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)