Woot! This is awesome! My friend and I are having a little hockey pool competition, where I have all Calgary players, and he has all Tampa. 
ATTN: Mr.bootymac
Your thread can not be the official series thread because it was created two days after the official series thread. We just can't be throwing terms like OFFICIAL and CONFIRMED around, cause someone may get hurt.
Your thread can not be the official series thread because it was created two days after the official series thread. We just can't be throwing terms like OFFICIAL and CONFIRMED around, cause someone may get hurt.
I can only draw one conclusion from your words.
WAR. And when I say WAR, I mean WAR.
Just ask FelixDeCat
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can have all our women and children, but not the men!!
All teh wimmens? Wait, are these Canadian wimmens? Exchange Rate --.
You're going to have to send us some Moose too. I like moose.
You're going to have to send us some Moose too. I like moose.
Sutter pushing all the right buttons
Canadian Press
5/29/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Calgary Flames are obsessed with winning and GM-coach Darryl Sutter has made them this way.
The men in red would skate through a brick wall for Sutter, even after he publicly criticizes this player or that player in his attempts to push them to be the best they can possibly be.
He was at it again before Game 3 of the NHL's championship series Saturday night, saying defenceman Jordan Leopold had to be better if the Flames were to win the Stanley Cup. Sutter even put the knock on captain Jarome Iginla and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff for what he considered to be substandard performances early in the playoffs.
``He comes into the room and he lets you have it and sometimes you read it in the papers, too,'' says first-line centre Craig Conroy. ``Sometimes it's not the best thing to hear but that's the way he operates.
``He's asked a question and he's going to say exactly what he feels. If a guy doesn't play well - I was off my game the other night and he told me - that's the way it is. Why lie to reporters? If a guy didn't have a good game, he didn't have a good game.
``He does it with everybody. If he just picked out one or two guys and went after them every time, then guys would start saying, `This is a little ridiculous.' But it's everybody. It's from Jarome, Kipper, right down to the guy who plays two minutes a game. It's not as if he's picking on one or two guys.''
The players grow to understand it's nothing personal and that Sutter is reinforcing his belief that no one player is above the team. It's accountability, and Sutter learned all about it growing up on a farm in the rural community of Viking, Alta., where Grace and Louis Sutter raised a family that produced six NHL players.
``It was the way we were brought up in a big family,'' he explained after his team's morning skate. ``You didn't let anybody off the hook and it's the same deal here.''
There is no place for prima donnas in the Flames locker-room. It was the same way many years ago on the frozen ponds during games of shinny in Viking and in the family barn when the brothers battled each other in ball hockey.
``That's why this is so much fun,'' Sutter said of Calgary's surprising playoff run. ``We played for the Stanley Cup three times a day from the time we were five years old.''
It has been 21 years since a Sutter had his name etched on the Stanley Cup. Duane earned four Stanley Cup rings and Brent two with the New York Islanders, and Darryl would love to join them on the silver trophy.
``My proudest moments as a player or as a coach were when my brothers won the Stanley Cup,'' he said. ``They're on there six times, too, and that's pretty cool.
``My role models and my idols were my brothers. The only time you absolutely tried to outdo them was when you played against them. When you play against each other there's a hate, otherwise you lose. But when it's over, it's over.''
Today, Brian is head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, Duane is an executive with the Florida Panthers, Brent is owner-GM-coach of the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, Ron is a Flames pro scout, Rich is a Minnesota Wild pro scout, and Darryl is finishing his first full season in his dual role with the Flames.
Go into any NHL city and, inevitably, somebody with that team has played with or against a Sutter or has had a Sutter coaching for or against him. From 1976 through 2001, there was at least one Sutter brother skating in the NHL. They played nearly 5,000 games and scored 1,300 goals.
Conscientious defensive play and a willingness to outwork an opponent are trademarks of Sutter hockey, although Darryl modestly declines to agree with the assertion the blue-collar Sutter style has had a lasting impact on the sport.
``Once you get older, you just hope some of your kids are lucky enough to get this kind of opportunity somewhere,'' Darryl said. ``We've been so fortunate.
``We've all been in it for more than 20 years. It's incredible, really. The most important thing is that we're all loyal to our organizations - all really loyal guys. At the end of the day, I know every one of us would do whatever it took for our organizations to get better. That's hard to find.''
It is a rare trait indeed in an era of millionaire mercenaries on blades.
After his news conference Saturday, Sutter stood around the entrance to his team's dressing room chatting with any media representative who approached him. When talk turned to his roots, pride burst through.
Family is paramount to Sutter, which is why being around the Flames is like being around a big family. In 1995, he stepped down as coach in Chicago to devote more time to his son Christopher, who has Down's Syndrome.
Last week, he stood near the exit from the ice to the San Jose dressing room so he could congratulate each of his former players on their effort after his Flames eliminated the Sharks. It was a classy thing to do.
He's earned his players' respect and that doesn't waiver when he criticizes them publicly.
