big when he was needed the most.
Negatives:
- The PP. Completely toothless currently.
- Lack of finish. Lots of chances, only two goals to show for it. Gotta start finishing around the net.
- Andrei Zyuzin. Made a number of junior quality blunders during the game. The puck seems to bounce off his stick whenever it comes near him. Seems to have a Denis-Gauthier like ability to shoot pucks into defenders shin-pads as well.
As for tonight, the goal will be to continue the good stuff while correcting the bad. Most significantly, the sharks have 2 very dangerous lines, as showcased by their preseason pounding of the Flames, so a more potent attack will be a must this evening. Actually scoring on the PP would no doubt be a big step in the right direction - as well as, you know, shooting pucks into empty nets when the opportunity arises.
In addition, a good performance out of secondary defenders Hamrlik and Zyuzin will be a must. Regehr and Phaneuf will most likely be matched up against Thornton and Cheechoo, leaving Hammer and Andrei the somewhat daunting task of containing Marleau's unit. If Zyuzin continues to struggle, the Flames will no doubt suffer for it...
Anyways, let's make it 2 in a row boys! GO FLAMES GO!
