Thank Goodness, a Flaming Win

By on November 12, 2015

 

Calgary's Sam Bennett can only watch as Ben Bishop snatches the biscuit with the trapper. Bishop was the number one star as he saved 30 of 31 shots. ( Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

Calgary’s Sam Bennett can only watch as Ben Bishop snatches the biscuit with the trapper. Bishop was the number one star as he saved 30 of 31 shots.                                                                                                                                                    ( Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

Come east the Calgary Flames do. For a Stanley Cup Finals rematch from what seems like forever ago.

The Lightning currently rank 10th in goals against per game in the NHL at 2.41. The Bolts have steadily improved in goals against each season and if they were matching their scoring record from last season they would be doing very well right now!

#77  Victor Hedman (1 goal, 10 assists) and #91 Steven Stamkos (8 goals, 3 assists) are currently tied this season with 11 points each.

The Flames get a power play chance when Matt Carle  commits the game’s first penalty, a hooking minor.  The lightning work the penalty kill lead by Ryan Callahan and Calgary does not score.

Then,  #90 Vladislav Namestinikov commits a penalty for slashing at 15:02, but Calgary is only able to get two shots off on the power play.

So far this first period is anemic at best, it makes me wonder if removing the original 2004 Stanley Cup banner was a good idea. If you mess with history, you might affect the present. That 2004 Stanley Cup banner was given to and touched by the NHL players that fought their way to hold Lord Stanley’s Cup! It had a presence. #justsaying

Within the first two minutes of the second period, the goal horn sounds! Lightning score, wait… NO GOAL. This is ice hockey the puck has to go with a stick not a skate! OH NO wait at 1:59 the horn sounds again, this time the goal is good. #11 Brian Boyle (his 3rd goal of the season) assist #55 Braydon Coburn.

The Flames are trying to answer back just one minute after with 3 good shots on #30 Ben “The Bish” Bishop, but he steers them away. A third penalty for Tampa Bay #22 Erik Condra two minutes for tripping.

The Flames notch their first goal of the game, #93 Sam Bennett (his 4th goal of the season) from #11 Mikael Backlund and #6 Dennis Wideman. The scoreboard bellows 1-1.

At 13:56 in the second period #51 Valterri Filppula commits a two minute minor tripping penalty.  Here we Flame again… another power play.  Weak, anemic, listless, lifeless…these are the thoughts I’m thinking as I watch both these teams skate. It looks like a practice game, or quite possibly a Sunday afternoon stroll.

The passes weren’t crisp, they aren’t going hard to the corners to fight. It seems the Lightning don’t want to win possession of the puck. The Flames have kept “The Bish” busy this period tallying 15 more shots on goal for a total 23.  At the end of the second period the Flames 1 and the Lightning 1.

Maybe Obi Wan Kenobi or Yoda will be in the Lighting locker room waiting to give the players some Jedi power, or possibly a light sabre! Come on Tampa, we want to see the Tesla coils spew lightning and the goal horn sound!

Wow, that’s all I can muster. Within the first six minutes of the third period the Lightning have attempted to enter the Calgary zone “off sides” twice or maybe more. Where are those forwards that put on that brilliant display of speed and back checking that carried them to lead the league in goal scoring (259) just 6 months ago?

#30 Ben Bishop is starring in this game, the Flames have fired 28 shots he’s stopped 27!

At 12:23 the Lightning go on the PP! Finally, it’s hammer time, thank you #91 Steven Stamkos, it’s a power play goal (9th goal of the season) and #17 Alex Killorn, #9 Tyler Johnson for the assists. I think they just picked up some life. Their feet are moving faster, and Valterri Filppula gets a chance ,a take away and pass to #22 Erik Condra, stoned by Calgary and former Lightning net minder #31 Karri Ramo.

Woo Hoo, the goal horn, the Tesla coils, #9 Tyler Johnson has just scored (his 3rd goal of the season) with the assist #86 Nikita Kucherov! “Johnny Be Good.”

Then…the finale, an empty netter by #24 Ryan Callahan, wait “just kidding” waived off.  Who goes offsides on an empty netter?  Steven, “in the middle of a contract negotiation,” Stamkos.

FINAL:  Lightning 3 Flames 1

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