THE SKINNY: Roberto Luongo stopped 45 of 46 shots he faced to backstop the Canucks to a huge victory to keep Vancouver alive in the battle for top spot in the Northwest Division. The two teams are now tied with 96 points.
THE GOOD NEWS: The Flames can still win the division and wrap up home-ice advantage in the first round of the NHL playoffs by winning their final two games.
The bad news: Although Calgary outshot Vancouver 21-9 in the opening frame, the Canucks emerged with a 1-0 lead on a late marker by Rick Rypien, who has scored all three of his goals this season against the Flames.
THE PREDICTION: “We have to keep working hard and keep taking our shots and create some traffic in front of (Luongo),” Olli Jokinen told Rogers Sportsnet during the first intermission. “If we keep taking shots, we will score.”
THE PAYOFF: The Flames were finally rewarded for their hard work when Jarome Iginla kicked the puck onto his stick before swatting a shot into the net just past the outstretched pad of Luongo at 14:44 of the second period.
THE GAME WINNER: Just 22 seconds after Iginla’s goal, Mattias Ohlund’s point shot hit a stick in front and got behind Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. Ohlund and Henrik Sedin then added insurance markers in the final frame.
THE CONCERN: Calgary went 0-for-6 on the power play and has now failed to score in 37 straight man-advantage situations.
THE NEXT GAME: The Flames finish out the season with a home-and-home series against Oilers starting on Friday night in Edmonton.