``With Darryl, you know what your role is going to be,'' says forward Shean Donovan. ``He adjusts it throughout the year and pushes you.
``If you work hard for him and do the little things and do what he asks, you're going to get rewarded.''
Sutter will forever downplay his contribution to the team's success.
``It's not rocket science,'' he said. ``I am not a psychologist and I wasn't there, like a lot of other guys, when they invented the game.
``The biggest change with our team is they are a team. It was so unfair when I came here last year, so unfair the pressure that was put on two or three players, win or lose. It was totally unfair to the players.
There was nobody else being held accountable, nobody, other than those two or three players.''
That's all changed - because of Sutter.
So, don't get sucked into believing anything other than the reality that he's a main reason why the Flames got this far this spring and why he's so close to becoming the third Sutter with his name on the Stanley Cup.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
5/29/2004
CALGARY (CP) - The Calgary Flames are obsessed with winning and GM-coach Darryl Sutter has made them this way.
The men in red would skate through a brick wall for Sutter, even after he publicly criticizes this player or that player in his attempts to push them to be the best they can possibly be.
He was at it again before Game 3 of the NHL's championship series Saturday night, saying defenceman Jordan Leopold had to be better if the Flames were to win the Stanley Cup. Sutter even put the knock on captain Jarome Iginla and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff for what he considered to be substandard performances early in the playoffs.
``He comes into the room and he lets you have it and sometimes you read it in the papers, too,'' says first-line centre Craig Conroy. ``Sometimes it's not the best thing to hear but that's the way he operates.
``He's asked a question and he's going to say exactly what he feels. If a guy doesn't play well - I was off my game the other night and he told me - that's the way it is. Why lie to reporters? If a guy didn't have a good game, he didn't have a good game.
``He does it with everybody. If he just picked out one or two guys and went after them every time, then guys would start saying, `This is a little ridiculous.' But it's everybody. It's from Jarome, Kipper, right down to the guy who plays two minutes a game. It's not as if he's picking on one or two guys.''
The players grow to understand it's nothing personal and that Sutter is reinforcing his belief that no one player is above the team. It's accountability, and Sutter learned all about it growing up on a farm in the rural community of Viking, Alta., where Grace and Louis Sutter raised a family that produced six NHL players.
``It was the way we were brought up in a big family,'' he explained after his team's morning skate. ``You didn't let anybody off the hook and it's the same deal here.''
There is no place for prima donnas in the Flames locker-room. It was the same way many years ago on the frozen ponds during games of shinny in Viking and in the family barn when the brothers battled each other in ball hockey.
``That's why this is so much fun,'' Sutter said of Calgary's surprising playoff run. ``We played for the Stanley Cup three times a day from the time we were five years old.''
It has been 21 years since a Sutter had his name etched on the Stanley Cup. Duane earned four Stanley Cup rings and Brent two with the New York Islanders, and Darryl would love to join them on the silver trophy.
``My proudest moments as a player or as a coach were when my brothers won the Stanley Cup,'' he said. ``They're on there six times, too, and that's pretty cool.
``My role models and my idols were my brothers. The only time you absolutely tried to outdo them was when you played against them. When you play against each other there's a hate, otherwise you lose. But when it's over, it's over.''
Today, Brian is head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, Duane is an executive with the Florida Panthers, Brent is owner-GM-coach of the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, Ron is a Flames pro scout, Rich is a Minnesota Wild pro scout, and Darryl is finishing his first full season in his dual role with the Flames.
Go into any NHL city and, inevitably, somebody with that team has played with or against a Sutter or has had a Sutter coaching for or against him. From 1976 through 2001, there was at least one Sutter brother skating in the NHL. They played nearly 5,000 games and scored 1,300 goals.
Conscientious defensive play and a willingness to outwork an opponent are trademarks of Sutter hockey, although Darryl modestly declines to agree with the assertion the blue-collar Sutter style has had a lasting impact on the sport.
``Once you get older, you just hope some of your kids are lucky enough to get this kind of opportunity somewhere,'' Darryl said. ``We've been so fortunate.
``We've all been in it for more than 20 years. It's incredible, really. The most important thing is that we're all loyal to our organizations - all really loyal guys. At the end of the day, I know every one of us would do whatever it took for our organizations to get better. That's hard to find.''
It is a rare trait indeed in an era of millionaire mercenaries on blades.
After his news conference Saturday, Sutter stood around the entrance to his team's dressing room chatting with any media representative who approached him. When talk turned to his roots, pride burst through.
Family is paramount to Sutter, which is why being around the Flames is like being around a big family. In 1995, he stepped down as coach in Chicago to devote more time to his son Christopher, who has Down's Syndrome.
Last week, he stood near the exit from the ice to the San Jose dressing room so he could congratulate each of his former players on their effort after his Flames eliminated the Sharks. It was a classy thing to do.
He's earned his players' respect and that doesn't waiver when he criticizes them publicly.
