Canucks Flames GDT

[rustybadcock]

Canucks-Flames Preview
Mar 25, 2008, 6:00 PM PT
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It's been nearly three months since the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames last faced each other, but the Northwest Division rivals will be meeting more frequently as the regular season winds down.

Vancouver and Calgary, both looking to gain ground in the division, will play the first of three remaining matchups in 2007-08 on Tuesday at Pengrowth Saddledome.

The Canucks (38-27-10) have won six of their last nine games, but were unable to secure their fourth straight victory overall on Friday, falling 2-1 to Northwest-leading Minnesota. Sami Salo scored a power-play goal, while Roberto Luongo made 19 saves for Vancouver, which was whistled for six penalties for a second straight game.

"I think that was the single biggest reason we didn't get much flow early on in the game," Brendan Morrison told the Canucks' official Web site. "We took too many trips to box, there were a couple of questionable calls but you've got to live with them and move on."

Vancouver won't have too much time to dwell on the defeat as it has seven games left to reach the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons. The Canucks are tied with Colorado for seventh in the Western Conference.

The defending division champions also are currently third in the Northwest - two points behind Calgary (39-26-10).

The Canucks and the Flames face each other again Sunday before closing out their respective seasons on April 5 in Vancouver.

Vancouver holds a 4-1-0 edge over the Flames despite a 2-1 loss at Calgary on Dec. 31 in the teams' most recent meeting. Luongo has started all five games against the Flames, posting a 2.18 goals-against average.

Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff hasn't performed nearly as well, going 1-3-1 with a 3.51 GAA versus the Canucks. Kiprusoff, who is 3-2-0 with a 2.47 GAA in his last five overall starts, stopped 22 of 24 shots before he was replaced by Curtis Joseph in Calgary's 2-0 loss at Colorado on Monday.

The Flames, who last won the Northwest in 2005-06, remained one point behind Minnesota, which lost 5-3 at Edmonton on Monday night.

"They outhit us and outplayed us," Flames coach Mike Keenan said. "They were certainly desperate and they were more desperate. I expected us to play more desperate because of the opportunity for us to move into first place. We knew that Edmonton was winning by a lopsided margin and the players didn't play harder and more desperate considering the opportunity."

Calgary is sixth in the West and has six games remaining to clinch its fourth consecutive playoff berth.

The Flames play their next two at home before a season-ending four-game road trip. They have won three straight at Pengrowth Saddledome, their longest streak there since a four-game run from Feb. 17-28, 2007.

Kiprusoff, who won an NHL-leading 28 games at home last season, is 6-0-2 with two shutouts and a 1.73 GAA in his last eight starts in Calgary. It is unknown if he or Joseph will start Tuesday.

Joseph hasn't faced Vancouver this season, but is 15-22-0 with four ties, a shutout and a 3.37 GAA in 43 all-time meetings.

Calgary captain Jarome Iginla leads the team with 48 goals and 91 points - third-most in the NHL - and had eight goals and four assists in seven games before Monday's loss.

Iginla has been kept off the scoresheet twice in five meetings this season, but has 21 goals and 49 points in 59 career games against Vancouver.


Play a real smart forecheck, stay out of the box and make this team that played (and lost) just last night skate the entire game.....we should come out on top.

RB

[gordphish]

I'm going to say 3-2 Canucks in OT. I'd expect Kiprusoff to get the start, but with Keenan I guess you never can tell. If he starts Joseph, it'll be a gift from the hockey gods for Vancouver, who usually light Joseph up, and I'll say that if that happens it will be 4-1 Canucks.

And to make things REALLY interesting, if they can beat the Flames in reg tonight, that puts both teams just a point back of the 5th place Stars.

I'm starting to get a bad feeling though. Talk is that Luongo will leave the team to be with his wife when she gives birth. That is understandable, but not good for the team at all. I mean, I can't even remember Sanford's last start.

And just to add insult to injury, the Preds have a real sweetheart end to their season playing the Jackets and the Blues twice before finsishing the season against the Blackhawks, with a game vs the Wings thrown in.

Not to mention that the hard charging Oilers are just 6 points back of first place Minnesota now. Like I always about the Oil...like a bad smell, they just won't go away.

All things considered, this is a MUST win for the Canucks tonight and their hopes of making the playoffs. They always play well in Calgary; let's hope that trend continues.

[KB in Kelowna]

I'm going to say 3-2 Canucks in OT. I'd expect Kiprusoff to get the start, but with Keenan I guess you never can tell. If he starts Joseph, it'll be a gift from the hockey gods for Vancouver, who usually light Joseph up, and I'll say that if that happens it will be 4-1 Canucks.

And to make things REALLY interesting, if they can beat the Flames in reg tonight, that puts both teams just a point back of the 5th place Stars.

I'm starting to get a bad feeling though. Talk is that Luongo will leave the team to be with his wife when she gives birth. That is understandable, but not good for the team at all. I mean, I can't even remember Sanford's last start.

And just to add insult to injury, the Preds have a real sweetheart end to their season playing the Jackets and the Blues twice before finsishing the season against the Blackhawks, with a game vs the Wings thrown in.

