[PGT] Flames win 3-2!

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

So many positives in this game. I think that Tj G is a force for this team. He has good wheels and a hard nosed approach that suits our pursuit style of play. He was a real terror that didn't allow the Chi D any easy outs. Plus that breakaway speed sure is nice, he didn't score but it was a play i haven't seen from this team in many moons. Russel is playing way bigger than his measurements, and Brodie is looking like a future #1 dman. His wheels are a a major asset on D and in the transition game. His D was awesome tonight because he has a knack for keeping his feet moving to get prime position.

And what can i say about Yogi Berracuda? That one save on sharp at the right post after a cross crease pass, was so awesome and it looks like it wasn't of the luck variety since Cuda is so tall. He made that save look routine.

He also looked really good, like some have mentioned, due to the fact that the team really committed to a tight back check and collapse team d which really kept the Hawks from having any ten bell chances. Kane is elite and how many have the patience to generate that goal? Hoss was a Boss and that shot was in the net before Cuda could react.

I loved the part where Hartley mouthed "Thanks, thanks a lot, Rooster suckers!"... I felt the same way since the refs had let so much go after the midway point of the second only to call a cheap one on Butler. It was a penalty, but with what they were letting go it seemed out of place. Then their GD luck that Stajan has a major malfunction and gives the defending stanley cup champs a 1:47 5 on 3. To kill that first one was an amazing amount of fortitude and determination. I thought the hawks score two there and game over, more disappointment, but no. We have a gigantic character win and now that makes two vs the two latest defending champs.

[SuperMatt18]

That play on Hossa's breakaway by Brodie was honestly one of the smartest defensive plays I've ever seen.

Anticipates that Hossa is going to try to lean into him, so goes over the top and throws Hossa off balance in the process.

Just such a smart player.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

That play on Hossa's breakaway by Brodie was honestly one of the smartest defensive plays I've ever seen.

Anticipates that Hossa is going to try to lean into him, so goes over the top and throws Hossa off balance in the process.

Just such a smart player.

That play and going head-to-head against Toews all night really impressed me. It was also nice to see him skating the puck out of the zone again. I'd like to see him let loose a bit offensively. With his skating he could be a great weapon off the rush.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by Young-Sneezy

"After playing an additional highly decorated two seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Russell

aannnnnd we now know why he says "i seen". Seriously, its a Medicine Hat thing.

If minor grammatical errors and things like this bother someone this much, then guess what? It's your problem, deal with it.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

If minor grammatical errors and things like this bother someone this much, then guess what? It's your problem, deal with it.

That's how he deals with it....

[Stay Golden]

Brodie had a great game all around. Wideman did a fabulous job shutting down the Hawks top line. I don't think he gets enough credit.
Glencross finally used a damn wrist shot and look at the result over his stupid half delay slap shot.
Hartley should make him skate extra lines for every time he does that delayed half shot.
This was Glencross's best game of the season i hope he is turning a page now for the better.
Berra gave a stellar performance and gained his teams confidence early in the game.

[868904]

I was wondering what was going on with Brodie this year, he just seemed so much slower and didn't have that ability to breakaway from forecheckers. I thought maybe he put on too much muscle in an effort to get stronger and it slowed him down, but last night, he found that speed again. Maybe he needed to work it off?

He certainly looks stronger on the puck this year and if he has rediscovered that speed, he's going to be a force.

[Tacoman]

I can't tell you how nice it was to see a Calgary Flames goaltender control the rebounds. Every shot was either contained in his glove or body or it was sent into the corner. Both Joey and Ramo have been atrocious with that aspect of goaltending and it's been killing us. Hartley with some not so subtle references to that in his comments as well. Very excited about our man Yogi.

[automaton 3]

Berra looked really good. Very fast lateral movement, good glove hand and excellent rebound control. Hopefully he is able to keep that level of play up. Looked better than Ramo and light years ahead of MacDonald.

Brodie looked like a different player last night, like he flipped on a switch. His play on Hossa on the partial break was a really nice play, but I was especially impressed with his plays on Toews. He was all over him all night. Made him look a bit silly on one play in particular. Wonderful to see.

