Saturday, December 24, 2005

Flames win shootout thriller in Vancouver.

It was one of those barn burner types of games where you got the feeling that the last shot was going to be the one to win it. And it almost was the last shot, that did win this one for the Calgary Flames.

Tony Amonte potted the clinching goal in the shoot out as he deked out Canuck goaltender Alex Auld to bring the Friday night NHL match up to an end. Steven Reinprecht had scored earlier in the shoot out to put the Canucks on the bubble before Amonte put away the insurance marker. The final game before the Christmas break had everything we’ve come to expect from a Calgary Vancouver match up. Lots of fast paced action, some hard hits, and solid passing and fore checking and despite the high score some great plays in the net at both ends of the rink.

The 6-5 win stopped a Calgary winless skid at two, while the Canucks once again found that visitors from Alberta did not come bearing gifts of the season for the residents of GM Place. The points for Calgary tighten up the race in the Northwest, as Calgary pulls to within one point of second place Vancouver, which trails the first place Oilers by one point as the teams take their two day Christmas break.

The game featured a Calgary team that just wouldn’t stop coming at the Canucks. Every time the Canucks would get a goal it seemed as though it was answered by the Flames shortly after the puck was dropped and the announcement made on the PA system.

The two teams renew acquaintances again on Boxing Day, as the Canucks try to figure out what it will take to reverse their inability to come out ahead on the scoreboard against Alberta teams.

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