Game 76 Recap: Jaws of Death

The hope of a nation rested on this game, and early on it looked like the Calgary Flames would come through, but after 60 minutes, the Flames, playing the last of their California roadtrip, could not persevere against the surging San Jose Sharks; losing 6-3. While not mathematically out, the Flames chances dramatically decreased tonight as Chicago (2), Anaheim (2) and Dallas (1) all picked up points. It was a must win, and the Flames didn’t.

 This is pretty much what happened, all put to song. 

Scoring Chances

Shift Chart

Corsi

Faceoffs

This game more than any other, might be used as evidence to the theory that Miikka Kipprusoff hasn’t lost a step and his statistics are indeed decieving. The Flames netminder for all intents and purposes did not lose this game, but fell victim to a sloppy defensive effort on the Calgary end.

The game started quickly with Sharks forward, Jamal Mayers completely dominating the rush on dump ins. He’d parlay that effort at the 3 minute mark, into a nifty pass to Torrey Mitchell who’d score the game opener. Though the Flames would fight back, with a Jarome Iginla powerplay goal assisted by Jokinen and Tanguay, it was a back and forth match for much of the first as the Sharks offense was unrelentless and by 14:59 of the first when Patrick Marleau would score his first of two on the night, the Sharks would become too much for the away team to handle.

To their credit, the Flames battled hard in the second stanza, obviously feeling the effects of the riot act that was read to them at the intermission, and they brought the Sharks lead down to one, with Rene Bourque‘s 26th of the season and 3rd in 4 games. For a moment, there was belief. But when Mitchell scored his second of the night (he’s been simply on fire since a line shuffle a short while back, scoring 4 goals and 6 points in his last four) late in the second the game was all but over. The sharks would add a dagger in the hearts of all hopefull Flames fans, with a goal by rookie Logan Couture, and by then it really was over.

 The game in many respects resembles the season in which the Flames have so far played, an okay start, a complete collapse, a moment of reflection, Kipper's skillset coming into question, a comeback, Iginla leading the troops, and then the rug being pulled from underneith them, and the sad realization that the lights have been shut off in the HP Pavillion, and they didn't achieve their goal.

 The Flames sit 2 points back of the 8th place Ducks who now have three games in hand.

by Craig Fischer