[Game Takes] Flames 5 Stars 3

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2015/03/g...mes-5-stars-3/

[Mike F]

Jonas Hiller is the poster boy for the Flames this year - watching him play leaves me cringing much of the time, but at the end of the day he puts up wins.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Mike F

Jonas Hiller is the poster boy for the Flames this year - watching him play leaves me cringing much of the time, but at the end of the day he puts up wins.

He's like a bargain basement Dominik Hasek. His technique is abnormal and doesn't inspire confidence, but his reflexes are amazing and he manages to keep the puck out when it matters most.

[dying4acup]

Russell needs some kind of recognition. Maybe not a star, maybe not mr. Clutch. But certainly an unsung hero, and earning his next paycheck daily. Right now he is our number one. He is our Gio!

[Flame On]

Great write up.
Points I especially appreciate:
Hiller seemingly always giving up a very soft goal. Between the apparent non readiness and unreaction of Hiller and the over-commitment of Ramo, if only we could merge them.
Love the Bouma stats about even strength goals beating Crosby. Crazy.
Finally I love the attention to stats about Calgary's D and being 5th in league for goals scored. I find all too often "possession teams" seems to be sited as the only stat worth mentioning for Calgary and that it belies their results. But there are so many other stats that are positive that many (pundits) seem unable to pick up on. Not so Bing and CP, which is why we love's ya!

[sa226]

Great write up. Jiri Hudler said it post game last night. "We've played a lot of hockey lately." These two days off are just as important as the win.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Russell needs some kind of recognition. Maybe not a star, maybe not mr. Clutch. But certainly an unsung hero, and earning his next paycheck daily. Right now he is our number one. He is our Gio!

Russell nominated for Masterton Trophy as he closes on NHL shot blocking record

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=145732

[Vulcan]

Then Brent Ritchie went after Monahan with a brutal hit to the head in the neutral zone. Monahan was stunned on the play but Ritchie only got 2 minutes, despite the fact that it looked bad enough for a league review. That put a damper on a fantastic period.

I was kind of hoping someone would take a round out of Richie but it didn't happen. Oh well, we won and we are in playoff mode where fighting isn't a priority.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I was kind of hoping someone would take a round out of Richie but it didn't happen. Oh well, we won and we are in playoff mode where fighting isn't a priority.

The game was indeed too close. Plus the only guys capable are Engelland, who can't afford to sit for 5 with Gio out, Ferland, who had a concussion and isn't that great of a fighter anyway, or maybe Jones or Bouma, who don't really fight.

[jaikorven]

Diaz - "time to have a smoke"....so made me LOL. Thanks for that.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Russell needs some kind of recognition. Maybe not a star, maybe not mr. Clutch. But certainly an unsung hero, and earning his next paycheck daily. Right now he is our number one. He is our Gio!

Absolutely. But it was also a night where Diaz, Schlemko and Engelland deserved some recognition. And they never get any. Ever.

[AC]

Just a minor correction: the article says Lehtonen was 5-0 lifetime vs Calgary. Is that just in Dallas maybe?

http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...toka01/splits/

Says he's 10-3-2 vs Calgary.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by AC

Just a minor correction: the article says Lehtonen was 5-0 lifetime vs Calgary. Is that just in Dallas maybe?

http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...toka01/splits/

Says he's 10-3-2 vs Calgary.

They stated 5-0 on Sportsnet - you're probably spot on that they meant as a Star.

[Enoch Root]

Another correction:

According to the article posted by sureloss in the 'Russell nominated for the Masterton' thread, Volchenkov had 273 blocked shots (not 276). Russell now has 272 and is only 1 back of the record.

My guess is he finishes between 285 and 290. What a stud.

[AC]

Not even that, it can only be that he was 5-0 in his last 5 vs Calgary.

Our only wins vs Dallas before this were against Thomas in the shootout last year (Knight with the winner), 2 vs Bachman in 2012-2013, and finally our last win vs Lehtonen was this game in 2011-2012:

http://flames.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2011021137

[flames_fan_down_under]

Great write up.. Calgary has certainly had some tough nights against Dallas. Ribiero seemed to always score some huge goals against us and Iginla just absolutely hated playing against Ott, he really knew how to throw Iggy off his game. Nice to see the Flames beat them!