Flames @ Devils Gamethread

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:00 PM PDT

Calgary Flames at New Jersey Devils, Mar 10, 2009 4:00 PM PDT

Superdevil_medium

Flames @ Devils

5:00pm, PPV (yes, again) locally

It's been a couple of tough ass-kickings for the Flames and things don't get any easier tonight. The Devils are an excellent team - for my money they've been the best club in the EC for awhile and they just got Martin Brodeur back.

Driving the success is the coaching of Brent Sutter and the emergence of Zach Parise. From what I can tell, Parise has taken a legitimate leap forward this season (unlike, say, David Krejci who is riding the percentages train).

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Zach Parise	65	38	40	78	25	22	12	0	6	3	280	13.6

Parise's 280 shots on goal are third in the league behind Ovechkin and Eric Staal. He plays quality competition, has t he best corsi rating on his team (+15.5/60) and is scoring at a 3.11/60 clip at even strength. These are Jarome Iginla type numbers folks - when Jarome Iginla was dominant. Guy went from Devil to Super Devil in a single summer and he's only 24 years old.

Besides Parise, NJ has some nice depth up front in Elias (who has been quality for years when he's managed to stay healthy), Zajac (the man who fooled the Flames scouts into thinking Kris Chucko was worth a damn in Salmon Arm), Brian Gionta, Jamie Langenbrunner, Dainius Zubrus and John Madden. Rolston and Shanahan were added this year for good measure. In fact, and I don't know why this didn't occur to me before today, this is scary deep collection of forwards from top to bottom. New Jersey's blueline is fairly underwhelming (although Martin is grossly underrated), but it may not even matter that much given the kind of talent the Devils boast elsewhere in the line-up.

On the Flames front, it looks like Moss and Langkow will be returning tonight, which is excellent news considering the stiff competition. David Van Der Gulik and Brett Sutter have returned to th QC Flames with Warren Peters remaining to center the 4th line. I hope - and I dont think Im alone in this - that DVG will get another chance to play for the big team in the near future. He never looked out of place in the NHL and put up some really nice looking underlying numbers in a tough situation. For what it's worth, I think VDG has arrived as a viable replacement level player.

Question remains - what do the lines look like with Moss and Langkow returning? I would be loathe to break up the highly effective Conroy/Glencross/Moss trio and Keenan is probably going to roll with Cammalleri/Jokinen/Iginla again, leaving us with:

First line

Boyd-Langkow-Lundmark?

Conroy line

Roy-Peters-Nystrom

We're still a few steps from ideal here and I hope we aren't rushing Langkow back prematurely in response to the last two face-plants in CAR and ATL. Still, nice to have him and Moss in the line-up.

Im still not too hopeful about this evening, although the Vancouver loss to LAK last night granted the Flames a bit of breathing room atop the division. At this point, it's more about riding out the remainder of the road trip with some players and pride intact than going for broke evey night. If Calgary can emerge from this excursion with a .500 record and relatively healthy line-up, I'll be pretty damn happy about it.

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Interesting to see the Conroy line start the game.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

What a ridiculous penalty call. There have been a lot of marginal calls in the last few games.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:11 PM PDT reply actions

The penalties have been bad in the last couple of games. It seems like whenever we need to be mounting a comeback, we killing a penalty instead. But I don’t know how much of that is our fault, or bad reffing.

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 4:14 PM PDT reply actions

It’s been a bit of both. On the Boyd “hooking penalty” he had a single hand on his stick, the blade flipped up and happened to make brief, incidental contact on the defenders hands while he was pursuing and it didn’t effect the play one bit.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:16 PM PDT reply actions

Is that Keenan or Sutter looking for the Conroy v Parise match-up?

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:19 PM PDT reply actions

Make up call? That didn’t look like much of anything either. What’s the point in calling something like that?

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 4:20 PM PDT reply actions

I have no idea. Both were marginal.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

Incidentally, the NJ play-by-play guy is outstanding. It sounds to me like he came from doing radio, because he’s giving a constant stream of description, rather than occassional inane comments.

