Its Earth Day and tonight it’ll be more player friendly, at least, verbally, as the Flames and Blackhawks clash in Game 4.
An edict from the NHL office will tone down the trash talking and “face-wash” activity after the whistle, but don’t look for the intensity level to be anything less than we saw in the 3rd game on Monday.
The end of Game 3 and the day off in between on Tuesday featured plenty of jawing from both sides.
Now its back to the ice where the players are much better performers.
…And both teams recognize the importance on Game 4. That should put a lid on extra-curricular activity. At least, until late in the game if one team has the game wrapped up.
Ollie Jokinen played perhaps his best game as a Flame in the 3rd game and by far his best in the series and more of that is needed if the set is to shift back to Chicago tied.
Jarome Iginla was provoked at the end of Monday’s contest, if not all the way through it. The Flame captain didn’t mind so much the verbal abuse he took but he was especially incensed over the crosscheck Adam Burish place on Rene Bourque late in the game.
Burish will play Wednesday, having escaped suspension.
Bourque’s availability is less certain. Already playing after missing 6 weeks due to a high ankle sprain, which he may have re-injured, Bourque was also injured in the attack from Burish. How much remains to be determined. All Mike Keenan is saying is that he’s day-to-day.
Bourque has been a key player in the first 3 games and if he isn’t able to go it’ll take something away from the Flames, but at this time of year lesser-lights have been known to step up with career games.
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