Bleacher Report - Articles by Jay Gandhi

Stars-Flames: Dallas Survives Calgary's Barrage

Jay Gandhi — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:05:21 -0500

The Dallas Stars beat the Calgary Flames on a late goal by Niklas Hagman 2-1 Saturday night.

"Certainly he was part of the difference for them tonight," said Flames coach Mike Keenan, who credited Marty Turco and the Dallas penalty killers for keeping the Flames off the score sheet during their seven power-play opportunities. "He was certainly part of their penalty killing and he had a big night for them."

Turco made 31 of the 32 shots he faced and helped backstop the Stars’ seven-for-seven penalty kill performance.

After hitting the post, Daymond Langkow nearly scored his second of the game during a Calgary power play, but Turco made a dandy of an acrobatic save.

"I think I went from down, to more down, laying down, trying to get up and another shot coming," said Turco, who astonishingly got his arm up to block Langkow's shot from the slot. "I got a piece of it. I knew it was falling right back on me and I knew where I was in relation to the goal line."

Much to Langkow's disappointment, the puck somehow managed to stay out of the net.

"It initially looked like it might have gone in," Langkow said. "Obviously they reviewed it and it didn't cross the line."

Shortly afterwards, Brenden Morrow deflected a shot by Mike Ribeiro past Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to tie the contest before the second intermission.

At 2:28 of the final frame, Hagman skated out from behind the Calgary net before turning and firing a perfect shot into the top corner, short side over Kiprusoff's glove hand.

Sharks-Flames: Flames Burn Sharks 5-4

Jay Gandhi — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:52:17 -0500

Owen Nolan's hat trick carried the Flames to their fourth straight victory—5-4 over the league's third best team—the San Jose Sharks Wednesday night.

Nolan tallied his first hat trick since 1999 in the third period when he broke to the net and sneaked a rebound past Evgeni Nabokov from in close.

The goal, which gave the Flames a 5-2 lead, stood up as the game-winner.

The Sharks, with a late period flurry, couldn't get the tying goal past Kiprusoff, despite pulling Nabokov for an extra skater.

Kiprusoff finished with a strong performance, even with allowing four goals, with 27 saves.

The second goal for the former Shark came shorthanded. Nabokov attempted to send a pass across the ice, but put the puck found its way on to the stick of Nolan, who scored into an empty net.

San Jose led 1-0 in the second period when Tanguay's pass found its way on to the stick of Nolan, who spun and whipped a backhander that beat Nabokov just inside the goal post.

The game featured a matchup between two of the NHL's elite goalies, Kiprusoff and Nabokov. Both were sharp early, however Kiprusoff seemed to make the timely saves as Nabokov only seemed to dig a deeper hole for his teammates.

The Flames will now complete the homestand Saturday as they host the Dallas Stars, an equally formidable opponent. They will seek their fifth straight win, and look to begin the month of February in the same direction as they ended January.

Wild-Flames: Calgary Edges Minnesota

Jay Gandhi — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:59:07 -0500

The Flames entered Tuesday night's game with a two-game winning streak and wished to continue that progress against the surging Minnesota Wild, who entered the night atop the division, a single point above the Flames and Avalanche.

With an Avalanche loss and Flames win, the Flames would be in sole possession of first going into the all-star break with only a single extra game played. As they entered the third period, assistant coach Rich Preston informed the players that the Avalanche had fell to the Predators in a decisive 4-0 loss, so the stage was set for them to overtake the division if they so chose.

The Flames edged the Wild 2-1 in a decisive win and reclaimed the first spot in the Northwest Division. The night proved to be a nail-biting crunch, as even though the Flames outshot their opponents 37-24, the game proved to be very tight with sharp goaltending from both ends of the rink.

Miikka Kiprusoff was tested early with a 2 on 1 chance as Brian Rolston one-timed a signature slapper from just across the blue that beat Kiprusoff within the first 4 minutes of the game.

However, it was all the Flames from there on as they poured their rivals shot after shot. After the first period, the Wild managed to squeak into their dressing rooms with their single tally. However, early in the second the Flames took over and managed to tie up the game. A nifty play by Lombardi got the Wild defensemen chasing him as he passed the puck from behind the net to a somewhat open Yelle, who roofed his second in as many nights.

The Flames managed to dominate the physical play as well, such as Warrener's roughing on Koivu, and Phaneuf's message sent to netminder Harding as he single-handedly broke two separate panels of glass behind the Wild's net right over the netminder's head. Both came in the first period, and the second from the Flames' blueline over 120 feet away.

After the Flames entered the third, they completed the comeback with a dazzling play from Craig Conroy. He entered the zone after Nolan managed to keep control of the puck and handed it to Conroy in front of the net as he entered highly unchallenged, resulting in a backhanded goal gloveside of Harding.

