On a night when two normally exceptional goaltenders seemed to fall apart, the Flames skated away with a 6-4 victory over the Blackhawks.  The Flames, at one point, had a 4-1 lead and blew it with sloppy, lazy skating.  Also, I don’t know what was going on with Miikka Kiprusoff (CGY) or Nikolai Khabibulin (CHI) but between the two of them, 10 out of 58 goals managed to make it into the back of the net.  Not great but it made for an exciting game.

Newly acquired center, Olli Jokinen, finally showed why he was worth the trade by making his presence known throughout the game and posting his very first playoff points (2 goals and an assist).  Jarome Iginla, who had taken a good amount of verbal abuse in Game 3, also scored a pair of goals.

With the series tied, the Flames will head back to Chicago for Game 5 on Saturday.

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat

I was over on Puck Daddy’s blog and he is blaming Jokinen for the team’s demise.  I’m not sure I’d go that far but I will concede that the man has some extremely valid points.  As he mentions, I’ve been scratching my head over Miikka Kiprusoff’s play in these last six contests.  Granted the defense has been just awful (the goalie had to stop 26 shots in the first period alone during one of the games last week) but Kipper looks a little frazzled.  At one point, my son and I were actually laughing because it looked like he was afraid that coach Mike Keenan was waiting in the wings with a gun.  The whole thing has just been really baffling.

Some are accusing Jokinen of being selfish with the puck (the numbers would seem to support that theory), causing his teammates to be resentful.  To be honest, while it was a sweet move, when Jokinen used the boards to assist himself in making a flashy, mid-air goal on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, I did wonder what the other players were thinking of him.  I hope that the Flames can get it together and they can figure out a way to work with their new acquisition because he really is talented.

Post from: Hockey Beat

I slumped down onto my couch and starting looking through the PVR for stuff we could watch after dinner.  I was really disappointed because the Flames were continuing their losing streak and I just didn’t want to hear about it.  I saw my son sneak upstairs to check the score and he almost stumbled down the stairs in his rush to tell me that the Flames beat the Wings 6-5.  He’s a bit of a prankster so I wasn’t even sure he wasn’t pulling my leg but he wasn’t – I checked the score myself and kicked myself for not watching the game but how could I know?

Anyway, here’s how it went down.  Detroit was looking as though the game was over (fans were already leaving) but wth 3:22 left in the third, Jamie Lundmark (Calgary) scored to bring the score up to 4-3.  Then, less than a minute later, Olli Jokinen (Calgary) scored and finally, with 1:20 left on the clock, Lundmark struck again to put the Flames in the lead!!!!  Just 38 seconds later, Dan Cleary (Detroit) put one behind Mikka Kiprusoff (Calgary) and tied the game.  No one scored in overtime so the game went to a shootout. 

In all honesty, I’m happy that I didn’t watch this game because I already get overly stressed during shootouts but this would have been brutal.  In the end, only Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit) was successful while both Mike Cammalleri and Jokinen put one in the back of the net for Calgary.

Watch the highlights:

I know it’s just one game but I feel like turning around to all those commentators on trade day who said the Flames weren’t on the Wings level and telling them to eat it.  You don’t know how a team is going to play with new lines and players so it’s stupid to underestimate them.

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat

I’m really unhappy to lose Lombo even though I am excited to see what Jokinen will do for the team.  With captain, Jarome Iginla, and Mike Cammaleri doing so well right now, this could really be great if Jokinen fits well with the team but it could be disastrous if he comes in and wants to take over the place.  I guess we’ll see…

image: TSN

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Olli Jokinen

He was hurt when he was checked into the boards by defenseman Marc Methot (Columbus Blue Jackets) during the first period of the Coyote’s 3-2 win on Wednesday. 

Coach, Wayne Gretzky, tried to keep things in perspective and put a positive spin on the situation: “We’re definitely going to miss what he brings to the team, but this gives him a few weeks to rest and regroup, and when he comes back he’ll be fresher.” 

Heal quick, Olli – the Coyotes need you!

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat