Flames - Canucks: Inside the Game

Notes, quotes and anecdotes from the game

Sunday, 30.03.2008 / 5:09 PM / News
By Torie Peterson
INSIDE THE GAME

CALGARY 2 VANCOUVER 6
GAME AT A GLANCE
VANCOUVER— Trevor Linden scored twice in a second period that saw Miikka Kiprusoff chased from the Flames net and the Canucks score three goals.

The Flames had a bad defensive outing in the second and third periods and gave up four unanswered goals in the two frames.

Vancouver Canucks' Henrik Sedin, right, of Sweden tries to slide the puck past Calgary Flames' goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, of Finland, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, Sunday, March 30, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Richard Lam)

It was also an undisciplined game for the Flames. The Canucks had ten power plays, capitalizing once.

Roberto Luongo had a solid outing for Vancouver, rebounding from a couple of tough games that saw him pulled.

David Moss got the Flames on the board first with a tip-in at 1:13 of the first period. It was Moss's third of the season and his first game back after being scratched for several games. His last game was March 18 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wayne Primeau and Stephane Yelle assisted on the early goal.

Just over five minutes later, the first penalties of the games came after a late hit from Dion Phaneuf.  A scrum broke out after Phaneuf gave Brad Isbister a shove after the whistle was blown. Seven penalties were handed out from the pushing and shoving, with the extra minor going to Phaneuf.

It was the start of a penalty-filled period. 12 penalties were handed out in the first 20 minutes, with six going to each team. Both teams were able to capitalize once while on the power play.

Sami Salo's blast from the point tied the game at 11:54. His power play goal was his eighth of the season.

Matthew Lombardi, who has been on fire for past couple of games, gave the Flames the lead again with a wrist shot that beat Roberto Luongo at 18:52. His 14th of the campaign came while on the power play.

Canucks captain Markus Naslund got a late goal in the first, at 19:19, and put Vancouver back in the game.

The second period was rough for the Flames. They gave up three goals and Kiprusoff was pulled at 6:49 of the period. Curtis Joseph showed no signs of rust though. He made several big saves, including helping kill off a penalty less than a minute after coming in. Linden scored twice in the frame and Matt Pettinger beat Joseph to give the Canucks a three goal lead.

The Canucks struck again early in the third period when Calgarian Isbister's low shot tricked Joseph.

The third period was similiar to the first in that the Flames took seven penalties in all, including two game misconducts by Cory Sarich and Jarome Iginla. Both men also took double minors in the last 20 minutes.

The Flames play again on Tuesday night in a crucial game against the Edmonton Oilers.
THE BIG SAVE: After coming in to relieve Miikka Kiprusoff in the second period, Curtis Joseph made an astounding save to keep the Canucks lead to two. Right after the Flames had killed off a penalty, the Canucks kept the pressure up in the offensive zone. Joseph had to extend himself across the goal line and hold off three Canucks before batting it away from the net.
THE BIG HIT: Not known for his big hits, Alex Tanguay gave Ryan Kesler a shock when he slammed the Canuck hard into the boards. Tanguay caught Kesler's leg in the check and the forward was sent to the ice in severe pain. Kesler stayed on the ice for several moments and while he was down, Matthew Lombardi scored the Flames second of the night.
THE TURNING POINT: Markus Naslund gave the Canucks some life with a late first period goal that tied the game at two a piece. His goal seemed to get the Canucks back into the game and they stormed back in the second period with three consecutive goals.

QUOTABLE: "We should have been just flying out of the gates and for whatever reason we weren't. They got the bounces, but you always say that when you lose, but they were hungrier than we were." - Anders Eriksson on the Flames second and third period efforts

THE ROSTER: The Flames scratches were D Rhett Warrener (ankle), D David Hale, F Mark Smith, F Daymond Langkow and F Eric Nystrom.

WORTH NOTING: Daymond Langkow missed the game due to a death in the family ... Craig Conroy was hurt in the first period and didn't return to the game ... Jarome Iginla was held off the board for the second game, denying him of his 50th goal of the season.
BY THE NUMBERS: David Moss's 3rd goal of the season came just 1:13 into the first period ... Miikka Kiprusoff was pulled 6:49 in the second period ... Moss played for the first time in five games ... Cory Sarich took three consecutive penalties in the third period and was sent to the locker room after getting the third, a double minor and a game misconduct, at 6:59 ... the Canucks had ten power plays in the game.
UP NEXT: The Edmonton Oilers will host the Flames on Tuesday night. The puck drops at  7:00 p.m. on Sportsnet West.
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