Despite the dreadful reffing, the Flames played a fairly decent, if too timid game. At first they were tentative, trying to make hits that weren't there - trying to force things. Once they tied up the game, they also smartened up. They played some tight, disciplined hockey, and that's where the refs moved in for a bit.
Notwithstanding that, they blew it in the last two minutes. I get that they're likely going to lose the draw. Fine, drop down and stop the puck from getting cleared hard from the dot. That at least gives a chance at a scramble. That part was totally on the guys on the ice. What was it - three times they popped the puck to Getzlaf in the centre of the ice and he just threw it down ice? Awful.
Hamilton - and others - need to wake up. They can't take half-assed swipes at people and expect to get away with it - particularly after seeing how the refs had already called marginal penalties on guys like Bouma. There was no need for him to go after Getzlaf - that was a clean hit on Gio; settle it by scoring and not removing yourself from the ice for 2 at the end of the game. Woof.
Round two is waiting. Hopefully the Flames can pull their heads out of their collective butts before that, and actually manage the discipline they talked about.
Also, hope that Don Van Massenhoven smacks Charron and Kozari (both Canadians, so I guess they had to favour the Americans?) and the lineys (also both Canadians) for their relatively awful handling of the game.
Maybe now I can sleep. Ick.
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