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

Doc Emrick is arguably the best in the business. Definitely genuine and eloquent in his calls.

I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!

by R_Adragna on Mar 10, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I always enjoy Emrick when I hear him.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice. Im stuck with the Flames PPV (and Charlie Simmer on color).

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

Jokinen with Moss and Cammalleri…interesting.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

Great feed by Moss.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Whatever the combinations are, the offense is looking MUCH sharper. 7 EV shots already.

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

atdhe.net has the feed, but it’s the low-res justin.tv feed.

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

Ahh

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:26 PM PDT reply actions

Iginla with Glencross and Conroy. Really? I would have moved Jarome with Langkow.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:28 PM PDT reply actions

Rupp vs. Roy!!

Wait…who cares.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:30 PM PDT reply actions

Moss back on the first PP unit for Calgary’s 2nd try.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:35 PM PDT reply actions

Looks like Jokinen on the point of the 2nd unit.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Good back check by Phaneuf.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:40 PM PDT reply actions

by shep_ on Mar 10, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah. I was surprised too.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

by shep_ on Mar 10, 2009 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions

the conroy line makes me cry happy tears

by shep_ on Mar 10, 2009 5:03 PM PDT reply actions

The 4th line on the other hand…

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:04 PM PDT reply actions

And yet another buttery soft goal allowed by Kiprusoff.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:06 PM PDT reply actions

Yep. I’d almost rather not have us on the powerplay anymore…seems like as many goals allowed as scored…

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:07 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah. Flames have had tough luck in terms of SHG against this season.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

A weak wrist shot form the point results in a scramble because Kipper fails to glove it down.

He looks terrible thus far in this game.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:10 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah the long shots hand-cuff him a lot.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:11 PM PDT reply actions

need moss on the first unit there. hes our holmström

by shep_ on Mar 10, 2009 5:11 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah. And he’s gotten some really good results on the PP this year.

Ahh Vandermeer. You suck.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:12 PM PDT reply actions

Agree, especially when he gets stuck on forward.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:13 PM PDT reply actions

Vandermeer that is.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:13 PM PDT reply actions

Parise is amazing out there.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions

devils look good, kinda like the sharks

by shep_ on Mar 10, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions

Devils are all over the Flames during this PP. There could have been 3 goals so far.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:14 PM PDT reply actions

And we can’t even hold the puck in their zone on our PP.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:15 PM PDT reply actions

Kind of surprised the shots are even right now. Jersey dominating territorially this period.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:16 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, they’ve hit a couple posts and had some others go just wide.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:17 PM PDT reply actions

Brandon Prust with an assist tonight – the 2nd of his career.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:18 PM PDT reply actions

I didn’t realize he was back in already. Good for him.

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Another puck goes right through Kipper, but slides past the post.

He looks like October Kipper to me.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:20 PM PDT reply actions

Yep.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

He’s been getting way out of position beside the net a lot as well.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions

The Devils smelled blood with that SH goal. The pressure they’re putting on is immense.

Maybe we can do something with this PP.

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 5:21 PM PDT reply actions

Iginla has played 12 minutes and doesn’t have a shot on goal yet. Ugly.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:21 PM PDT reply actions

Close….

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:22 PM PDT reply actions

Just about a nice bounce there.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:23 PM PDT reply actions

Shot stats thus far.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:24 PM PDT reply actions

aucoin looks like shinpad again

by shep_ on Mar 10, 2009 5:27 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, he’s had a bit of a rough night.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:29 PM PDT reply actions

I’d put Jokinen on the right point on the first unit myself.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:30 PM PDT reply actions

Nystrom is my favorite penalty killer, so confident and keeps the puck in deep really well.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:30 PM PDT reply actions

Lombardi used to be mine.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:32 PM PDT reply actions

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:33 PM PDT reply actions

Flames look terrible on the PP. Terrible.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:34 PM PDT reply actions

Watching the Sharks-Wild game here….Sharks powerplay is infinitely better. Passes that don’t hop or miss by two feet, constant cycle, etc.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 5:38 PM PDT reply actions

Funny thing is, the Flames were having some success with moss on the first unit before this game…but Keenan seems to have gotten away from that (for no good reason).

