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Calgary Flames

Flames Give Sens Third Period Burn

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An uncertain first period for the Flames had a game very much up for grabs going into the second period. Senators rookie goalie Robin Lehner made several solid saves in the first period. As the game went on the Flames grew stronger and more structured and by the third period were dominating. The Flames Powerplay erupted with 3 goals; which was surprising considering that Alex Tanguay was out with a neck strain.

The Senators looked deflated after Curtis Glencross put the go-ahead goal in late in the second and the third was all Flames despite some strong effort from Jason Spezza. But even his sharp stick handling and passes were largely wasted on team mates who looked anxious to get out of the Saddledome and up to see the Edmonton Oilers as fast as they could.

Yet another statement win for the Flames to their fans and one that has to be turning up the dials of optimism in a fan-base that a mere 6 weeks ago was thinking which high draft pick to take.

Game Review

Getting off to a slow start there was an “oh no” moment in the first period for Flames fans when the Sens rapidly responded to a Tim Jackman goal with two goals in under two minutes. Lehner looked sharp between the pipes in the first period for the Sens and Flames fans must have had at least a brief moment of pause wondering if a hot ‘tender could stifle their Alex Tanguay-less offense.

Chris Kelly and Chris Campoli delivered the Sens goals in rapid succession and the game was entirely up for grabs going into the second period.

The second period saw the Flames steadily build momentum. First a beautifully patient passing play between Olli Jokinen and Curtis Glencross on the Powerplay tied the game. Jokinen returned the favor for Glencross with a long Hail Mary pass that somehow found Glencross’s tape through several Sens for the go-ahead goal. Glencross made no mistake with the snipe.

At this point the Sens appeared to deflate. The third period was owned by the Flames and what has been a dormant Flames powerplay this season popped yet another two PP goals for three on the night when Anton Babchuk scored with a bullet from the point and Tim Jackman earned himself another goal in the game by driving to the net to finish off a Jarome Iginla shot that Lehner stopped but failed to contain.

Analysis

The first period was the kind of game I expected but once again, the Flames proved me wrong in the second and third periods when they took over the game. The Flames looked fast but unstructured in the first but that lack of structure disappeared and they settled into fine form.

Babchuk had a great game and showed that he may be a key factor in igniting the Flames’ powerplay in the future – currently slotted onto the #2 PP unit, we may see him on the #1 unit next game.

Jackman turned in a pair of goals and five shots on goal. In case anyone out there doesn’t know this yet, Jackman is having a career season and has already passed his previous personal highs in goals, assists and points.

Glencross & Jokinen also turned in excellent games on the score sheet and complimented each other effortlessly during the game, finshing with a goal and assist each.

Jarome Iginla and Brendan Morrison were lined up against the Sens’ Spezza line and did a solid job keeping him off the scoresheet. Morrison blocked an absolute rocket of a shot at the end of the game; when you see players doing that in a 5-2 game, you have a team playing with an unwavering will to win.

With yet another all-around team win, the Flames are on a mission–and their 8-1-1 record shows it.

An interesting bit of trivia. Robyn Regehr, who is hardly known as a offensive defenseman has 1G, 4A and is +5 in his last 4 games. You know things are great in Calgary when Regehr is scoring like that…

Scoring Breakdown

The Calgary Flames

The Ottawa Senators

Goals

Assists

Goals

Assists

Babchuk

1

2

Campoli

1

0

Jackman

2

0

Kelly

1

0

Glencross

1

1

Kuba

0

1

Jokinen

1

1

Ruutu

0

1

Regehr

0

2

Iginla

0

1

Morrison

0

1

Hagman

0

1

Shots

Saves

Shots

Saves

Kiprusoff

24

26

Lehner

35

30

[Senators vs Flames coverage] [Silver Seven] [Boxscore] [Recap]

by M Smith