``With Darryl, you know what your role is going to be,'' says forward Shean Donovan. ``He adjusts it throughout the year and pushes you.
``If you work hard for him and do the little things and do what he asks, you're going to get rewarded.''
Sutter will forever downplay his contribution to the team's success.
``It's not rocket science,'' he said. ``I am not a psychologist and I wasn't there, like a lot of other guys, when they invented the game.
``The biggest change with our team is they are a team. It was so unfair when I came here last year, so unfair the pressure that was put on two or three players, win or lose. It was totally unfair to the players.
There was nobody else being held accountable, nobody, other than those two or three players.''
That's all changed - because of Sutter.
So, don't get sucked into believing anything other than the reality that he's a main reason why the Flames got this far this spring and why he's so close to becoming the third Sutter with his name on the Stanley Cup.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Flames fans party hardy for Cup final
Canadian Press
5/29/2004
CALGARY (CP) - Loud and proud, Calgary erupted in full party mode Saturday as the Stanley Cup made its first Saddledome appearance in 15 years.
In tailgate parties, rec-rooms or along the now fabled Red Mile, tens of thousands of Calgary Flames fans flooded the Stampede city in a sea of red as their hockey heroes defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.
The Saddledome, awash in crimson jerseys and flaming C flags, was a crescendo of cheers as the Flames got on Tampa early, with strong forechecking and a physical presence. A fight between Calgary superstar Jarome Iginla and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier had the crowd on their feet for the first NHL final game on Canadian soil since 1994.
The noise rose to a deafening roar as Chris Simon put the Flames ahead midway through the second period on a pass from Iginla. The din continued when Shean Donovan put the home side up 2-0.
Doug Mackie's buddies smashed the symbol attached to his construction hard hat as they chanted ``Go Flames Go''.
``It's war, we're going to battle Tampa on the ice,'' said Mackie, 47. ``And all of Canada is with us.''
The Flames spent Friday night in a hotel room to simulate a road game to try and counter their losing home record. But it's hard to miss the excitement in this city gone wild with Flames fever.
Flags with the flaming C logo are everywhere: on cars, windows and plastered on the sides of buildings. From tots to teens to seniors, it seems that most everyone has a Calgary Flames jersey or T-shirt.
People began arriving at bars and restaurants at noon local time for the 6 p.m. start. By mid-afternoon, it was standing room only along the so-called Red Mile west of the Saddledome, with party-ready patrons hooting and hollering and lineups stretching down 17th Avenue.
``There's no tables left and nobody's budging,'' said Candice Martin at Melrose Cafe and Bar, which has built a television console on the street to house six big-screen screens.
Cab driver Ijaz Kang ended up taking people from the city's party zone to a bar near the Saddledome with an outdoor hot tub.
``It's more than a party - people aren't this excited at a party,'' said Kang.
Ivan Ugarkovic and his buddies had their faces painted like the rock band KISS, in Flames colours to march their hockey jerseys.
``This is the greatest thing that's happened to Calgary: Sea of Red forever,'' said Ugarkovic, 25, with a banner for the Knights in Stanley's Service.
``I'm looking forward to the party: win or lose,'' said his friend Kevin Takasaki, 26. ``We'll party either way.''
Impromptu games of shinny were held in the parking lot outside the 'Dome, while clusters of fans barbecued burgers and toasted the Flames for their unlikely playoff run.
``We always had faith,'' said Chris McKenzie, as his friends gathered around a station wagon painted at the beginning of the playoffs in Calgary colours of red, yellow and black with a silver Stanley Cup painted on the hood.
``It's the battlewagon, not the bandwagon,'' said McKenzie. ``We were old enough to appreciate it the last time they won the Stanley Cup so now it's coming around again.'' <
Scalpers outside the Saddledome were getting up to $700 a ticket for lower bowl seats at centre ice in the final minutes before the game started.
Chris Pazdev drove seven hours from Montana in hopes of snagging a ticket, but wasn't prepared to pay scalper rates.
``I'm not having much luck,'' he said ruefully, standing outside the ticket with a small sign asking for one ticket. ``There's a lot of rabid fans out here. Everyone probably has friends who need a ticket.''
Rich Schukay and his son Charlie made the trip from Tampa to watch their team, but didn't feel like targets among the sea of red jerseys in the Saddledome.
``It's absolutely unbelievable - the fans here are unreal,'' said Schukay, 45. ``But it's nice. It's great.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
5/29/2004
CALGARY (CP) - Loud and proud, Calgary erupted in full party mode Saturday as the Stanley Cup made its first Saddledome appearance in 15 years.
In tailgate parties, rec-rooms or along the now fabled Red Mile, tens of thousands of Calgary Flames fans flooded the Stampede city in a sea of red as their hockey heroes defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.
The Saddledome, awash in crimson jerseys and flaming C flags, was a crescendo of cheers as the Flames got on Tampa early, with strong forechecking and a physical presence. A fight between Calgary superstar Jarome Iginla and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier had the crowd on their feet for the first NHL final game on Canadian soil since 1994.