Not to mention that the hard charging Oilers are just 6 points back of first place Minnesota now. Like I always about the Oil...like a bad smell, they just won't go away.

All things considered, this is a MUST win for the Canucks tonight and their hopes of making the playoffs. They always play well in Calgary; let's hope that trend continues.
Welcome to Gary Bettman's new world of hockey. What they call competative balance and increased divisonal rivalries :pimp: A must win for the Canucks, they need to pick up points, anyway they can;) on this road trip and then be solid at home.

As for the impending birth of Luongo's first child, I recall I was going snakey before mine was born, and ending up taking a LOA from work a week early. Good luck to him and his wife with this. The birth of your child or children is an experience everyman should have. I remember thinking when he took the All Star break off, an early April birth was going to make it interesting come late season playoff push or even a first round game or two ( if the baby was overdue).

[TimmyTabasco]

3-1 canucks

[AtLossForWords]

Wow, this game had the worst third period of have ever scene.

Koharski and Sutherland should be on that list of Canuck killers, because I think both of them seem to stick it to us when they wear the orange when we're playing.

I think the Flames were beneficiaries of six straight powerplays. That's quite a shot at their opposing team in a game with huge playoff consequences.

The players did not win the game in this one. What bugs me so much is not the fact that the Flames had six straight powerplays, but that they had two five on threes in under a minute. I think they had to make the call on Pyatt, because he got beat and couldn't recover taking away a scoring chance.

The call on Burrows was a sure as **** soft one. They could've let the guys play, since it wasn't an automatic call like shooting the puck over the glass, but they judged not to let the teams play and decided the game themselves.\

Then again this was all the result of a very poor too many man call. In a game like this you don't call too many man when there's two guys at the bench a mile behind the play.

Once again though it was really the lack of finish that cost them. They didn't get that knockout three goal lead, and Pyatt should be ashamed of himself for having all the time in the world on a perfect setup along with a rebound. He had to chances in practically the same second to put the game away, and he blew both of them big time.

[gordphish]

In my 32 years of following this team, I have never, ever seen them dress a group of cowardly pussies like this team. The Flames were pounding them all over the ice, and no one did a ******* thing. Nothing. They didn't drop the gloves, they didn't hit back, they didn't even stand up for their goalie when Lombardi hit in the collar bone with a waster on an offside call. It's so pathetic, I barely have the words for it.

This whole team should be in prison, because they just bent over and took it like a bunch of bitches.

I'm sick of this group. I'm sick of their whipped dog leadership from Linden and Naslund. I'm sick of the Faggity Ann twins. And Morrison, from now your name is Bull Nipple, because that's how useful you are. I mean, can any of you guys remember one time in his career as a Canuck when he came up clutch in a either a playoff game, or a game with playoff implications that this team just had to have? Just one?

I'm sorry, but they played this game like a bunch of limp wristed faggots. They were whipped in the face-off circle, they were afraid to get hit, and when the Flames really turned on the pressure, they took a bunch of stupid penalties that not even a bantam Christian girls team would be stupid and parthetic enough to take in a game of that importance.

Just pathetic. Bunch of pansies.

[rustybadcock]

In my 32 years of following this team, I have never, ever seen them dress a group of cowardly pussies like this team. The Flames were pounding them all over the ice, and no one did a ******* thing. Nothing. They didn't drop the gloves, they didn't hit back, they didn't even stand up for their goalie when Lombardi hit in the collar bone with a waster on an offside call. It's so pathetic, I barely have the words for it.

This whole team should be in prison, because they just bent over and took it like a bunch of bitches.

I'm sick of this group. I'm sick of their whipped dog leadership from Linden and Naslund. I'm sick of the Faggity Ann twins. And Morrison, from now your name is Bull Nipple, because that's how useful you are. I mean, can any of you guys remember one time in his career as a Canuck when he came up clutch in a either a playoff game, or a game with playoff implications that this team just had to have? Just one?

I'm sorry, but they played this game like a bunch of limp wristed faggots. They were whipped in the face-off circle, they were afraid to get hit, and when the Flames really turned on the pressure, they took a bunch of stupid penalties that not even a bantam Christian girls team would be stupid and parthetic enough to take in a game of that importance.

Just pathetic. Bunch of pansies.

I don't like a lot of what I saw last night but Morrison isn't one of those things. How many games has he been back since surgery? 6? I think he's skating very well and frankly, it looks like his hands are coming along too. As for one clutch goal....how bout 04 vs the Flames, Mo scored the winner in I believe the 3rd OT after they blew a 4 zip lead in game 6.

They sucked as a whole IMO. Everyone stopped skating. I especially didn't like Shannon. He showed me last night how behind Raymond he is.

However I do agree with the pansy ****. When Iggy slammed into Luo I would have torn into him. The game was lost long before the lead was.....when guys are firing pucks at whistles and accident/on purpose taking out your goalie it's time to smack some faces. Sometimes there is nothing more than a teams self preservation, especially when no one's skating.

This loss could very well be the straw.....

RB

[gordphish]

Wow, this game had the worst third period of have ever scene.

