Coincidentally, NHL GM's met today to discuss the instigator rule...I wonder if conversation was sparked when Darryl Sutter casually strolled to Francois Giguere's dinner table, methodically bouncing on his Swiss ball and chatting with Garth Snow about a back-up opportunity, and said:
"Do you mind playing Vaananen a lot today? Because we REALLY want to kill him. Err...I mean amicably engage in traditional fisticuffs..."
It is somewhat stunning that a hit from behind on Moss didn't warrant a single game suspension. It would become extremely relevant since suspensions usually benefit whoever plays the offender NEXT...but in this case it would have been a very appropriate sentencing seeing as the Flames are in the midst of a 3 game war with the Avalunch.
The discussion on rescinding of the severity of the instigator penalty is groomed for situations like this. Read "Run our player, and get ready for a war....a legal war"
Emery got 3 games for hitting a player in the FACE with his stick. He was FACING him. If you look at this hit from the angle of Vaananen wheeling into Moss's backside, it's just as, if not more, vicious. Jerk-face.
Well, the past is the past, and I only hope that the injury to one of our best energy forwards creates the spark and motivation they require to win away from home.
We have seen both Flames teams in the first 2 matches so far....and it really remains to be seen which team shows up for the game tonight....if it is the team that played in Detroit, and the team that appeared to be wearing broom-ball shoes in Round 1 shows up tonight...disregard all analysis after this period. <---that one right there Shut down sakic - nope
While Sakic has decimated Flames teams in the last 2 decades, and has inflated his totals on the scoresheet, its actually a 4-line rolling that makes Colorado dangerous. Fourth liners like #28 Guite and #12 Richardson perform well against our backend on the forecheck, crashing into them, wearing them down, and winning face-offs.
By doing this, they aren't tiring Old Man Joe out with 24 minutes plus a game, and allowing him to find his space in the slot and behind the net...carving up our defensemen like a mushy turkey.
Not one Colorado forward played over 20 minutes in Round 2, and Sakic only played 2 shifts more than that mark in Round 1.
Seeing that we are on the road for this match, and Colorado has the advantage of line-matching, Colorado's depth players may have a more 'significant' role than we would expect.
Defend against Liles, he's slick and dreeeeeammy - WRONG and YUCK
Quennenville doesn't like to play this offensive d-man against our squad. He actually garners the least amount of minutes (other than Vaananjerk) of all the back enders. D-men entrusted with the role of shutting down our offense include Clark (22 minutes +) and Skratkins (25-26 minutes). Strangely enough, these two also prevent the least amount of shots to go past their below-average goalie tandem by sacrificing their looks and ability to walk straight.
Besides these keys to the Avalanche performance....there are a number of reasons why we should destroy them.
1. We beat them in Colorado already. Meaning: It can be done, we CAN win on the road.
2. I haven't seen a Calgary Flame, in a LONG time, that gives me the sensation that he will score every time he touches the puck like Juice. Huselius is burying the biscuit from impossible angles, which has an interesting trickle effect:
- It creates competition, and job uncertainty for underperformers (what a non-scoring squad DIDN'T have last year) forcing the top line and all lines under his own to start producing.
- It creates a true 1-2 threat. I don't believe that Iginla is back to form (he is looking a little soft, actually) but is still putting the puck in the net making those road-matchups a little more difficult.
3. Bad Blood and Emotion - The Avalanche aren't a team that feeds off fierce competition and fiestiness like calgary does. While the Sakic-leadership promotes an even-keeled approach to competition (ex-Lapperierre), the Flames elevate their game and play when it's personal. Moss is the new Kobasew, he's important.
I think the flames will pull out a win for Moss like they did for Ritchie when he had his knee blown out by Spacek last year. The next game result? A 1-0 win over Toronto. I hope this is a trend for the flaming C.
As far as the rest of the roster...
I actually think that Stuart will have a great game tonight. His play has drastically improved since the first game. He reminds me of Regehr a few years ago + offense. He's MEAN in the corners, his first pass out of the zone is always on the tape, and he can unload a monster shot. That actually creates a big shot in all 3 d-men pairings (if Zyuzin is in the lineup).
Other interesting line-up changes include moving Lombo up to Langkow and Juice's line. I am interested to see how Lombo likes the right side, and I do like the prospect of Lombo getting 18 minutes +. I think by putting him on the side, and removing concern for Centerman Defensive-zone Responsibility, there is a great opportunity for the afterburners to clear slug-feet Dmen like Sauer tonight. If the D-can get their break-outs to normal, avoid pesky fore-checking, and hit a streaking #18 with a crisp pass it will be a sexy advantage over the Avs. Look for Hammer and Stuart to try it (because they are the only ones that can do it well).
Result: 4-3. 7 PIM for Godard.