The noise rose to a deafening roar as Chris Simon put the Flames ahead midway through the second period on a pass from Iginla. The din continued when Shean Donovan put the home side up 2-0.
Doug Mackie's buddies smashed the symbol attached to his construction hard hat as they chanted ``Go Flames Go''.
``It's war, we're going to battle Tampa on the ice,'' said Mackie, 47. ``And all of Canada is with us.''
The Flames spent Friday night in a hotel room to simulate a road game to try and counter their losing home record. But it's hard to miss the excitement in this city gone wild with Flames fever.
Flags with the flaming C logo are everywhere: on cars, windows and plastered on the sides of buildings. From tots to teens to seniors, it seems that most everyone has a Calgary Flames jersey or T-shirt.
People began arriving at bars and restaurants at noon local time for the 6 p.m. start. By mid-afternoon, it was standing room only along the so-called Red Mile west of the Saddledome, with party-ready patrons hooting and hollering and lineups stretching down 17th Avenue.
``There's no tables left and nobody's budging,'' said Candice Martin at Melrose Cafe and Bar, which has built a television console on the street to house six big-screen screens.
Cab driver Ijaz Kang ended up taking people from the city's party zone to a bar near the Saddledome with an outdoor hot tub.
``It's more than a party - people aren't this excited at a party,'' said Kang.
Ivan Ugarkovic and his buddies had their faces painted like the rock band KISS, in Flames colours to march their hockey jerseys.
``This is the greatest thing that's happened to Calgary: Sea of Red forever,'' said Ugarkovic, 25, with a banner for the Knights in Stanley's Service.
``I'm looking forward to the party: win or lose,'' said his friend Kevin Takasaki, 26. ``We'll party either way.''
Impromptu games of shinny were held in the parking lot outside the 'Dome, while clusters of fans barbecued burgers and toasted the Flames for their unlikely playoff run.
``We always had faith,'' said Chris McKenzie, as his friends gathered around a station wagon painted at the beginning of the playoffs in Calgary colours of red, yellow and black with a silver Stanley Cup painted on the hood.
``It's the battlewagon, not the bandwagon,'' said McKenzie. ``We were old enough to appreciate it the last time they won the Stanley Cup so now it's coming around again.'' <
Scalpers outside the Saddledome were getting up to $700 a ticket for lower bowl seats at centre ice in the final minutes before the game started.
Chris Pazdev drove seven hours from Montana in hopes of snagging a ticket, but wasn't prepared to pay scalper rates.
``I'm not having much luck,'' he said ruefully, standing outside the ticket with a small sign asking for one ticket. ``There's a lot of rabid fans out here. Everyone probably has friends who need a ticket.''
Rich Schukay and his son Charlie made the trip from Tampa to watch their team, but didn't feel like targets among the sea of red jerseys in the Saddledome.
``It's absolutely unbelievable - the fans here are unreal,'' said Schukay, 45. ``But it's nice. It's great.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Flames blank Lightning to win Game 3
Canadian Press
5/29/2004
CALGARY (CP) - Only two more Calgary wins and the Stanley Cup will belong to a Canadian team for the first time in 11 years.
Chris Simon, Shean Donovan and Jarome Iginla scored the goals and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 21 shots for his fifth shutout of the playoffs in a 3-0 Flames win Saturday night that gave them a 2-1 lead in the NHL's championship series.
What a resilient team. It's a trait that has lifted Calgary to one upset series triumph after another. After losing 4-1 Thursday in Tampa, Fla., the Flames bounced back by returning to the hard-hat hockey that has proved so successful for them all this spring.
Kiprusoff improved to 5-0 in the playoffs in games following a defeat by four or more goals.
``Those guys (goalies) are special people and Miikka is a special teammate and a great guy,'' Simon told CBC afterwards. ``He has been the difference for us, along with Jarome (Iginla).
``Miikka has been huge for us and we stuck to our system and it paid off.''
Kiprusoff said he and his teammates are to share the kudos for his penchant of playing well after giving up four or more goals in a contest.
``For sure as a team we play much better tonight than we did last game,'' he said. ``I think we worked much harder and that's how we should play.''
Game 4 is Monday night.
Tampa appeared to have momentum heading to Calgary after a 4-1 win in Game 2. But the Flames were much more physical in their play Saturday night.
``We played more physical as forwards on their forwards,'' Simon said. ``That was part of our plan tonight was to get back to playing hard and disciplined and finishing checks.
``I thought we got away from that a little bit. You know, they have so much skill on that side and so many guys who can thread the needle, make great plays. But we think if we can take away time and space it gives us more of a chance to win.''
It was 0-0 after 20 minutes and 2-0 for Calgary after 40.
A penalty to Donovan for dragging down Nolan Pratt four minutes into the third period gave Tampa Bay a chance to get back into the game but the Lightning power play failed to strike on its fourth chance of the night.
