This could get interesting
Random thoughts on the game…
Tonight, the Calgary Flames finally came prepared to play a full 60 minutes and played some of the best hockey that I have seen all year. They were finally able break down the “Bulin Wall” and contain the Blackhawks first line scorers.
While talking with some co-workers this afternoon, we were discussing the importance of the “energy guys” for the Calgary Flames and what they needed to do to help the Flames succeed. Players like Glencross, Moss, Nystrom, and Bourque needed to have more significant roles and provide some secondary scoring. Wow, did they ever pull through tonight. They all looked amazing and played with great intensity.
I still think there are some guys out there on the ice that need to change their game drastically. Todd Bertuzzi has been frustrating to watch this entire series. I have lost count of the number of times he has made blind drop passes, only to be intercepted by the Hawks and hurried up the ice on an odd man rush. Dion Phaneuf, although playing better of late, seems to lack any sort of emotion. Dion is at his best when he harnesses his emotion to battle against the opponents top lines. It also baffles my why they continue to play him incessantly on the power play. The power play is struggling tremendously right now and I think that Dion is one of the major reasons why
Lastly, the needless goonery by the Blackhawks in the final minutes of the game was a disgrace to their team. While it may have increased the intensity heading into game 4, a player like Adam Burish (and his coach) must be penalized for their wreckless actions. In the end, it just made the Chicago players and coaching staff look bad.
That being said, game 4 should be a dandy!

April 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Listening to Burish in his interviews today made me sick… How Bourque is a buddy of his and what not… it’s just playoff hockey… what a jackass…
Wrong move by the Hawks trying to throw Iggy off his game… the FAN 960 guys said it bang on… when the Blues or any other team tried to mess up Iginla, he just went off on them harnessing his aggression and lit up the score board each time!
Oh, and the Bulin Wall? Too many cracks this time to win the series!
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:11 pm
the flames can’t get away giving up 3 goals again. they were uber, uber lucky tonight.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:44 pm
@the Vu: I totally agree… the Flames couldn’t get out of the second period fast enough. They don’t seem to be able to go into any sort of “shut down” mode. Every time they do, the Hawks eat them alive.
@naoto: I never realized how dirty some of these Hawk players were. I wonder what Bourque would say if you asked him if Burish was his pal? Also, it looks like pissing off Iginla backfired for the Hawks - he played an absolutely stellar game (I think he has actually played very well the entire series).