Koharski and Sutherland should be on that list of Canuck killers, because I think both of them seem to stick it to us when they wear the orange when we're playing.

I think the Flames were beneficiaries of six straight powerplays. That's quite a shot at their opposing team in a game with huge playoff consequences.

The players did not win the game in this one. What bugs me so much is not the fact that the Flames had six straight powerplays, but that they had two five on threes in under a minute. I think they had to make the call on Pyatt, because he got beat and couldn't recover taking away a scoring chance.

The call on Burrows was a sure as **** soft one. They could've let the guys play, since it wasn't an automatic call like shooting the puck over the glass, but they judged not to let the teams play and decided the game themselves.\

Then again this was all the result of a very poor too many man call. In a game like this you don't call too many man when there's two guys at the bench a mile behind the play.

Once again though it was really the lack of finish that cost them. They didn't get that knockout three goal lead, and Pyatt should be ashamed of himself for having all the time in the world on a perfect setup along with a rebound. He had to chances in practically the same second to put the game away, and he blew both of them big time.

Lossy, too many men and pushing the net off are automatic calls. How can you blame the refs for the Canucks' mental sloppiness?

I mean Jesus, dude. The Flames outshot them 33-10 from the second period on and outhit them something like 25 to 3 all night, and you blame that loss on the officiating?

They lost that game because they are not prepared to do what it takes to win games at this time of year, period. As soon as the Flames started hitting them, they packed it in.

Nothing but a bunch of cowards.

[KB in Kelowna]

Two things. I missed the game, for some reason my satellite radio crapped out in the car last night, but it was 2-0 Canucks when it happened. I get out of my meeting and I see 3-2 Calgary :eek: I still haven't caught the low lights, but when you have a reeling divisional opponent coming off a loss and travel the night before in late March, you bury them! Long time posters know I used to bemoan the Canucks for their lack of killer instinct, that they let an opponent up off the mat too many times. :curse:

Second, based on some other comments in this thread and others, you can't claim we are all Cancuck Kool Aid drinkers here;)

[AtLossForWords]

Gordo, too many man is not an automatic call when two of the six guys are right at the bench. That was a brutal call. There was no implications to the play of the puck on the ice, and it was just a whistle happy ref who f'd up.

[rustybadcock]

Gordo, too many man is not an automatic call when two of the six guys are right at the bench. That was a brutal call. There was no implications to the play of the puck on the ice, and it was just a whistle happy ref who f'd up.

I gotta agree.

[AtLossForWords]

I gotta agree.

I thought I wouldn't get too much resistance from you Mr. Badcock. Would you consider this to be a instance of the case that you make about the new NHL method of calling penalties to even up a game?

[rustybadcock]

I thought I wouldn't get too much resistance from you Mr. Badcock. Would you consider this to be a instance of the case that you make about the new NHL method of calling penalties to even up a game?

I think it basically furthers the point that the game is called without any consistency. Every night it seems there is a new set of "in" calls that are going to be made. It's like the closing your hand on the puck call...should be about three more games and it will be in fashion again. :thumb: It really makes me sick and honestly, I can't wait for the end already. For the first time in years I am looking forward to the end of the season. This is not entertaining. It's annoying. If I want to get annoyed I can go to a family dinner. I used to watch games cause of a passion but more often than not I am entirely pissed off at games end and on the verge of some sort of heart condition. It seriously is pissing me off the way the game has two, three and sometimes four sets of rules. Last night, Theo in the no fly zone....no call. :rolleyes: Guys are running interference pick plays all over the place...no calls and then there is this "dive" call bull ****. If you dove to make it look like you got tripped then I guess we all know you needed to ham it up to get the call right? So I guess buddy behind you didn't really trip you and I guess that means your not a good sportsmen and need to be sent off alone....Nope, not in the "new NHL" :talkhand: Gary Bettman loves low class pieces of **** like Peter Forsberg. Last night took the cake IMO. That was a brutal dive in the middle of the ice. He should be ashamed of that however I doubt highly he is. But that play, that little instance is what hockey is all about today. Right there is all I need to back up my point of view. I am sick of it.:burning:

RB

[gordphish]

Gordo, too many man is not an automatic call when two of the six guys are right at the bench. That was a brutal call. There was no implications to the play of the puck on the ice, and it was just a whistle happy ref who f'd up.

It was a sloppy change in huge game with the season on the line. Change properly and you don't give the refs a reason to make the call in the first place.

And like I said, they were being badly outplayed. They didn't lose the game because of the officiating. They lost because they mailed in the last two periods.

[Nelson19777]

It was a sloppy change in huge game with the season on the line. Change properly and you don't give the refs a reason to make the call in the first place.

And like I said, they were being badly outplayed. They didn't lose the game because of the officiating. They lost because they mailed in the last two periods.

I agree, it was very sloppy.

I even saw a replay of it during the game on Sportsnet (I happen to be in Saskatoon so I was getting West) from behind Kipper that showed the fifth man entering the play as the sixth guy was still in the center ice faceoff circle.

It was pitiful, as was burrow pushing the net off.