The challenge every opponent has faced against the Flames is trying to outwork them. Once again, it was impossible to do. The Lightning have to be disheartened by this loss. The body language of frustrated league scoring champion Martin St. Louis in the closing minutes certainly suggested as much.
The Flames wouldn't let up. Defenceman Robyn Regehr knocked Ruslan Fedotenko out of the game with 5 1-2 minutes left with a crushing body check into the side boards.
Iginla redirected in a Regehr pass at 18:28 of the third period with Cory Sarich in the penalty box to round out the scoring. It was the league-leading 12th playoff goal for Iginla.
The crowd chanted ``Go Flames Go'' during the closing minute, rewarding the team that refuses to lose. Tampa Bay outshot Calgary 21-18.
Two cow tongues hit the ice in the Tampa Bay end in the warmup and it wasn't long before white-clad bodies began to fall as well. It was evident from the start that the Flames intended to throw their weight around. Rhett Warrener dropped Fedotenko with a smashing check and Ville Nieminen used a shoulder to send Cory Stillman crashing down.
The Lightning weren't going to take without giving and Sarich flattened Stephane Yelle when he caught the veteran centre with his head down carrying the puck through the neutral zone.
In a punchup between scoring stars the likes of which nobody in attendance could remember witnessing early in a championship series game, Flames captain Iginla dropped Vincent Lecavalier with a right to the head.
There was plenty of physical pounding but few scoring chances in the opening period. Both teams combined for only seven shots on net - five by Tampa Bay.
Fredrik Modin got the first clear scoring opportunity early in the second period. With all the time in the world 10 feet in front of Kiprusoff, Modin shot high and Calgary's Finnish goalie stuck out his left hand to deflect the puck over the net with his catching mitt.
``He just played a typical Kiprusoff game,'' Donovan told the CBC. ``He was solid and he made all the great sdaves that you need to have.''
Calgary's strategy was obvious. Coach Darryl Sutter had reminded them in the wake of their 4-1 loss Thursday that the road to success lay in a physically intimidating style of play and a defence-first approach. They were going to grind it out and hit everything in white. They were going to reduce the effectiveness of Lecavalier and league scoring champion St. Louis before worrying about scoring themselves.
They intensified their efforts after Modin's chance, stepping up their forechecking and boosting their energy level and, with the Lightning back on their heels, finally began to get some shots on Nikolai Khabibulin.
Power plays weren't working for either team - Calgary was 0-2 and Tampa Bay 0-3 - until Brad Lukowich of the Lightning pulled down Donovan at 13:03 of the second period. Kiprusoff made a dazzling save on Brad Richards with Lukowich off.
``He did a good move there, he was going to go upstairs but he changed the angle,'' Kiprusoff said. ``I was kind of lucky.''
Then Simon struck.
The trading-deadline pickup from the New York Rangers took two shots that were blocked by Dan Boyle but when the puck bounced back to him yet again he slipped it past a fallen Khabibulin at 13:53 for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
``I don't mean to pat myself on the back but we needed to get a power-play goal tonight,'' Simon said. ``Jarome made a really nice play to me, it was pretty much an individual effort all the way up the ice.
``He gave me a wide open net, hit the D and I ended up putting it in. We knew we needed to do something on special teams tonight and our PK got it done and Miikka was awesome.''
A giveaway by Lecavalier set up Donovan's goal at 17:09. Lecavalier had the puck behind the goal-line in the Calgary end and sent a pass out front. It was way off the mark. Donovan gobbled it up and dashed towards Khabibulin on a 2-on-1 break with Chuck Kobasew.
Donovan took the shot himself, from the circle to the right of Khabibulin, and it was a dandy. The puck lodged in the far top corner of the net, Donovan had his fifth goal of the playoffs, and the capacity Pengrowth Saddledome crowd of more than 19,200 went wild.
``I thought it was going to be a 2-on-2, I thought the other guy was with us,'' said Donovan. ``But Lukowich shaded over to Chucky so I had to shoot and I got away a lucky shot.''
Notes: The seven first-period shots set a Calgary franchise record for fewest shots by both teams in a playoff period. The previous low was eight in 1988. The two shots by the Flames tied a club team playoff record for fewest shots in a period set five times previously . . . The only lineup change was Calgary's insertion of left-winger Krzysztof Oliwa in place of left-winger Dave Lowry . . . Calgary defenceman Toni Lydman, out with a concussion since the Flames' third playoff game back in April against Vancouver, participated in the morning skate but didn't play . . . Kobasew hasn't scored a goal in Calgary's 22 playoff games. No wonder Donovan didn't pass him the puck on the 2-on-1 rush . . . Until the Flames this year, no team had reached the final after failing to qualify for the playoffs seven or more consecutive seasons.
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
5/29/2004
CALGARY (CP) - Only two more Calgary wins and the Stanley Cup will belong to a Canadian team for the first time in 11 years.
