Flames-Canucks: Secondary Scoring Key in Calgary Win

When you think of the Calgary Flames in terms of scoring power, you think about the Iginlas, the Jokinens, and the Langkows.

Not so in the 2009-2010 season opener at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Oct. 1.

Secondary scoring led the charge in a 5-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, with three goals coming from defensemen and one from fourth liner Brandon Prust, all of which looked like goal scorers' goals.

On the first power play of the season, Mark Giordano received the puck at the blue line and with a smart move outwitted and outwaited the Canuck attacker, stepping around him and firing a perfectly accurate wrist shot over the blocker of Roberto Luongo.

Later, in what looked more like a playoff game than a season opener, Adam Pardy received a pass after Craig Conroy outmuscled two Canucks and dropped it back. A seemingly weak and low percentage shot through traffic caught Luongo flat-footed, making it a 2-0 game.

At that point in the season Calgary was 100 percent on the PP.

Perhaps the best-looking and hardest-working goal came from tough guy Brandon Prust as he pushed the defender off him on the end boards and stepped out in front the Canuck netminder. He buried it on the far side.

Dion Phaneuf added an empty net goal to seal the deal. Not one point for the top line of Jarome Iginla, Olli Jokinen, and David Moss, though they did look dangerous.

Could this be the key to victory over the Canucks in the future? Don't rely on the top scorers, who are generally covered by one of the best defensive lines in the NHL. Instead, let the D run out of steam and throw out the energy line, which was by far the best line consistently all night.

Only time will tell, but tonight, hard work from the lesser-known Flames might just land them a picture on the cover of the newspaper.

Chris Smallman