Monday, April 21, 2008

Flames force game seven




The Sea of Red were departing happy for the Red Mile on Sunday, as the Calgary Flames spurred on by goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff’s first playoff shut out in four years, sent their best of seven series back to San Jose for a game seven.

Calgary completely dominated the Sharks, controlling faces offs, delivering checks, taking the play into the corners and scoring goals, two in fact to secure the game six win and send San Jose back home with a load full of pressure.

Owen Nolan, former Shark captain and now a Cowtown favourite, once again provided the spark that the Flames needed to capture game six, his second goal in the playoffs at 11:33 of the first period would be all that Calgary would need thanks to Kiprusoff’s ability to close the door on the Sharks, Daymond Langkow’s third period goal was just the insurance the Flames needed to put the game away.

The Sharks have developed a bit of a reputation for not being able to put their opponents away and faltering when all is on the line, they now have the chance to exorcise that demon on Tuesday night. To do so however, they will have to put in a much better effort than that which they brought to Calgary.

The Flames on the other hand played their most consistent game of the series, from first period to third, in all facets of the game they were in control. If they can take the momentum from the game six win and bring the same work ethic to San Jose with them, then the Sharks will be in for a very long and possibly very unrewarding night.

Already, some are suggesting that with a loss change will come to San Jose, the way that they played on Sunday, those suggestions gained a little bit more credence. A similar effort on Tuesday and they’ll become fact…


Calgary Herald-- Flame stay alive
Calgary Sun-- Flames Shoot and win
Calgary Sun-- Flames not fin-ished
Calgary Sun-- Worth a million!
San Jose Mercury News-- Same old questions about this team
San Jose Mercury News-- Sharks lose, Game 7 on Tuesday
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NHL.com-- Stats Pack

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