Hated that the refs called the cheesy one on Butler then chose to ignore Sharp's dbaggery with the spear and the slash.

Hard not to love this team, they never quit.

[Stay Golden]

Berra is a giant in net, i like how he can look over top of the screens set up in front. Great rebound control for his first win.
I think the coaches thought we are probably going to lose tonight but lets see if we can steal one with Berra.
Lets see how he handles facing several pucks.
The Flames had not won in the regular season in Chicago since 2000 i believe.
Berra was the difference for the Flames vs the Hawks.
I hope he gets the start vs the Wild.

[Hemi-Cuda]

From NHL.com

[squiggs96]

From ESPN:

FROM ELIAS: The Flames, with goaltender Reto Berra making 42 saves in his NHL debut, posted a 3–2 overtime victory against the 2013 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks in Chicago. Berra is the sixth goaltender in NHL history to beat the defending Stanley Cup champion in his first game. The other goaltenders to do that were Hal Winkler (Rangers vs. Maroons in 1926), Gerry Cheevers (Maple Leafs vs. Blackhawks in 1961), Hardy Astrom (Rangers at Canadiens in 1978), Daren Puppa (Sabres at Oilers in 1985) and Jonathan Bernier (Kings vs. Ducks in 2007).

[Itse]

I wouldn't call Berra's rebound control great, more like adequate or decent. But he was way better than Rämö or MacDonald, and at least he got them further out and a little more to the side.

But, we don't need him to be great, good will do just fine for now

(Heck, average is an improvement at this point.)

[FBI]

Maybe that was managements strategy all along? Play some super crappy goalies for awhile and then put an average one in and the fans go ape over the new goalie since he is so much better?

[Street Pharmacist]

Didn't Berra get pulled twice in the last few games in Abby? Were they mercy pulls, or did he play bad?

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Itse

I wouldn't call Berra's rebound control great, more like adequate or decent. But he was way better than Rämö or MacDonald, and at least he got them further out and a little more to the side.

But, we don't need him to be great, good will do just fine for now

(Heck, average is an improvement at this point.)

Just curious how it wasn't great? I didn't see a single rebound fall out into the slot. Everything that hit him high, he caught. All the low shots were directed into the corners. As good of a job as the team did in front of him clearing the front, there wasn't even a single rebound for the Hawks to get a good shot off.

I know it was only his first game, but I thought his rebound control was very Kipper-esque.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Didn't Berra get pulled twice in the last few games in Abby? Were they mercy pulls, or did he play bad?

I would say he was the reason why he was pulled, not so much a mercy thing.

He was pulled on 10/30 after letting in 3 goals on 9 shots in the first period. Ortio came in for relief and made 17/18 saves, so that one was on Berra's play.

He was also pulled on October 18th after letting in 4 goals on 19 shots. Brossoit came in for relief and played almost 40 minutes and didn't let a goal past him. Again, this was definitely on Berra.

The biggest plus is after being pulled/having a bad game he's bounced back with a solid performance and a win the next night. He doesn't seem to be a mental case where one loss totally deflates him, it seems to piss him off and he wants to go right back in and get the win the next night.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by The Swedish Flame

Overheard at the game:

'Hawks fan #1: Canada sucks! You're America's hat!
'Hawks fan #2: Dude...half our team is Canadian. Actually, that was a Canadian with the puck passing it to another Canadian right there.
'Hawks fan #1: *inaudible grumbling*

Hats are awesome. Or at least mildly entertaining. We're like a fascinator.

America is Canada's pants. Everyone knows that pants suck.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Dion

Hartley on Berra....

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/11/04...ver-blackhawks

If that ain't a shot right back at MacDonald...

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

Agree...the only thing he did wrong was not drop down and cup his nuts when Sharp stuck him there during the 5 on 3. Was a pretty blatant shot to the nutsack and could have drawn a penalty.

Greasy move by Sharp and I think Wideman thought about dropping the mitts but realized he shouldn't be in the box.

I'd take Sharp in a heartbeat, but he does come off as a d-bag on the ice. On that play, Wideman was staring at him after the whistle and Sharp took a cheapshot swing but didn't connect.