The boss's message, according to Conroy, was quite straightforward.
"Jimmy just let it be known -- are we the top line or are they the top line? 'You guys have to step up,' " recalled Conroy, whose unit, in Tuesday's 1-0 shootout victory, had been badly outdazzled by Minnesota's marquee trio of Pavol Demitra, Wes Walz and Marian Gaborik.
"Jarome loves to be challenged like that. And right before the game, he said, 'Enough's enough. Let's go. Let's get this thing going. Let's be the top line.' That's what he said. Then he was unbelievable." - Calgary Herald
So on the heels of my whining about an unproductive Jarome Iginla and unconvincing wins, the Flames go out and do everything I said they weren't doing. Things that would convince me this winning streak was something more than goaltending and fortune.
And good on them. Last night's was the particular ray of light I've been waiting for since the onset of mediocrity several weeks ago: a convincing victory over a capable opponent on the road. With apologies to the likes of Chicago and St. Louis, a win over the Wild is far more valuable currency these days.
The most encouraging part of last night's victory is reflected in the quote above. Not just that Playfair recognized an issue and took steps to correct it, nor that Iginla had a monster game. That the two occurred in concert - that Jarome and co. responded to a motivational ploy by Playfair - is the perhaps the best part. I've aired my suspicions that Playfair may have lost the dressing room frequently the last month or so. To see some evidence contrary to my suspicions speaks well for this team heading into the play-offs.
Some odds and ends:
- The Flames scored on their first 2 shots and chased Backstrom from the nets less than 2 minutes into the game. That now stands as the fastest 'tender yank in Wild Franchise history.
- Jarome's hat trick was the first by a Flame this season. The last Calgary player to do it was Chuck Kobasew against the Avs last year.
- After my bitching about Calgary at ES yesterday, the Flames went out and completely dominated 5on5 play last night. Course, that's what happens when the big guns show up. Tanguay, Conroy and Iginla ended the night with 7 points and a combined +6. That'll show me.
- I thought Lombardi had one his better outings as the RW on the Huselius/Langkow line. He was actually creating chances off the rush, which is the best indicatoin that Lombo's on his game. Also, thanks to Juice's wizardry, there was 2 or 3 sequences in which the second unit hemmed the Wild in their own end for long periods of time. In fact, it would have appeared to a casual observer that the Flames were on the PP.
- Have you ever seen a deflection goal like Langkow's marker yesterday?? Those few who missed the game should seek out hilights and marvel.
With the win, The Flames shrank the "magic number" down to 4. A single victory in one of the final two games against the Avalanche (regardless of any other outcomes) would ensure a play-off spot for Calgary. With that in mind, maybe the Flames should start look up in the standings with a view to catching one of San Jose, Dallas or Minnesota? Especially if Nashville succeeds in overtaking Detroit for first place overall by the end of the year...
