Im going to ignore the penalty parade in the 2nd period. It'll be covered elsewhere extensively for the next 3 days. Let's just say, some of the calls were borderline at best, but the Flames didn't do themselves any favors - and leave it at that.
Despite the loss and shot disparity, there were things to like about the Flames play: the 2nd period and 3rd period, for instance (aside from the putrid powerplays), and I think Calgary got the better quality chances at ES. Kipper looks as dialed in as ever and guys like Moss, Lombardi and Nolan showed that game one wasn't a fluke.
Now the stuff I didn't like -
- Jim Vandermeer. Awful, awful game by his guy. Sarich bounces back with a fine effort and then Vandy goes in the toilet. He made a number of ill-advised passes in the defensive zone and had problems handling and managing the puck all night. That was the first clear glimpse Flames fans have had of the Vandermeer that was traded out of Chicago for a goon and the Vandermeer that was basically jeered out of Philadelphia near the deadline.
It seems the ghost of Zyuzin's past has decided to possess one Calgary defender a night for the first round...
- Calgary's most damaging habit, besides taking penalty after ill-advised penalty last night, was giving-up the puck in and around their own blueline. Time after time after time, a Flames player would come within three feet of exiting their end only to give up the puck. That just kills the transition game and leads to increased time in the bad end of the ice. If the Flames are going to give this series an honest run, this terrible tendency has to get the heave-ho.
