Olli Not Jokin Around, Series Tied 2-2

The Calgary Flames, their captain Jarome Iginla and beleaguered newcomer Olli Jokinen gave Calgary Fans and themselves reason to believe again last night at the Saddle dome with a tense and trying, 6-4, victory over The Chicago Blackhawks.

The crowd was taken out of the game early momentarily as Patrick “Welcome Back” Kane picked up his first ever postseason goal at 4:40 of the first period wristing a Patrick Sharp feed in the slot past Flames goal Mikka Kiprusoff.

The stunned crowd was brought to it’s feet moments later when Flames Captain Jarmoe Iginla snapped home a Mike Cammalleri pass from the boards past Nikolai Khabibulin’s blocker side shoulder on the powerplay 1:07 later tying the game at 1-1.

The game stayed that way until Olli Jokinen got the crowd jumping again 50-seconds into the second period, converting one of the worst giveaways you’ll ever see courtesy of Blackhawks rearguard Cam Barker into his first ever goal as a home team member of the Calgary Flames, and in fact first goal in 17 games period.

Barker backing into his own corner and with possession of the puck, fanned trying to pass the puck cross ice with Jokinen bearing in on him, Jokinen said thank you very much, cut across the open ice in front of the Chicago net and fires a short hand side shot past the Bulin Wall’s glove side.

Adrian Aucoin and Jokenin again would score before the middle of the period to take a solid, 4-1, lead while the man that tends nets for Chicago, who goes by the nickname Khabi is starting to look more and more human as this series wears on.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Calgary’s solid 4-1 lead quickly evaporated lead as Chicago roared back with goals by rookie scoring leader Kris Versteeg on the power play, Cam Barker atoning for his horrid miscue at regular strength and Samuel Pahlsson, again, for Chicago on the power play.

In a seven-minute span the Joel Quenneville-led team of young gunslingers erased the 4-1, three-goal deficit and turned the boisterous Sea of Red, dead.

Flames fans had seen this before—recently—and there was concern on every friendly face in the building.

A tight and tense third period changed moods for the better dramatically at 13:04 into the third when Eric “Big Goal” Nystrom netted his second goal of the post season and undoubably the biggest goal of his career on a Cory “Wheel” Sarich rebound blast from the point.

Nystrom whose goal stood as the winner also collected assists on Aucoins goal and Jokinen’s second of the night.

He admitted after the game he was looking to contribute after not seeing much time on the ice in the first few game and contribute he did once given a shot to play with the skilled guys, putting in the best game of his career.

Jarome Iginla scored into an empty net with 11-seconds to play to seal the victory for Calgary, tying the best of seven series at, 2-0

While it is noted that Calgary has blown commanding leads in games this series, often, it now, can be noted that Chicago has blown a commanding series lead, shifting momentum as the two teams head to game five on Saturday at Chicago’s United Center.

Log | Boxscore

Goals:
Calgary - Jarome Iginla (2), Olli Jokinen (2), Adrian Aucoin, Eric Nystrom
Chicago - Patrick Kane, Kris Versteeg, Cameron Barker, Samuel Pahlsson

Stars:
1: Olli Jokinen, 2: Eric Nystrom, 3: Samuel Pahlsson

SHOTS	1	2	3	T
Chicago	8	13	11	32
Calgary	13	5	9	27

Scoring Summary

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2. The Green Mile
3. Chicago Blackhawks Vs Calgary Flames - SCP Round One Series Preview