Canucks-Flames: Preview for Saturday, November 29th

Game Preview – Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames
Saturday, November 29th, 2008
Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Televised on Hockey Night in Canada 8:00 (MST) start

LAST GAME: 

The teams’ third meeting of the year ended with a 4–3 Calgary win at General Motors Place in Vancouver on Thursday. Flames' Mike Cammalleri netted his first career hat trick by scoring goals seven, eight, and nine on the season.

Flames' Captain Jarome Iginla had two assists on the night, bringing his team leading totals to 12 goals, and 16 assists for 28 points in 23 games played.

Flames forward Daymond Langkow recorded two assists in the game as well. With the win, the Flames improved their record to 13–9–1, and take sole possession of second place in their Northwest Division, with three points behind the Canucks, who have an overall record of 14–7–2.

The loss marks the Canuck’s first regulation loss since November second. The Flames went one for two on the powerplay, while the Canucks went zero for four with the man advantage.

Both teams played a penalty-free third period, while the Flames' puck stopper Miikka Kiprusoff made 27 saves in the win and improved his season record to 13–8–1, with a GAA of 3.15.

With the loss, Canucks' goaltender Curtis Sanford’s record is now 3–2-0. Sanford stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced, and Canucks defensemen Kevin Bieksa returned to the lineup after missing just six games with a broken foot, and played just over 20 minutes.

Flames were without forwards Dustin Boyd (shoulder) and Wayne Primeau, (foot) and defensemen Jim Vandermeer (foot). Canucks played without the services of Roberto Luongo, (groin) Steve Bernier, (shoulder) and Ryan Johnson (broken finger). 

SEASON MEETING: 

Calgary and Vancouver clashed in the first two games of the season, playing a home and home series, where the Canucks won both games.  Vancouver won 6–0 in Calgary’s home opener. In that game, Roberto Luongo recorded the shut out, Alex Burrows had two goals, Daniel Sedin had three assists, and Henrik Sedin had one goal and one assist.

In Vancouver’s home opener, the Canucks won the game 5–4 in overtime. That game saw Daniel Sedin record two goals, Henrik Sedin notch two assists, (both were recorded on his brother’s goals) and Pavol Demitra score with 1:06 left in the overtime frame.

For the Flames, who recorded their first four goals of the season in that game, Mike Cammalleri earned a goal and an assist, Rene Bourque had a goal and an assist, and Dion Phaneuf had two assists.

After the three game series, where the Canucks were leading two games to one, the Canucks have scored 14 goals to Calgary’s eight, and the shots are even at 87 a piece. Miikka Kiprusoff has played all three games and is 1–1–1, while the injured Roberto Luongo is 2–0–0, and his stand-in, Curtis Sanford is 0–1–0.

Ice time leaders are Flames' defensemen Dion Phaneuf, with 82:24 and Canucks' defensemen Sami Salo, a distant 67:13. The penalty minute leaders on the other hand are Calgary’s Brandon Prust with 13, and Canucks Darcy Hordichuk with nine.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin lead the Canucks with + 4 ratings in the three game series, and due to the 6–0 loss to start the season, there are no Flames players on the plus side. face offs leaders, (amongst players who have had 50 or more draws) are Canucks' Henrik Sedin with 28/53 for 53 percent, and Flames Daymond Langkow with 26/53 for 49 percent.