Were it not for the efforts of Harding, the Wild would not have survived the game. They came close in the third to forcing an extra period with a barrage of shots where Kiprusoff stood his ground.

With less than three minutes left to play, the guests seemed to beat Kiprusoff with a wrister from the blue. It hit the far post, straddled on the goal line, then hit the other post and came out to the Flames' netminder's glove. As the final period ended, the Wild lost their first in 16 previous outings after allowing 2 or less goals.

The Flames will now embark on a weeklong All-Star break rest. It is one that is well deserved, and will give the team a chance to reenergize themselves for this final push that will be a long, hard battle into the playoffs.

Iginla and Phaneuf will represent the team on the weekend, and Joseph may start to see some playing time come February.

Kings-Flames: Calgary Flames Usurp the Los Angeles Kings

Jay Gandhi — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:34:58 -0500

In a game dominated by the shot count, fans witnessed a dueling goaltender's battle that was easily won by Calgary's most faithful, Miikka Kiprusoff.

Kipper's prolific night was only outshone by his own teammates' fruitful efforts—especially that of Daymond Langkow, whose third career hat trick helped the Flames to a landslide victory, 6-1.

The lone goal for the Kings took place after a very rare giveaway by Calgary's captain Jarome Iginla in Calgary’s defensive zone. Kiprusoff made the initial save, but the rebound was buried in the back of the net. Had it not been for that shot, the heroics of Kiprusoff would have produced his first shutout of the season.

The night, however, did mark the return of the chant of "Kipper, Kipper!" Kiprusoff single-handedly repelled shots on two consecutive power plays, including a dandy when he was down and out to bat down a puck that was marked for goal territory.

The crowd was soon at its feet, giving praise to their savior. Most importantly, for the first time this season Kiprusoff was given the applause that he truly deserved.

For the first time in many years, a hat trick by one of Calgary's own was scored at home, when Langkow tipped his third goal of the night past a stunned Kings' goalie, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, who had come on as third-period replacement. After Langkow has put the puck over the blue line, a flurry of hats proceeded downward onto the ice.

The Flames as a team outworked their opponents for a full 60 minutes—which has not been said on too many occasions this season. Of equal importance was their capture of sole possession of first place and third place, in the Northwest division and Western conference, respectively.

This game also marked number 31, Curtis Joseph's first game with the Flames, as a backup in uniform. Joseph looked on from the bench with an equally impressed crowd as his team cruised to victory.

The Flames have one game remaining before the All-Star break—against the Wild at home, which should turn out to be quite the spectacle for fans to watch.

Flames-Wild: Flames Stellar In Shootout Dazzler

Jay Gandhi — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:29:44 -0500

The Calgary Flames answered their lack of effort on the previous night with a wild affair at Xcel Energy Center.

The Minnesota Wild were outplayed by the Flames, who played more aggressively and matched the intensity of a leading division team in which they always had tight games going in with.

Wednesday night's game proved to be similar, in that although both sides were able to muster 31 shots on net, only two were allowed during regulation on both sides. In part with the heroics of Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff who saved 14 shots in the second period alone with three powerplay chances.

The first goal for the Flames came with a nifty pass with Alex Tanguay along the boards, as Moss erupted from the goal crease he scored his second goal of the season, with just his second game back after a high-ankle sprain.

The Wild however, responded with a controversial goal that saw Kiprusoff beat blockerside after being interfered with by an opposing player.

Though the team did attempt to fight the goal, in the end no whistle was blown on the ice, therefore no change could be made on the goal.

Within the next shift it seemed that Calgary had answered right back, as Kristian Huselius made a nifty tip over Niklas Backstrom's glove.

However earlier in the play the referee's whistle had blown too early, therefore another misfortune of the Flames seemed to hit as two goals seemed to now haunt them.

The Flames remained a resilient group, refused to cower to the face of adversity and made sure that the deed would be completed on this night.

There were stellar plays made throughout the game, including a powerplay chance in which a rebound given off the Wild's netminder found it into Huselius's stick for retribution as he buried a goal.

Again, the Wild would respond on a powerplay of their own, and heading into extra time the teams were deadlocked on shots and goals as well.

Though overtime would prove to be a thriller with breakaway chances for both the Wild and the Flames, a shootout proved necessary.

In the shootout, the Flames first shooter Huselius mesmerized Backstrom with his swoop-skating ability, which eventually turned into a deke combo as he wristed a shot five-hole through a stunned Wild netminder.

Mikko Koivu, the Wild's first shooter was thwarted by Kiprusoff's left pad in his attempt.

The Flames second shooter, Dion Phaneuf needed no dekes of his own as he only had one goal in mind, as he slapped a shot that definitely stung the Wild's netminder underneath the padding underneath the neck.

After Brian Rolston shot his legendary slapshot from 20 feet away and went wide, that set the Flames' captain up for his shot.

