Game #1: Flames @ Oilers

First game of the season is in Edmonton. Both teams are looking to start this year on a good note. Starting line-up:

Tanguay - Jokinen - Iginla

Hagman - Morrison - Bourque

Meyer - Backlund - Jackman

Glencross - Sutter - Ivanans

White - Regehr

Giordano - Bouwmeester

Pardy - Brodie

Kiprusoff

Karlsson

Injured: Langkow, Stajan, Kotalik, Moss

Scratched: Sarich, Staois, Conroy

The Flames started the game off very physically and managed to grab a goal by Rene Bourque with five minutes remaining in the period. The Oilers stunned the Flames with their first two shots in the game. Regehr screened Kiprusoff on an awkward shot block attempt and Giroux stepped into the slot before slapping it into the net. 2-1 for the hosts at the end of the first.

 Oilers bag two quick before the end of the period.

The Oilers started the second period a lot better than the first and managed to counter the Flames' attack throughout the second. Both goaltenders made huge saves before Dustin Penner was able to give the hosts a 3-1 lead going into the third.

The third period was even tighter, where the Flames through everything and the kitchen sink at the Oilers' net but numerous attempts were blocked. Hagman took an outlet pass from Bouwmeester before cutting into the middle and firing it on net. Khabibulin was able to make the easy save and decided to drop the puck to his stick to play it but didn't see an incoming Hagman who easily poked the puck into the net, capitalizing on the goaltender's mistake. Any hope of a comeback was shot down when Penner once again took the puck and beat Kiprusoff.

Crafty Hagman takes advantage of the 'Bulin wall.

It was a very poor performance defensively for the Flames' top line. Iginla, Jokinen and Tanguay managed little offensively and finished the game a combined -9. Meanwhile, top defensive pairing White and Regehr finished -4 each. Coach Sutter is sure to take note of this and make suitable changes for the home opener against the Kings. A lone bright spot for the Flames could be its second line, as the forwards and defensemen all finished +2.

Box Score

                    1          2          3          F      

Calgary        1          0          1          2

Edmonton    2          1          1          4

Shots:

                   1          2          3          F      

Calgary        9         8          5         22

Edmonton    2         6          6         14

3 Stars:

1. Dustin Penner (2g +2, 4 shots)

2. Tom Gilbert (1g, 1a +2) 

3. Ryan Whitney (2a +2)

Scoring Summary:

1. Bourque (Hagman, Giordano)
2. Gilbert (Cogliano, Smid)
3. Giroux (Gilbert, Cogliano)
4. Penner (Gagner, Whitney)
5. Hagman
6. Penner (Whitney, Hemsky)

Key Stats:
Hits: 15-5 (CGY), Bouwmeester-4
Faceoffs: 14-12 (CGY)
TOI: CGY - White (31:47), EDM - Smid/Whitney (23:15)

Final Pre-season game: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Calgary Flames

With the start of the 2010-2011 season right around the corner the Flames faced off against the Leafs in their final preseason game. Tonight's lineup will likely reflect the Flames' opening day roster to begin the season:

Tanguay - Jokinen - Iginla

Hagman - Backlund - Bourque

Kotalik - Morrison - Moss

Glencross - Conroy - Jackman

White - Regehr

Sarich - Bouwmeester

Giordano - Brodie

Kiprusoff

Karlsson

Injured: Langkow, Stajan

Scratched: Ivanans, Staios, Pardy

The game started off with the Flames taking it hard to the Leafs and pinning them back into their own zone. However, signs of the Flames impotent offense from last year were still visible as the team struggled to create quality scoring chances and were limited to shots from the point. Fortunately, one Bouwmeester wrister found its way to Bourque's stick, deflecting into the net to give the hosts the early lead. The period ended with a fierce hit by Giordano, as he looks certain to continue his impressive play from last season.

 Giordano takes no prisoners.

The second period began with a long outlet pass by Ian White that found Olli Jokinen on a partial breakaway. He fought off the defenders before sliding it past J.S. Giguere to give the Flames a 2-0 lead. The Leafs countered soon after on a 3 on 2 with Versteeg lifting the puck over a hopeless Kiprusoff. The goals continued as almost immediately the Flames rushed up the ice and Backlund took a pass from Bourque and shot on goal. Giguere was able to make the stop but Hagman popped the rebound in off the goaltender for the Flames to go up 3-1 only 5 minutes into the second frame. Midway through the game the Flames found themselves on a powerplay and Tanguay managed to shoot the puck off the crossbar from the top of the circle before the Leafs cleared the zone. On the following rush, Iginla took a pass from Backlund and side stepped Beauchemin at the blueline before firing a wrist shot over Giguere's glove. 4-1 Calgary going into the third.

Olli's breakaway

Halfway through the third period Olli Jokinen was able to win a rare faceoff in the Leafs' zone and Ian White wasted no time cutting across the blueline to slap the shot into the top corner. It was a friendly reminder to the home fans of a former #3 that used to make similar plays, and by coincidence Phaneuf was screening his own goaltender on the goal. The Flames were able to kill off a late penalty to win the game 5-1.

White's slapshot into the top corner.

Box Score

                   1          2          3          F      

Toronto       0          1          0          1

Calgary       1          3          1          5

Shots:

                   1          2          3          F      

Toronto       2          3          4          9

Calgary       10        16         7         33

3 Stars:

1. Ian White (1g, 2a, +2, 4 hits)

2. Olli Jokinen (1g, 1a +2) 

3. Rene Bourque (1g, 1a +1)

Scoring Summary:

1. Bourque (Bouwmeester, Sarich)
2. Jokinen (White)
3. Versteeg (Caputi, Hanson)
4. Hagman (Backlund, Bourque)
5. (PP)Iginla (Backlund, White)
6. White (Jokinen)

Key Stats:
Hits: 24-4 (CGY), Giordano-6
Faceoffs: 19-8 (CGY)
TOI: CGY - White (25:09), TOR - Beauchemin (24:03)