Wings 2, Flames 3
As you know, I’m not liveblogging tonight’s game (but IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman is). However, I’m writing down notes and will post here after each period. Sorry if it’s a bit choppy, but I’m just writing what I wrote down.
Did anyone else see John Keating interview Steve Yzerman before the game? That obviously put me in a good mood! He said something like this (among other statements): “I’m not a nervous fan. In the playoffs, I’m a bit antsy [watching the games]. I enjoy watching the games, it’s entertaining.”
Here’s what I wrote during the first period…
With 12:44 to go, Dominik Hasek embellished interference by Jarome Iginla (he did touch Hasek, but it wasn’t much) and then waved his stick at Iggy like a crazy man. The Wings were already on a penalty kill so they went 5-on-3 for 1:11. Why Hasek, why? Henrik Zetterberg goes in the box for Hasek. Langkow scores right after the original penalty expires so it was officially a 5-on-4 power play goal to give Calgary the early lead.
Iggy did that later in the regular season when Hasek was called out by Babcock in the press. The two then had a meeting and apparently had worked things out. I had really hoped that Hasek wasn’t going to go crazy and embellish anything. Doesn’t he know that it never helps and he ends up getting the penalties!?
With 9:50 left, Hasek made a nice save on a Flames breakaway, which had resulted from a bad line change on the Wings part.
Todd Bertuzzi scores!! With 8:53 to go in the first, Bert scores right over Kipper’s glove (top right corner of the net). Robert Lang and Brett Lebda were given the assists. I was impressed that the crowd started chanting “Go Flames Go” pretty quickly after that goal. Way to support your team (you don’t usually hear that at the Joe so shortly after the opponent scores). Bert then had a big hit one minute later.
Calgary’s Craig Conroy scored 1:26 after Bertuzzi goal on a slapshot behind the face-off circle. It was a lucky goal that deflected off Wings’ defenseman Andreas Lilja’s leg. It was Calgary’s second 5-on-5 goal of the series. That’s it?
Hasek didn’t skate this morning. Bad idea? He did participate in an optional practice yesterday with seven players shooting on him. Babcock did not plan for Hasek to just stretch this morning. Goaltender coach Jim Bedard had to step in. Babcock didn’t seem too pleased with that, but said he fit in with the team age-wise.
Johan Franzen scores with 4:23 left in the first. It was the second goal of the game for the second line (Bert, Lang, and Franzen). He scored in the same spot as Bert (above Kipper’s glove). Bertuzzi and Chris Chelios got the assists. During that shift but before scoring the goal, the crowd had booed Bert everytime he touched the puck. Is it me or is the crowd louder tonight? Franzen’s goal came 2:04 after Conroy’s goal.
Fast paced game so far. Wings need to slow it down just a tad.
Bertuzzi is obviously having a much bigger impact tonight than on Tuesday evening. Some nice hits and a goal. Not too shabby.
I had two cases where waves of terror overcame me and then two minutes later, relief came. Oh sweet relief.
Robert Lang during first intermission in an interview with John Keating: “Bert and Mule are big bodies so we keep rolling after the puck…Couple goals we’d like to have back [tonight]…Hold onto puck a little bit more…Just keep it simple if the plays are not there.”
After looking at the scoresheet: Each team has 10 shots on goal. Only three penalties this period. Niice.
Score: Wings 2, Flames 2
2nd period:
Didn’t score on power play. Can’t say I’m surprised. One suggestion, take Samuelsson off the point on the PP.
Surprised refs didn’t call Lilja for cross checking at center ice.
Why is Lang in box for hooking? FSN didn’t show that.
How in the fricking world do you call Lidstrom on that!? That was not a penalty. I’m scared. Lids’ presence on the ice comforts me and now he’s in the box with Lang. Flames go on 5-on-3 for 1:36.
Flames score 11:41 left in the second as Langkow gets his second goal of the night and the Flames second PPG.
Why do we suck so much on special teams? Especially the penalty kill? And we still have to kill Lids penalty for another 1:09. Blast.
Having to keep coming from behind sucks. I’m an unhappy fan at the moment.
Lids can’t keep puck in, Flames take puck. Datsyuk gets back and gets called for hooking when he lightly touched his pants. That is not a penalty. Stupid refs. Yep, I’m bitter.
Has anyone even noticed Calder out there?
Lebda gets injured. Crap. Looks woozy. Got high sticked in face during a follow through shot. Why couldn’t it be Samuelsson? Our defense certainly can’t afford anymore injuries with Kronwall out with a broken sacrum.
You know what sucks? The refs are hurting us. But the blame can’t be squarely placed on them. If our PK and PP didn’t suck so much, it wouldn’t be so terrifying to get these penalties.
I am not enjoying this period.
Mickey Redmond called some of those calls “garbage” and said the officiating has been horrible for both sides (although the Wings seem to have gotten it worse). Yes, I admit that the refs have hurt both teams, but the Wings’ have been more costly.
Hopefully the Wings will come out in the third and the refs won’t make these stupid fricking calls. And maybe we can stay 5-on-5 for like 5 minutes. Jeez.
It’s not even like the Wings are playing that poorly. If we’re playing at even strength, we look fine. It’s going on the penalty kill that kills us. Why do we suck so much on the PK? We have a good roster. It should not suck this much.