Jarome Iginla went in not noted for his dekeing ability but rather quite accurate shot, on this night it was both that fooled Backstrom as he went backhand, forehand and roofed his shot glove side over the shoulder of Backstrom.

As the Flames ended their four-game losing skid, they will need to carry on this energy that encompassed their game Wednesday night as they take on the ever-surprising LA Kings.

Curtis Joseph officially made it into Calgary's lineup, so it will be interesting to see who will get the nod for Friday's game, as Kiprusoff is coming off one of his better games of the season.

Flames-Predators: Calgary Tone-Deaf In Music City

Jay Gandhi — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:06:42 -0500

With rumors finally hitting the surface of truth, albeit unofficially, Cujo was welcomed as a member of the Flames by the media last afternoon. Though Joseph won't officially enter into Calgary's lineup until running a physical and his 1.5 million year contract (pro-rated to $650,000 for the remainder of the year) being approved by the league, the media frenzy surrounded by his controversial comeback into the league definitely sparked something in the Flames tonight.

However, it was far from the solution the Flames looked to achieve to fix their current woes, which has now extended to a 3rd four-game losing skid of the season. The Flames seemed to be a very tight and nervous bunch as the initial puck drop of the evening took place in the first period. After a seemingly productive tight first period, it was all downhill for the Flames as they weren't able to muster a shot on net for 12 minutes straight as the Predators kept true to their name and preyed on the Flames for 6 consecutive shifts keeping the puck in the Flames' territory.

A mercy pull was inflicted upon Kiprusoff as he was unable to hold down the fort in the third period siege that Nashville put forth on the Calgary netminder, as he allowed 3 goals on 26 shots. However, to no fault of his own Kiprusoff was the sole reason that Calgary was still in the game leading up to the third period, where Calgary going in had surrendered a fourth consecutive powerplay which was far from the hands of the Flames netminder.

Predictably, Kiprusoff was pulled to salvage himself from the frightful situation that Calgary had put themselves in, as Keenan could certainly see the end of the night for the Flames three minutes into the third. He also recognized that McElhinney would soon be sent back to the Quad City Flames, with the signing of veteran backup Curtis Joseph, therefore some playing time in a fruitless game for the Flames would provide some practice for the netminder.

He stood in relief of Kiprusoff and made some dandy saves to preserve the stale 3-goal lead on the remaining 12 shots faced. For Calgary, this would transpire as a wakeup call, and a much needed one at that. Going into January the Flames were definitely on the right path of achieving greatness, however after some gritty games to bring the new year in, the Flames were instilled with a false sense of invulnerability, best seen with their upset win over the Sharks.

The Flames now must regain composure if they wish to seek the Northwest Division title, and refuse to let up in the tight race in the conference. They will seek retribution in less that 24 hours, and the puck will be in their zone, if they wish to continue to make their mark in the conference, they will need the help of the continually strong Kipper and the zeal of their top forward line.

Flames-Oilers: Calgary Scorched By Lack Lustre Start

Jay Gandhi — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:47:42 -0500

Time and time again, the story of the Flames as of late has been the lack of mental alertness, the lack of jump, the lack of energy, and being caught offguard which in the end had cost them games.

The final outcome of last night's game against the Oilers could have been much different had it not been for a very timely and lucky bounce, and a horrible attempt by Sarich and Regehr to foil Hemsky's breakaway against Kiprusoff. Jarome Iginla, captain of the Flames said it best of his team's effort as of late, "in our last few games, let's be honest, we've slipped a bit and we have to get back at it".

The only resurgence that could be seen after a dismal performance against the Isles by Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff was consequently of himself on the D-line, on 31 shots faced, Kiprusoff stood tall for the Flames, while his only breakdowns came upon a unlucky bounce and a one-on-one situation with quite the tricky deke performed. Although hardly surprising from previous year performances, one can be quite impressed with the bounce back performance Kiprusoff waged after an average performance with the Islanders prior in the week.

Most notably during the 2003-2004 playoffs, Kiprusoff waged an impressive 7-1 record, 1.71 goals against average, and 0.953 save percentage when allowing 3 or more goals in any game during the playoff run. The Flames netminder could be seen between the pipes the only chance of salvation for the Flames as they were upended by the Oilers in a tight divisional game, 2-1. Although Dion Phaneuf did perform quite the dazzling play to bail his netminder when he saved an impossible shot, Kiprusoff gave his team more than stellar performance to keep their hopes alive of stealing points out of Rexall place.

With the mighty words of Iginla, and Kiprusoff's returning vezina form, the Flames are undoubtedly going to be a force to be reckoned with as the all-star break approaches, and come April when the playoffs are around the corner the Flames woe as of late will soon be forgotten as they plow through the pack to make their way to the Stanley Cup.