Games
Calgary Flames 2 - Vancouver Canucks 1
Game 1 started out how the series was likely viewed. Sure, Calgary had there chances, but it was Vancouver who led in shots and controlled the play (mostly). The deadlock was eventually broken in the second period. Bo Horvat's initial shot was blocked, but his second one managed to beat Jonas Hiller after bouncing off a couple of Flames. The Flames are the Flames though, as a comeback was in order. Eight minutes into the third period, Micheal Ferland would beat Eddie Lack glove side to score his first NHL playoff goal and tie the game. The winning goal came very late in the period. A Kris Russell point shot found its way though multiple bodies (including Lack's) and into the net to give the Flames the lead with 30 seconds remaining. The score remained that way for the last half-minute, as Calgary won the opening game of the series.
Calgary Flames 1 - Vancouver Canucks 4
It didn't take long for the Canucks to strike first, as the Sedins connected for a goal just three minutes into this game. A powerplay minutes later helped the Canucks extend the lead, as Chris Higgins pounced on a rebound in the slot to put Vancouver up by two. Vancouver not only lead the game, but completely outplayed Calgary, outshooting them 13-3 in the first. The shots were close to even in the second, but both teams could not score in the middle frame. Minutes into the third, Ronalds Kenins one-timed a Horvat pass, beating Hiller with the shot to give the Canucks 3-0 lead. A scrum ensued later in the period, resulting in Yannick Weber and Dennis Wideman received misconducts. Dan Hamhuis also received a penalty, but it was for interference. Calgary capitalized on the man advantage, as Russell blasted a point shot past Lack. The Flames pulled Hiller with over two minutes left in an attempt to find a couple more goals. It didn't happen, as Radim Vrbata put it in the empty net to seal the game. While the scoring was over, the action was not. Things boiled over with just over a minute left in the game, as a line brawl broke out. Both teams combined for a 132 penalty minutes, and tons of gloves and sticks laying on the ice in the aftermath. The game did end, as Vancouver took the 4-1 win to tie the series.
Vancouver Canucks 2 - Calgary Flames 4
Both teams came out firing in the first, and both were rewarded. The Flames scored first, as Mason Raymond's pass eventually found Brandon Bollig, who beat Lack. Minutes later, the Canucks would tie it, as Shawn Matthias beat a scrambling Hiller. Later in the period, T.J. Brodie beat a screen Eed Lack to once again put the Flames ahead. Just like last game, the second period was scoreless. The Flames extended their lead just a few minutes into the third. Joe Colbourne's shot from a sharp angle was stopped, but 18 year old Sam Bennett was there to poke home the rebound. The Flames got a powerplay opportunity later in the period, and made good use of it. Quick puck movement between Russell, Johnny Gaudreau, and Sean Monahan saw Monahan finish it off with a shot from the slot. Hiller's shutout was broken minutes later, as Jannick Hansen beat him with a wrister from the slot. Things once again boiled over late in the game. First, Alexandre Burrows checked Gaudreau from behind then went after Russell. Burrows received penalties for boarding, fighting, instigating, and a game misconduct (ejecting him from the game). It did not stop there, as 19 seconds later Ferland and Kevin Bieksa dropped the gloves. Joe Colbourne received a misconduct at the same time. Another scrum ensued with just seconds left in the game. The refs and timekeeper allowed the clock to run out as a result. Deryk Engelland and Luca Sbisa were assessed penalties with no time remaining. It did not matter, as Calgary won to once again take the series lead.
Vancouver Canucks 1 - Calgary Flames 3
Powerplays were the story of the first half of the first period. Just under two minutes into the game Kenins was called for boarding, giving Calgary a powerplay. Gaudreau scored on the man advantage to put the Flames up 1-0. David Schlemko received the next penalty (around the seven minute mark), and this time it was Vancouver who had the extra man. Henrik Sedin's pass bounced off Russell's knee and through Hiller, as the Canucks tied the game. Under a minute later, Calgary would once again find themselves on the powerplay. Jiri Hudler tipped home Wideman's shot to give Calgary the lead. Just under a minute left in the first, T.J. Brodie would beat Lack short side to extend Calgary's lead. Ryan Miller came in to replace Lack to start the second period. Miller was flawless in the remaining two periods, stopping 15 shots. Also flawless during that time was Hiller, as he stopped 18 shots to keep the score the same. The 3-1 win gave the Flames a 3-1 series lead, pushing the Canucks closer to elimination.
Calgary Flames 1 - Vancouver Canucks 2
Miller was given the start for this game, and was tested early. He did get beat, as David Jones snapped one by him from the slot. The Canucks picked up their play soon after, but the score remained in the Flames favour to end the first. Vancouver kept pushing in the second. It eventually paid off, as Nick Bonino beat Hiller to tie the game. Vancouver struck again early in the third. Hamhuis' sharp-angled shot was saved by Hiller, but the rebound bounced off Henrik Sedin and into the back of the net. There would be no comeback from the Flames, as the Canucks hung on to win and extend the series.
Vancouver Canucks 4 - Calgary Flames 7
The play was pretty even in the first, but it was Vancouver who found the back of the net more often. Just two and a half minutes in, Brandon MacMillan pounced on a rebound and put it past Hiller to give the Canucks the lead. Five minutes later, Jannik Hansen would cut across the high slot and beat Hiller on just the Canucks third shot of the game. That spelled the end for Hiller, as Karri Ramo came in to tend Calgary's net. That didn't spell the end of Vancouver's scoring though, as Vrbata got behind the Calgary defense and tipped a Daniel Sedin pass past Ramo. It wasn't all doom and gloom for the Flames, as Ferland scored later in the period to pull them to within two. The second was better (scoring-wise) for the Flames. Just a minute into the period, Monahan scored on a scramble in front of the net. Just over four and a half minutes later, Hudler's pass beat Miller and went right on Gaudrau's stick, who tapped it into a wide open net to tie the game. The tie only lasted five minutes, as Luca Sbisa's point shot found its way past Ramo to put Vancouver back in the lead. It wasn't until a powerplay opportunity in the third when Calgary once again tied it up, as Hudler beat a scrambling Miller from the side of the net. In Flames-like fashion, Calgary would take the lead in there comeback bid. Matt Stajan settled a bouncing puck in the slot and beat Miller, putting the Flames up 5-4. The Canucks made a bit of a push for a tying goal of their own, but would fail to come up with it. Empty net goals by Hudler and Ferland sealed the game. The 7-4 win was the last Calgary needed, as they eliminated Vancouver in six games.
Three Thoughts on the Series
- Good to know that the rivalry is still alive and well.
- Mikael Backlund? More like Mikael Messier am I right?
- Micheal "Ferkland" Ferland, Super Pest
YARDSALE!
Highlight of the Series
For what he's been through in the past year and a bit, it's really nice to see Matt Stajan get the series-winning goal.
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