|
 The Flames, who refused to quit all season, scored twice in the
third period -- the last goal coming on defenseman Kris Russell's
shot with just 29.6 seconds left -- for a 2-1 victory over the
Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night in the opening game of their
Western Conference quarterfinal playoff series.
"We are definitely comfortable being in that position," said right
winger David Jones, who had tied the game at 7:59 of the third.
"We've done it a lot this year."
Momentum had swung Calgary's way after Jones' tying goal. With
Calgary pressing in the last minute, rookie center Sam Bennett
passed back to defenseman Dennis Wideman at the point. He sent the
puck to Russell, who beat Canuck goaltender Eddie Lack with a low,
hard shot through traffic.
"It was a good play to start off by our forwards," said Russell, who
gave the Flames the win in their first playoff appearance since
2009. "They cycled the puck, they held onto it, they got guys to
commit.
"When you're defending, it's hard when guys are cycling and using
their speed like that."
Center Bo Horvat, playing in his first NHL playoff game, scored for
the Canucks. Vancouver has lost seven straight home playoff games.
"We missed some opportunities that we should have capitalized on,"
said Horvat. "We had tons of shots on net.
"We had great opportunities to put the game away but they kept
coming and got some good bounces."
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Friday at Rogers
Arena.
The third period was a battle between a team that rarely gives up a
lead and a club that never quits.
During the regular season Vancouver lost just once in regulation
when leading after two periods (30-1-3). The Flames battled back for
wins or forced overtime 14 times when trailing after two periods and
scored 99 third-period goals.
"We just find another gear in the third," said Jones. "I'm not sure
what it is. We just kind of buckle down.
"I think because we have done it so much this year we just kind of
get the ball rolling."
Bennett, who was screening Lack on the winning goal, said the Flames
started to take over the game after Jones tied the score.
"There was a huge momentum change when we scored that tying goal,"
he said. "We drew so much energy.
"We pretty much dominated the latter half of that period. That's
what we have to do to be successful."
[to top of second column] |
Both goaltenders played well.
Lack, making his first ever playoff start, stopped 28 shots. Calgary
goalie Jonas Hiller, making his 27th playoff start, made 29 saves
and kept Calgary in the game early.
"It's a great confidence we have that no matter if we are up, or
down, we keep playing our game and the longer the game goes, we get
better," said Hiller.
"They had a few pretty good chances early in the third and if they
score game might be over. Those are the saves you want to make. They
can shift the momentum and I think that's what happened."
The Flames took advantage of a Canucks' turnover to tie the game at
7:59 of the third period. Left winger Michael Ferland picked off an
attempted clearing pass by Vancouver defenseman Yannick Weber and
skated into the Canucks' zone before dropping the puck back to
Jones. He fired a shot over Lack's glove.
Left winger Daniel Sedin said the Canucks played well for most of
the game but some mistakes proved costly.
"As long as it's a 1-0 game they are in it," said Sedin.
"We had a game plan. I think we followed it for 50 minutes. We made
a few mistakes not coming back hard enough. That's why it's
frustrating when we get away from it the last 10 minutes."
NOTES: This is the seventh playoff meeting between Calgary and
Vancouver, with the Flames leading 4-2. ... Canucks RW Brad
Richardson returned to the lineup after missing 37 of the final 39
games with an ankle injury. ... LW Daniel Sedin and C Henrik Sedin
are the only Vancouver players remaining from the Canucks team that
lost the 2004 opening-round playoff series against Calgary. ...
Canucks GM Jim Benning is scouting the Under-18 World Championships
in Switzerland and won't return until a potential Game 5 on April
23. ... Calgary's line of C Sean Monahan, LW Johnny Gaudreau and RW
Jiri Hudler scored 41 goals and 92 points in 31 games this season.
... Flames D Mark Giordano, out for the season with a torn bicep,
took the morning skate. ... C Sam Bennett picked up an assist just
33 seconds into his first NHL game when the Flames beat Winnipeg in
the final regular-season game.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