Chris Simon, Shean Donovan and Jarome Iginla scored the goals and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 21 shots for his fifth shutout of the playoffs in a 3-0 Flames win Saturday night that gave them a 2-1 lead in the NHL's championship series.
What a resilient team. It's a trait that has lifted Calgary to one upset series triumph after another. After losing 4-1 Thursday in Tampa, Fla., the Flames bounced back by returning to the hard-hat hockey that has proved so successful for them all this spring.
Kiprusoff improved to 5-0 in the playoffs in games following a defeat by four or more goals.
``Those guys (goalies) are special people and Miikka is a special teammate and a great guy,'' Simon told CBC afterwards. ``He has been the difference for us, along with Jarome (Iginla).
``Miikka has been huge for us and we stuck to our system and it paid off.''
Kiprusoff said he and his teammates are to share the kudos for his penchant of playing well after giving up four or more goals in a contest.
``For sure as a team we play much better tonight than we did last game,'' he said. ``I think we worked much harder and that's how we should play.''
Game 4 is Monday night.
Tampa appeared to have momentum heading to Calgary after a 4-1 win in Game 2. But the Flames were much more physical in their play Saturday night.
``We played more physical as forwards on their forwards,'' Simon said. ``That was part of our plan tonight was to get back to playing hard and disciplined and finishing checks.
``I thought we got away from that a little bit. You know, they have so much skill on that side and so many guys who can thread the needle, make great plays. But we think if we can take away time and space it gives us more of a chance to win.''
It was 0-0 after 20 minutes and 2-0 for Calgary after 40.
A penalty to Donovan for dragging down Nolan Pratt four minutes into the third period gave Tampa Bay a chance to get back into the game but the Lightning power play failed to strike on its fourth chance of the night.
The challenge every opponent has faced against the Flames is trying to outwork them. Once again, it was impossible to do. The Lightning have to be disheartened by this loss. The body language of frustrated league scoring champion Martin St. Louis in the closing minutes certainly suggested as much.
The Flames wouldn't let up. Defenceman Robyn Regehr knocked Ruslan Fedotenko out of the game with 5 1-2 minutes left with a crushing body check into the side boards.
Iginla redirected in a Regehr pass at 18:28 of the third period with Cory Sarich in the penalty box to round out the scoring. It was the league-leading 12th playoff goal for Iginla.
The crowd chanted ``Go Flames Go'' during the closing minute, rewarding the team that refuses to lose. Tampa Bay outshot Calgary 21-18.
Two cow tongues hit the ice in the Tampa Bay end in the warmup and it wasn't long before white-clad bodies began to fall as well. It was evident from the start that the Flames intended to throw their weight around. Rhett Warrener dropped Fedotenko with a smashing check and Ville Nieminen used a shoulder to send Cory Stillman crashing down.
The Lightning weren't going to take without giving and Sarich flattened Stephane Yelle when he caught the veteran centre with his head down carrying the puck through the neutral zone.
In a punchup between scoring stars the likes of which nobody in attendance could remember witnessing early in a championship series game, Flames captain Iginla dropped Vincent Lecavalier with a right to the head.
There was plenty of physical pounding but few scoring chances in the opening period. Both teams combined for only seven shots on net - five by Tampa Bay.
Fredrik Modin got the first clear scoring opportunity early in the second period. With all the time in the world 10 feet in front of Kiprusoff, Modin shot high and Calgary's Finnish goalie stuck out his left hand to deflect the puck over the net with his catching mitt.
``He just played a typical Kiprusoff game,'' Donovan told the CBC. ``He was solid and he made all the great sdaves that you need to have.''
Calgary's strategy was obvious. Coach Darryl Sutter had reminded them in the wake of their 4-1 loss Thursday that the road to success lay in a physically intimidating style of play and a defence-first approach. They were going to grind it out and hit everything in white. They were going to reduce the effectiveness of Lecavalier and league scoring champion St. Louis before worrying about scoring themselves.
They intensified their efforts after Modin's chance, stepping up their forechecking and boosting their energy level and, with the Lightning back on their heels, finally began to get some shots on Nikolai Khabibulin.
Power plays weren't working for either team - Calgary was 0-2 and Tampa Bay 0-3 - until Brad Lukowich of the Lightning pulled down Donovan at 13:03 of the second period. Kiprusoff made a dazzling save on Brad Richards with Lukowich off.
``He did a good move there, he was going to go upstairs but he changed the angle,'' Kiprusoff said. ``I was kind of lucky.''
Then Simon struck.
The trading-deadline pickup from the New York Rangers took two shots that were blocked by Dan Boyle but when the puck bounced back to him yet again he slipped it past a fallen Khabibulin at 13:53 for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
``I don't mean to pat myself on the back but we needed to get a power-play goal tonight,'' Simon said. ``Jarome made a really nice play to me, it was pretty much an individual effort all the way up the ice.
``He gave me a wide open net, hit the D and I ended up putting it in. We knew we needed to do something on special teams tonight and our PK got it done and Miikka was awesome.''
