[united]

Took a couple days to cool down from that one. What a frustrating game.

No question the Flames got absolutely tuned up at 5 v 5 for the second straight game and will need to adjust big time as Rick Bowness' Stars did after game one. Then, right when you think the Flames are on the verge of jumping in a Brinks truck and getting the hell out of there with a win, that disaster happens. What a massive difference being outplayed yet up 3-1 is relative to being outplayed at tied at 2. I had the Flames in six but they will need to play a lot better - or Talbot go into God mode - for that to happen. Every team goes on a few bad two-game stretches during the season so let's hope it's just variance making an appearance.

Three things in the game itself really bugged me though. The officials, and then two poor heat-of-the-moment tactical choices by the Flames.

1. I didn't have a problem with four of the five penalties in a row called on the Flames. The Talbot one I thought was unfortunate but the rest were pretty obvious. However, telling me the Stars went 35 minutes without committing a single hook, hold, interfere, too-many-men, whatever, is garbage. I know the officials are hired and directed to manage the game and further yet the series, not call the rule book, ensuring things remain as close as possible, but come on. That was ridiculous.

2. The players in front of the Flames' net at the end of the game letting the Stars get a rebound shot off. This frustrates me endlessly and it happens a few times a year. With under 30 seconds left, hold if not outright tackle anyone within rebound range. You cannot let them get a scramble chance against your unset goaltender.

If you take a penalty and they score on the short powerplay, you're heading to overtime at even strength anyway. But, for that to happen the other teams needs to first win the draw, then generate a play, and obviously score. The chances of them generating a better chance than a scramble rebound in a short period of time aren't very good. You win the draw clean? Game over. Scrambled draw? Game over. They win the draw clean? They still need to get a good look. Really, there should be enhanced discipline for final-minute penalties but there isn't so take advantage of it!

I always think of this brilliant game-ending play by the Ravens. You don't make the rules so you may as well take advantage of them.



3. Players with broken sticks standing in No Man's Land (in this case the middle of the ice). Get your ass to the bench while someone else jumps on! Or if you really want to stay, get to the boards where you can at least be physical.

I would rather give the other team a 5-second 5 v 4 than a 45-second 5 v 4.5 every time. This is one of those tactical decisions everyone knows you should do, but nobody does because it hasn't been done that way in the past. As soon as one team starts this everyone will follow - like goalie pulls in the past decade. The other team might get off a good shot in those five seconds, but they will definitely get off a good shot in the 45, especially when the stickless player is in the middle of the ice - such an easy isolation play. And if the player stays on, the player has to get to a point man and funnel them to the boards - as soon as you're in open ice your only use is trying to block a shot. Hustle off the ice!

Dube got the attention this time around but earlier in the game, Rieder broke his stick in the offensive zone and tracked all the way back, past the Flames' bench, into the Flames defensive zone without a stick. Thankfully the Stars didn't capitalize on that moment of insanity or I would be in the market for a new remote or possibly TV.