Flames continued the streak last night in a rather puzzling and nervewracking fashion, defeating the struggling Minnesota Wild 3-2. The contest was a match of stupefying blase nothingness for the first two periods, which were dominated by a listless Flames crew being frustrated by the passive-aggressive, trap-style antics of their opponents. The final frame, however, featured a total inversion in terms of style and excitement, with the host Flames firing 25 shots and scoring 3 goals against a besieged Dwayne Roloson. A veritable explosion of offense in Calgary Flames terms, especially considering that the 25 shots tied a team record for shots on goal in a single period (also consider that the Wild accrued 24 shots over the course of the entire game).
Of course, anyone watching the game last night knows that the ultimate difference maker was Calgary captain, Jarome Iginla. He had a hand in all three Flames goals. He made a Forsberg worthy pass to Langkow for the tying marker and snapped home the game-winner shortly thereafter. Delete the absurd (not-a-penalty) call by the referee in the dying moments of the game, and Iginla probably would have gotten an empty-netter too - he was simply unstoppable...
While the weak play of the team over the course of the first 2 periods was a little discouraging, the end result proved satisfying nontheless - finding a way to win despite playing less than spectacular is often a facet of good teams. Calgary needs to win these types of game, particularly against divisional opponents; not to mention divisional opponents lacking several of their top forwards...
and now, Positives and Negatives:
Positives:
- Jarome Iginla. Simply dominating. 10 points in the last 3 games I think?
- Chuck Kobasew. Held pointless, but was skating and shooting well again. Hilight reel move in the third nearly lead to a goal. Fired a team high 7 shots.
- Damond Langkow. Finally got back on the scoresheet with the tying goal.
- Dion Phaneuf. Another timely 3rd period goal by the rookie.
- 25 shot third period by the team. More shots than the Wild had through the whole game.
- Penalty Killing. Wild only scored once in 9 opportunities. Also managed to hold the lead despite Minnesota's 6on3 advantage late in the 3rd.
- With the win, Kiprusoff has 10 on the season and is behind only Manny Legace (12 wins). His GAA is currently 2.37.
- Oh yeah...7 WINS IN A ROW.
Negatives:
- First and second period. Yikes. Stifled by the Wild, Calgary seemed lethargic and befuddled.
- Chris Simon. Created some opportunities thanks to his presence in front of the opposition's net...but is a liability in his own end. For proof, see hilights of the first Wild goal (why is he standing THERE?). A team worst -3.
- 9 Penalties, including a series of infractions late in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The phantom "high-sticking" call on Iginla was bogus, but all others were (sort of) legitimate calls in the "new" NHL. Also...the Flames seem determined to get at least one 4 minute high sticking penalty per game. ARGH!
- Steve Reinprecht was rather "absent" most of the night and wasn't played much in the 3rd period. I hope the Rhino-Iginla-Kobasew line is back together for the Detroit game, however (although Iginla's playing so well right now you could probably put Rocky Thompson on his line and it wouldn't matter).
Anyways, a big huzah! goes to the Flames for pulling out another win and extending the streak...next up is the real test - enter The Detroit Red Wings!