A giveaway by Lecavalier set up Donovan's goal at 17:09. Lecavalier had the puck behind the goal-line in the Calgary end and sent a pass out front. It was way off the mark. Donovan gobbled it up and dashed towards Khabibulin on a 2-on-1 break with Chuck Kobasew.
Donovan took the shot himself, from the circle to the right of Khabibulin, and it was a dandy. The puck lodged in the far top corner of the net, Donovan had his fifth goal of the playoffs, and the capacity Pengrowth Saddledome crowd of more than 19,200 went wild.
``I thought it was going to be a 2-on-2, I thought the other guy was with us,'' said Donovan. ``But Lukowich shaded over to Chucky so I had to shoot and I got away a lucky shot.''
Notes: The seven first-period shots set a Calgary franchise record for fewest shots by both teams in a playoff period. The previous low was eight in 1988. The two shots by the Flames tied a club team playoff record for fewest shots in a period set five times previously . . . The only lineup change was Calgary's insertion of left-winger Krzysztof Oliwa in place of left-winger Dave Lowry . . . Calgary defenceman Toni Lydman, out with a concussion since the Flames' third playoff game back in April against Vancouver, participated in the morning skate but didn't play . . . Kobasew hasn't scored a goal in Calgary's 22 playoff games. No wonder Donovan didn't pass him the puck on the 2-on-1 rush . . . Until the Flames this year, no team had reached the final after failing to qualify for the playoffs seven or more consecutive seasons.
Cheers,
Aquaman
This Flames win was different than Game 1... This time the Flames really dominated the entire game, the Lighting couldn't get anything going after the Flames took the lead...
Let's hope they keep this going!
Let's hope they keep this going!
Oh man the Flames looked from the highlights I saw... I hope Tampa can come back and win the next game.
I hope Tampa can come back and win the next game.Yeah, I think this series will be like a seesaw, but I say (read: hope) Calgary in Game 6Originally posted by: InstincT
Oh man the Flames looked from the highlights I saw...
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Pffffft....only three articles Aquaman?!?!!? You're letting us down here man.....
Here is some more
Cheers,
Aquaman
Lightning must respond to physical play
Canadian Press
5/30/2004
CALGARY (CP) - After being knocked around like a tennis ball all night, Vincent Lecavalier didn't have much trouble explaining what the Tampa Bay Lightning did wrong in their 3-0 Stanley Cup loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
``We weren't first on the puck,'' said Lecavalier, one towel draped over his thin shoulders, another wrapped around his slim waist. ``We weren't as aggressive, we weren't as strong.
``We didn't win the battles. It wasn't a great game at all for anybody. We're determined to turn it around.''
The Flames played a hard-hitting, physical game to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven final Stanley Cup final. Calgary pounded the Lightning like a hail storm hammering a tender green crop.
The Lightning's Ruslan Fedotenko was taken to hospital following the game after being rammed face-first into the boards by Flame defenceman Robyn Regehr. No penalty was called on the play.
Lecavalier said the Flames did what the Lightning expected. But knowing, and doing something about it, are two different things.
``It's easy, just get the puck out,'' said Lecavalier, who tried to inspire his team with a first-period fight with Calgary captain Jarome Iginla. ``It's easier said than done.
``Tonight they played more in our zone. That's why they won the game. If we're more aggressive, if our transition game is better, then I'm very confident we're going to win.''
Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said there's nothing mysterious about what the Lightning need to do when the series resumes Monday at the Saddledome.
``I think we're getting too hyped up about the physical play,'' said Tortorella, who wasn't his normal, talkative self following the loss. ``We know they are a physical team.
``We need to respond physically, and that's all part of playoff hockey.''
He refused to answer when asked if the hit on Fedotenko should have resulted in a penalty.
``Let's talk about the game,'' he said. ``I'm not going to talk about penalties and all that stuff.''
Tampa Bay's top line of Lecavalier, Fedotenko and Martin St. Louis mustered just four shots on net. St. Louis, who had a goal and assist in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Flames, seemed to chafe when it was suggested his line must be more productive.
``If we want to win we have to play better,'' St. Louis snapped. ``They played really physical and that's the kind of game they want to play.
``They didn't bring something we didn't expect.''
The Lightning power play, which had managed goals in the previous two games, also was defused. Tampa Bay was 0-4 on the power play and managed just two shots on net in three man advantages in the first period.
``They forced us a little bit,'' said captain Dave Andreychuk. ``We had some chances but our power play has to get better.''
The Lightning outshot Calgary 21-18, but centre Tim Taylor said Tampa Bay must bring more firepower into Monday's game.
``We have to get inside the paint area and try and get some shots and some quality opportunities,'' he said. ``For some reason tonight we had some opportunities but just didn't shoot the puck.
