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For a 3rd straight time this season, and a 5th time overall, the Calgary Flames fell to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night. The final score was 3-2, which has been the score in every meeting between the teams this year. It would seem this loss won’t sit well with Brent Sutter and the rest of the coaching staff for the Flames, after a lackluster effort at home to Minnesota on Friday.
Once again, it just seemed like something was lacking for the Flames on this game, and it took them far too long to really get back to what we’re used to seeing from them. The Flames were outplayed and outworked in the opening 20 minutes, as Colorado controlled the first period with 5 powerplay opportunities. The Avs also outshot the Flames 20-6, the second straight game Calgary has surrendered 19 or more shots in the opening frame. What’s weird is that it didn’t seem to get better in the 2nd period…the Avs scored to make it 2-0, but Calgary was able to score 1:17 later, and you thought maybe they’d get themselves back on track. But that wasn’t the case, because after Bourque’s goal, the Flames went back to what was not very good prior. That was a little surprising, as you would have thought the Flames might have used that to get back on track. And, of course, a few minutes later Darcy Tucker scored the winning goal.
Mark Giordano scored a powerplay goal for the Flames in the 3rd period at the 13:16 mark, and after that, the team really started to come on…but sometimes, you can’t rely on a late surge to tie things. Speaking of that Giordano goal…it came on the PP! I kind of forgot what a Flames powerplay goal looked like. But, all sarcasm aside, lets hope that marker helps to snap the team out of a funk on the man advantage. It was Calgary’s first PP goal in 24 opportunites.
Give the Avs credit though…they were frustrating to play against as usual, and opportunistic as usual. They ended up outshooting Calgary 35-21, and were very impressive for stretches offensively. Once again, you can tell this is a very well coached Avs team, as Joe Sacco has everyone playing a very simple, effective system. And when Calgary tried to get any traction of their own offensively, the Avs were there to get in shooting lanes and make it a real challenge for Calgary to get pucks through. The Avs blocked 17 shots, and now have blocked 582 for the season…second in the NHL. Brett Clark blocked 4 shots, which adds to his league leading total…he’s now been in front of 108 pucks.
Positives…well…Miikka Kiprusoff. 32 saves and he was great again…he was the only reason the Flames still had a chance to tie this game in the 3rd period, because once again, his saves were instrumental in making sure leads didn’t get too big. There was an opportunity in the first period for this game to get away from Calgary, but thanks to #34, that didn’t happen. The PK was also very good, killing off 5 of 6 Colorado powerplays.
The Flames try and get back on track Tuesday in St. Louis. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.
Mikka bails a bad team performance again. Where would this team be without their Vezina candidate. Sooner or later the lack of offense is going to catch up with you. There is no balance up front. Its the same story every game…dump and chase….whatever happen to creativity and passing. They have alot of talent in goal and defence which will get them through alot of games, but i think we can all agree that this team has too many 3rd liners. Darrel needs to make a shake-up.
PS: But you know what Dion, I believe the Flames don’t NEED a ton of offence. If and when Brent Sutter gets this team playing the way he wants for the majority of each and every game, they’re going to be right there with every single team in this league. The way Calgary is made up right now, they may not be positioned to win 6-1 hockey games. But if they’re doing what Brent wants on a period in, period out basis, they’ll win a lot of 2-1 and 3-1 hockey games.
- Dion