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Flames/Wild Postgame

Lots of interesting stuff yielded from last nights game, which I'm going to present in no particular order.

- Flames won the corsi battle, on the back of it's depth players. Iggy was played to about even by Koivu's line again, except, once again, Iginla et al actually scored. It helps to create chances, but it also helps to finish them.

- Todd Bertuzzi played just 15 minutes last night, 2:38 of it on the PP. David Moss played 15:01, with 4 minutes coming with the extra man. Can I get a hell yeah!? Amen! Hallelujah!

Perhaps not coincidentally, the Flames have PP goals in each of the last two games with David Moss parked out front. It's hard for me to express just how much this guy has improved since he cracked the line-up a couple of years ago. 

- Take a look at the corsi link again. Notice anything particularly unusual? How about the 4th line completely dominating to a tune of a combined +33? And that was featuring a fresh faced rookie in Brandon Prust, a guy playing his first ever NHL game in VDG and sophomore Eric Nystrom. 

Granted, one game is one game, but it's instructive to see a goonless 4th line kick some ass in terms of offensive zone possession. Van Der Gulik had a particularly impressive debut, managing six shots in under 10 minutes of ice, many of which were quality chances. Besides seeming a little nervous, he didn't look out of place at all. In a way, it's too bad he'll be kicked to the press-box (or the farm) once Langkow returns.

- The Flames played well, but some "credit" for Calgary's win has to go to the Minnesota Wild, who looked fairly awful most of the evening. I was really surprised by the number of egregious and unforced turn-overs they committed in their own end of the ice. Hell, they were probably lucky the game only ended up 4-1, which isn't the type of hockey I've come to expect from a Lemaire coached club.

- Derek Boogaard blocks two consecutive shots by his own team during a PP. Then he runs Prust in the final two minutes of the game for no apparent reason, perhaps leading to a potential suspension and/or fine. What's the point of this guy again? He's more of a mascot than a hockey player.

- With his assist on Cammalleri's first goal, Iginla inched to within one point of Fleury's Franchise leading point mark. Hopefully Jarome can equal or surpass the record before the club leaves for that brutal road trip in March.

- Dion Phanuef has looked a bit better since his terrible showing in Edmonton last Saturday. Of course, scoring some goals doesn't hurtm but he's also cut down on the BS in his own end. I'm really, really hoping that was rock bottom for the kid and he's got nowhere to go but from here on in.

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It’s nice to see the Flames back to playing like they were in December, and even nicer that they managed 16 points in the last 10 games playing like they were. Vancouver is getting lots of publicity for being 8-2 in their last 10, but they haven’t gained a single point on the Flames in that time.

Of all the joys of watching the Flames this year, my favorite has been the 4th line, no matter who it’s been. They always work hard, they spend a lot of time in the opposition end, and it seems like there are replacements no matter who gets hurt. Compared to the Smith-Goodard show from last year (hell, compared to the Yelle-Nilsson, whomever show from last year), it is fun to watch. I had forgotten that Nystrom was such a high draft pick, and he’ll never be a 2nd liner, but he definitely has value.

One of the funniest things on the TV broadcast last night was John Garrett wondering if all of the Wild turnovers were being counted by the official statistician, since they showed the Flames with 40% more turnovers than the Wild after two periods. That was an incredibly sloppy game by the Wild, that’s for sure.

Speaking of funny stats, the guys at Jayman must be bribing the guy who counts the ‘hits’ stat, since they donate $75 per hit. Apparently, the Flames had only 8 hits last night. (Yes, I’m kidding about Jayman, any donation is a good one these days).

Last point – I really don’t see this upcoming road trip as brutal for some reason. They only have one back-to-back and the second game is in Carolina, they have Atlanta/Toronto/Ottawa which are amongst the weaker East clubs, and they’ve played better on the road all year than their record indicates. Philly and NJ will be tough and Detroit is always a house of horrors. However, I’d be OK if they got 8 out of 14 points and I think it’s attainable.

by maimster on Feb 28, 2009 11:23 AM PST reply actions  

I’d love for someone to tell me how give-aways/take-aways and hits are recorded in the NHL. It’s so subjective in each rink that they might as well not even bother.

by Kent Wilson on Feb 28, 2009 11:55 AM PST reply actions  

You certainly can tell that the Flames are in Minnesota’s head. The Wild lost this game almost from the start. Those two goals to start the second pretty much caused them to pack it in.

by Resolute on Feb 28, 2009 2:06 PM PST reply actions  

warren peters...

…has been called up. i guess prust is out.

by walkinvisible on Feb 28, 2009 3:12 PM PST reply actions  

Yup, concussion

See…Resolute’s fanpost to the right.

by Kent Wilson on Feb 28, 2009 3:29 PM PST reply actions  

Another milestone from last night: Kipper is now tied with Nabokov for SV% at .909. Considering Kipper’s lead in GP and shots faced (not to mention wins), that means Nabokov is unlikely to get a Vezina this year, assuming things stay as they are. That makes me very happy.

by ngthagg on Feb 28, 2009 4:47 PM PST reply actions  

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