The Game Rush: Flames vs. Sharks

An in-depth look at the Flames-Sharks tilt

Sunday, 24.10.2010 / 8:07 PM / News
By Kristi Hennessy
The Calgary Flames posted a convincing 4-0 win over the San Jose Sharks Sunday night in the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Rene Bourque tallied two goals in the win while Flames captain Jarome Iginla scored one and Craig Conroy picked up his second of the season. Alex Tanguay was on his game tonight grabbing a pair of helpers earning himself the 3rd star of the night.

The Flames broke out of the gates flying getting on the scoreboard just four minutes into the game. They hit cruise control as they picked up four goals in the first period. They continued to dominate the Sharks throughout the rest of the game as they marched to a 4-0 victory.

Kiprusoff recorded his 35th career shutout and another 1st start performance under his belt.

Rene Bourque scored his fifth goal of the season on a power play just 4:12 into the opening frame. Niklas Hagman handed the puck off to Bourque waiting at the right circle. Bourque quickly fired a one-timer past Antti Niemi giving the Flames the 1-0 lead early.

The cruise control was set after that as the Flames continued to knock pucks into the net. Niemi was pulled from the net after letting  three goals in on five shots. Flames continued to dominate the Sharks in the first period scoring four goals.

With three lines producing points and a hot Kiprusoff in net, the Sharks didn't have much hope of a comeback.

With the Flames already up by one, thanks to a Rene Bourque power play goal just over four minutes into the game, it was time for Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla to show some chemistry.

Ian White dished the puck to Tanguay who was just a step ahead of his check racing up center ice. Tanguay, on a partial break-away, dropped the puck off for Iginla who was right on his heels. Iginla wired a hard wrister past Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi to give the Flames a 2-0 lead.

Alex Tanguay was on his 'set-up' game tonight, making beauty tape-to-tape passes all over the ice, every shift. He saw the ice very well and connected with almost every pass. His prettiest came at 6:01 of the opening frame as he raced into Sharks territory on a partial break-away. He handed Iginla a nice drop pass who fired a hard wrister past Niemi to give the Flames the 2-0 lead.

He picked up his second assist of the night at 11:47 of the same period by winning a board battle in front of the bench and getting the puck out to Rene Bourque who was waiting just outside the blueline. Bourque broke in and fired a slap shot on net that trickled into the net.

Alex Tanguay needed 1 point to pass Steve Bozak (143) for 50th on the Flames all time career scorers list. He picked up two assists tonight and now sits with 145.

"They started shooting a little more in the second. We played smart and it's pretty nice when you have a lead like that and we can play with patience."- Mikka Kiprusoff after posting his 35th career shutout.

"They want to see us work. The big key for us on the powerplay is to set it up. We've had a bit of a hard time setting it up and getting set in their zone. Once we do get it set, we've had a ton of chances. We'll keep working on it. We know we have to create goals and score goals on the PP, and we will."- Tanguay on the Flames powerplay.



Tuesday, Oct 26th vs Edmonton
  7:00 PM MT (SPORTSNET FLAMES, FAN 960)

 The Flames will host the Edmonton Oilers in another battle of Alberta game Tuesday night in the Scotiabank Saddledome. This marks the second of three home meetings between the two teams with the third and final meeting set for April 6th, 2011. The game can be seen on Sportsnet West and is on The Fan 960 radio. The puck drops at 7:00 pm MT.
4 Points for the Flames top line; Tanguay (2a); Iginla (1g); and Stajan (1a)
102 Rene Bourque registered his 100th point as a Flame on Oct. 22nd and added two more tonight.
1 Tim Jackman picked up his first point (assist) as a Flame.
43 Number of man games lost due to injuries to the Flames roster.
959  Patrick Marleau has played in 959 games in his career all with SJ.

1st Star
Rene Bourque
G A GA TOI Shots
2 0 0 +1 5
2nd Star
Alex Tanguay
G A P +/- Shots
0 2 2 +2 0
3rd Star
Miikka Kiprusoff
SA SV GA TOI SV%
27 27 0 59:30 1.00

OILERS
Antero Niittymaki
SA SV GA TOI SV%
25 24 1 51:23 .960
FLAMES
Miikka Kiprusoff
SA SV GA TOI SV%
27 27 0 59:30 1.00

Author: Kristi Hennessy | calgaryflames.com