``We didn't want to score it seemed like. Maybe were thinking too much.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
Canadian Press
5/30/2004
CALGARY (CP) - After being knocked around like a tennis ball all night, Vincent Lecavalier didn't have much trouble explaining what the Tampa Bay Lightning did wrong in their 3-0 Stanley Cup loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
``We weren't first on the puck,'' said Lecavalier, one towel draped over his thin shoulders, another wrapped around his slim waist. ``We weren't as aggressive, we weren't as strong.
``We didn't win the battles. It wasn't a great game at all for anybody. We're determined to turn it around.''
The Flames played a hard-hitting, physical game to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven final Stanley Cup final. Calgary pounded the Lightning like a hail storm hammering a tender green crop.
The Lightning's Ruslan Fedotenko was taken to hospital following the game after being rammed face-first into the boards by Flame defenceman Robyn Regehr. No penalty was called on the play.
Lecavalier said the Flames did what the Lightning expected. But knowing, and doing something about it, are two different things.
``It's easy, just get the puck out,'' said Lecavalier, who tried to inspire his team with a first-period fight with Calgary captain Jarome Iginla. ``It's easier said than done.
``Tonight they played more in our zone. That's why they won the game. If we're more aggressive, if our transition game is better, then I'm very confident we're going to win.''
Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said there's nothing mysterious about what the Lightning need to do when the series resumes Monday at the Saddledome.
``I think we're getting too hyped up about the physical play,'' said Tortorella, who wasn't his normal, talkative self following the loss. ``We know they are a physical team.
``We need to respond physically, and that's all part of playoff hockey.''
He refused to answer when asked if the hit on Fedotenko should have resulted in a penalty.
``Let's talk about the game,'' he said. ``I'm not going to talk about penalties and all that stuff.''
Tampa Bay's top line of Lecavalier, Fedotenko and Martin St. Louis mustered just four shots on net. St. Louis, who had a goal and assist in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Flames, seemed to chafe when it was suggested his line must be more productive.
``If we want to win we have to play better,'' St. Louis snapped. ``They played really physical and that's the kind of game they want to play.
``They didn't bring something we didn't expect.''
The Lightning power play, which had managed goals in the previous two games, also was defused. Tampa Bay was 0-4 on the power play and managed just two shots on net in three man advantages in the first period.
``They forced us a little bit,'' said captain Dave Andreychuk. ``We had some chances but our power play has to get better.''
The Lightning outshot Calgary 21-18, but centre Tim Taylor said Tampa Bay must bring more firepower into Monday's game.
``We have to get inside the paint area and try and get some shots and some quality opportunities,'' he said. ``For some reason tonight we had some opportunities but just didn't shoot the puck.
``We didn't want to score it seemed like. Maybe were thinking too much.''
Cheers,
Aquaman
McKenzie: Turning point for Lecavalier
TSN.ca Staff
5/30/2004
It is a rarity in today's National Hockey League when two superstars with the stature of Jerome Iginla and Vincent Lecavalier drop the gloves and go at each other.
It was pretty clear that Iginla was throwing down the gauntlet. He's the leader of his team and decided that he was going after the best player on the Lightning team and was going to give him the business. Lecavalier responded by dropping his gloves.
In the grand scheme of things, the Flames won the game and Iginla collected a Gordie Howe hat trick, but the fight very well may be a turning point in Lecavaliers career in terms of the respect hell get from the players who play this game.
We've seen Iginla drop the gloves before and Lecavalier is no stranger to fighting, but it gives you an idea of how much the Stanley Cup means when you see the superstars of these teams drop their gloves.
Lecavalier is really blossoming in these playoffs and while Iginla obviously gave the Flames a bigger lift than Lecavalier did to the Lightning, it is really something for a guy like Lecavalier to step up and fight. In Game One, Iginla was by far the best player while in Game Two; Lecavalier was the best player on the ice. In Game 3 on Saturday; the two of them dropped the gloves and went at it - absolutely incredible.
Cheers,
Aquaman
TSN.ca Staff
5/30/2004
It is a rarity in today's National Hockey League when two superstars with the stature of Jerome Iginla and Vincent Lecavalier drop the gloves and go at each other.
It was pretty clear that Iginla was throwing down the gauntlet. He's the leader of his team and decided that he was going after the best player on the Lightning team and was going to give him the business. Lecavalier responded by dropping his gloves.
In the grand scheme of things, the Flames won the game and Iginla collected a Gordie Howe hat trick, but the fight very well may be a turning point in Lecavaliers career in terms of the respect hell get from the players who play this game.
We've seen Iginla drop the gloves before and Lecavalier is no stranger to fighting, but it gives you an idea of how much the Stanley Cup means when you see the superstars of these teams drop their gloves.
Lecavalier is really blossoming in these playoffs and while Iginla obviously gave the Flames a bigger lift than Lecavalier did to the Lightning, it is really something for a guy like Lecavalier to step up and fight. In Game One, Iginla was by far the best player while in Game Two; Lecavalier was the best player on the ice. In Game 3 on Saturday; the two of them dropped the gloves and went at it - absolutely incredible.
Cheers,
Aquaman
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