End of Second: Wings 2, Flames 3
Third Period:
Lebda received stitches. Return is questionable.
Is it bad that I dread going on the PP?
Lebda’s back on the ice now.
Flames only win 28% of the time when Iggy doesn’t score.
Just as I was about to write, “it seems to be settling down,” Lebda gets a penalty. We killed off a penalty (gasp).
I’m so stressed out right now and my knee hurts like no other.
Refs actually made a correct call when Warrener took down Datsyuk.
Wings best team on even strength. Didn’t get to show that tonight. We just can’t get our momentum going.
Flames did a great job on the PK. Constantly putting bodies down to block lanes or shots.
I really want to yell at the flipping TV, but its quiet hours during final exam week in my dorm and I’d get written up if I did.
Amazing save by Kipper on Filppula!!!
My confidence this series has been completely shattered. It sucks.
The crowd at the Joe better show up on Saturday afternoon at the Joe. It’s obviously a must win game. The Joe needs to be sold out and rocking. Unfortunately, the Wings’ play in Calgary will not encourage fans to go out and buy more tickets.
I have an exam tomorrow, but I’ve never wanted an OT more.
In the last two minutes, most of the time it was spent in our year. We couldn’t pull Hasek until there was 40 seconds left.
Why has Lang been out on the ice for the last shift in the past two games? He can’t win faceoffs and he flipping turns over the puck. Yeah, I’m pissed.
Final Score: Wings 2, Flames 3
End of Game Thoughts
I desperately hope Babcock pulls Samuelsson and puts in Hudler for Saturday’s game. And please don’t put Lang on the ice for the final minute of a game. Just a thought.
The officiating tonight was awful, especially in the second period. It certainly hurt the Wings chances to win, but the Flames definitely took advantage of their opportunities and scored twice on the power play (one goal came one second after a 5-on-3 ended and the other goal came during a 5-on-3). You have to give credit to the Flames for capitalizing on their chances, even if some of those chances weren’t “fair.”
Wings outshot Flames, 35-21. Hasek only made 18/21 saves.
Special teams obviously was huge in this game. Detroit went 0-for-6 on the PP while Calgary went 33% (2/6) on their PP. Out of the 12 penalties (6 for each team), 9 were hooking penalties. Many of those shouldn’t have even been called. Seriously, let them play hockey!!
I’m really disappointed that the Wings couldn’t win a game in Calgary and that officiating unfortunately played a big role in Calgary. The Wings absolutely must win on Saturday.
I hate that Game #6 could be the series deciding game and it will be played at 9pm (EST) on Sunday in Calgary. Game #5 is Saturday in Detroit at 3pm (EST). Whoever created this schedule was not thinking clearly. The two teams are like 2000 miles apart!!
Obviously, I’m not taking this loss well. It’s 12:30am and I need to go study for my final exam Friday at 12:30pm so there won’t be another post on BTJ until after my final exam. I’ll post reactions from around the blogosphere then.
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8 Responses to “Wings 2, Flames 3”
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April 19th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
As much as I hate to say it, Detroit just needs to collapse in front of Hasek on the penalty kill. It’s the only chance they have to stop Calgary from getting those really good looks in close on the doorstep.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:33 am
They have to change something up on the penalty kill because it obviously isn’t working right now.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:35 am
I’d be shocked if the Flames don’t ride their newfound momentum into game 5. Special teams look so awful that I’m surprised no one has vomited from the stench. I’d advocate for Zetterberg and Datsyuk to be put onto 2 different lines, as Calgary is having an easy go of it shutting both down. Spread out the talent a bit and force the Flames to try to match line for line as opposed to focusing exclusively on Z and D. I’d also like to see Hudler in the lineup over Sammy. We’ll see if babcock will do anything.
April 20th, 2007 at 5:49 am
[…] Be sure to read Dave’s reaction over at Gorilla Crouch as well as Christy’s at Behind the Jersey. […]
April 20th, 2007 at 9:18 am
[…] As far as Game 4 reaction, Matt over at On the Wings has some thoughts on the game and Christy over at Behind the Jersey also has a writeup on the game. Calgary Flames NHL Playoffs Red Wings […]
April 20th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Ugh. Wings win two games. Babcock change the lines around, Wings lose. Babcock changes them again, Wings lose. Now people want MORE changes? Why don’t the coaches ever realize it’s THEIR CHANGES THAT ARE THE PROBLEM?!
They say “we have to be better in our own zone” “we have to stop giving the puck away” “we have to make better passes”
HEELLLLOOOOO?! They have trouble with all those things because their rhythm and timing is off because they’re playing with people they’re not used to. It’s so freaking simple, how can Babcock not see it?
April 20th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
For some reason I don’t like Bertuzzi….I think they should just go back to the lineup they had in the first two games. I know Bertuzzi got a goal and an assist in the last game but I really can’t stand the guy. Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Lidstrom need to be on top of their game for the next one. ….and Hasek ….god ! just stop the puck man…it’s not like he’s getting alot of shots out there !
April 20th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Much easier to write than MY play by play. I like keeping busy during the game because i’m really nervous as well. so my play by play is something that keeps me busy. I’ve been known to spring clean during playoff games.