The Flames notched their 12th win of the season tonight defeating the Los Angeles Kings 6-2. Bourque had 2 goals while Cammalleri, Iggy, Moss and Glencross each netted one, Frolov and Kopitar answered back for the Kings.
I was excited before the game even started when I heard the lines Keenan put together. Cammalleri, Lombo and Iggy made up the 1st line, Boyd, Langkow and Bertuzzi lined up together on the 2nd line, Bourque, Conroy and Glencross made the 3rd line and finally, Moss, Nystrom and Primeau brought the energy from the 4th. In my mind those lines have the potential to be solid from top to bottom and there was early results from the 1st and 3rd for sure, while Primeau, Nystrom continued to bring good energy and fore-check shift after shift. Cammalleri, Iggy and Lombo all played well in my mind combining for 5 points. The best line was without a doubt the Conroy, Glencross and Bourque line. They combined for 8 points while bringing energy all over the ice, fore-checking, back-checking you name it they did it. That line had chemistry right off the bat and they look like a good checking, secondary scoring line going forward. Glencross has really found his stride and is on a 5-game point streak after tonight. The 2nd unit was terrible, they weren't noticeable and whether Keenan was sending a message to Boyd in the third or he got injured, which nothing appeared to happen to really think that, I dont think he got one shift in the 3rd. Bert floated around all night while Langkow didn't played that bad but he has to do more to give the Flames that secondary scoring from the 2nd line. Moss ended up taking Boyd's ice-time in the 3rd while still getting his regular shift on the 4th unit. Moss has been a great surprise so far this season, has brought good energy and a nose for the net.
I didn't like either goal the Flames allowed. The Frolov shorthanded one was one of the worst back-checks I have ever seen in my life. Giordano and Langkow came back but the Kings were still on a 3 on 2 SHORTHANDED. That should never happen. The Flames did respond well scoring on the next shift, which I thought was a good move by Keenan to get his top unit off the ice after that awful effort and put on a more energy line lead by Moss who ended up netting the goal. The Kings second goal was not good either, no one picked up Kopitar in front of the net and just let him pot the rebound. Young Pardy made his only mistake of the game on that play when he for some reason went up to challenge the defensemen instead of letting Kipper have a clear look at the shot and just take Kopitar in front of the net. O well he had a solid game other than that in my mind.
The Flames have finally put together a string of games where they have played well consistently. The Red Wing game wasn't as bad as the scoreboard showed and I have really liked what I have seen from Keenan lately. He has given the guys a chance to stick together as a line instead of shuffling them 87 times a game and has realized who his top-6 forwards are and how to use everyone accordingly. Hopefully this play continues, cause it will be necessary with two very important games coming up next against the Canucks.
***Correction- I guess Boyd did leave the game in the third after a hit in the 2nd period, I must of just pain out missed it but hopefully it is nothing serious.
No comments:
Post a Comment