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 5:41 PM PDT reply actions

i hate that dion phaneuf no longer looks like an NHL calibre defenseman. it’s something we’ve been hmm’ing and haa’ing about for months now, but i’ve now said it “out loud.” he’s painful.

by walkinvisible on Mar 10, 2009 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

i feel so effin’ bad for cumac.

by walkinvisible on Mar 10, 2009 5:56 PM PDT reply actions

yeah, Phaneuf is no good out there.

And neither is Kipper, currently.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:00 PM PDT reply actions

Holy crap, could we keep the puck in the zone just once?

by ngthagg on Mar 10, 2009 6:00 PM PDT reply actions

That would be nice.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:02 PM PDT reply actions

Well I like Keenan but he isn’t going to last much longer if the team keeps playing this way. Coach always has to take the blame for poor play.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 6:02 PM PDT reply actions

Flames are first in their division. Keenan is safe.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions

i hear brent sutter might be available.

by walkinvisible on Mar 10, 2009 6:04 PM PDT reply actions

Hah, if only.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 6:04 PM PDT reply actions

Nice play by Lundmark there. Great save by Brodeur.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:05 PM PDT reply actions

(sorry, Im a bit behind here).

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Andre Roy, back in the box? Im surprised.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:06 PM PDT reply actions

The Devils get numerous quality chances on every single PP…

Im going to say it. The Flames PK sucks.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:07 PM PDT reply actions

It’s frustrating because it was so good for so long up until the last few weeks.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 6:08 PM PDT reply actions

True, but it’s been a massive liability recently.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Jarome is a total non-factor tonight. Disappointing.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:11 PM PDT reply actions

Conroy’s line is still the only one doing anything.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:12 PM PDT reply actions

Keenan pulled Kipper a game too late… IMO

by Steal Thunder on Mar 10, 2009 6:15 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed. It may be the cumulative effect of Kipper being terrible last game AND this one.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Not that I’m for the knee-jerk firings that happen to coaches these days, at least Carbanneau is available now….

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 6:19 PM PDT reply actions

haha…that he is.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions

SNORE

I can’t wait for this road trip – and these terrible PPV’s – to end.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:26 PM PDT reply actions

I am so happy that I missed the first two periods of this one…

by Steal Thunder on Mar 10, 2009 6:27 PM PDT reply actions

Actually, I didn’t miss them, I just wasn’t here to watch them…

by Steal Thunder on Mar 10, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions

The first was so promising, but it went steadily downhill from there.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions

It basically went downhill after that terrible SHG against.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:29 PM PDT reply actions

They better win on Saturday or I’ll never hear the end of it… I mean, come on, its the Leafs… Of course, it was ONLY Atlanta on Sunday…

by Steal Thunder on Mar 10, 2009 6:30 PM PDT reply actions

Phaneuf has to do more than fire the puck into a block there.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:30 PM PDT reply actions

…and there.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions

…and hit the net.

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Cammalleri has quietly been pretty bad too.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions

Off to class, maybe the bus will hit me when I cross the street…

-Colin

by Colin S on Mar 10, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions

Goal. I hope that counts, just for the hell of it.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, we only lost by two… ugh

by Steal Thunder on Mar 10, 2009 6:33 PM PDT reply actions

By one… oops

by Steal Thunder on Mar 10, 2009 6:33 PM PDT reply actions

Well, good for Glencross. And Conroy. And Moss.

Iginla, Cammalleri, Kipper, Dion, Aucoin? Thumbs down.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

Also – the special teams.

by Kent Wilson on Mar 10, 2009 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

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Calgary Flames at New Jersey Devils, Mar 10, 2009 4:00 PM PDT

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