Jul 31 2006
Game Seven:
Flames 3 - Canucks 2 (OT)
Flames Win Series 4-3
The best series of the first round ended with a wild one. Matt Cooke tied the game for Vancouver with five seconds left in regulation time. Martin Gelinas poked home a rebound just 1:25 into the extra period.
Calgary's Jerome Iginla is currently the best player in the NHL. He scored two terrific goals and helped create Gelinas' game-winner.
Cooke and Markus Naslund were unstoppable in the third period, combining for both Canuck goals.
The referees called it tight right to the end. Cooke was in the penalty box when Calgary took a 2-1 lead with about 10 minutes left. Each team was a player short when Cooke scored the tying goal. Gelinas' OT winner came on a power play.
The Flames reward is a date with the Red Wings.
Game Six: Canucks 5 – Flames 4 (3OT)
(Series tied 3-3)
Classic playoff hockey. Vancouver wasted a 4-0 lead, but Brendan Morrison saved his team by scoring at 42:28 of overtime.
In the first half of regulation time, Vancouver exploited a tentative Calgary team that was taking plenty of penalties.
After Geoff Sanderson made it 4-0 at 10:15 of the second period, the Canucks were plagued by bad hockey and bad luck as the Flames surged back to life. Three of Calgary’s four goals came on deflections.
The ice time leaders were Calgary's Robyn Regehr (43:21) and Vancouver's Ed Jovanovski (40:27).
The goaltending story: Vancouver’s Alex Auld: 48 saves; Calgary’s Miikaa Kiprusoff: 35 saves.
Calgary defenseman Denis Gauthier did not return after injuring a leg in the third period.
Game Five: Flames 2 – Canucks 1
(Flames lead series 3-2)
Compared to previous games in the series, this one never quite caught fire: a lot of checking, bad power plays, hopeful shots from the point and plenty of collisions in front of the net. Fortune smiled on Calgary, as Jarome Iginla tipped a point shot off a Canucks’ defenseman and in for the game-winner with under 15 minutes left.
The Canucks stayed clear of the Flames’ net and skated without much conviction. The more aggressive Flames team dictated the pace. Vancouver poured it on in the final minutes, too little, too late.
The teams exchanged power play goals in the second period. Otherwise, scoring chances were at a premium.
Vancouver went with rookie goaltender Alex Auld, the third goalie they have used in the series. He made 18 saves. Calgary’s Miikaa Kiprusoff made 32 stops, but only a few had to be exceptional.
Vancouver has just two even strength goals in the series.
Game Four: Flames 4 - Canucks 0
(series tied 2-2)
Calgary snatched this game with three second period goals - one short-handed, one at even strength, and one on the power play. Vancouver's best players had little room to move and did not look dangerous until the third period, when they were already down 3-0.
Flames' goalie Miikaa Kiprusoff stopped 20 shots. He also assisted on the third goal, making a perfect breakout pass to catch Vancouver on a line change.
Stephane Yeller, who scored short-handed 58 seconds into the second period, was playing his first game after a three-week injury layoff.
The goalies were targets. There were four goaltender interference penalties, three against Vancouver.
Flames' defenseman Tony Lydman and forward Chris Simon missed the game with injuries. Canucks' goalie Dan Cloutier is not expected back during the series.
Game Three: Canucks 2 -Flames 1
(Canucks lead series 2-1)
Vancouver's goaltender, Dan Cloutier, went down in the first period with a leg injury. The backup, Johan Hedberg, came in to stop 19 shots. The Canucks were the quicker team, with better scoring chances.
Calgary's Chris Simon's scored first, but that was quickly matched by Markus Naslund's power play goal for Vancouver. It was the Canucks' sixth power play goal of the series.
Matt Cooke scored the game-winner early in the third, after which Vancouver lined up its players in the neutral zone, choking off almost every Calgary rush.
The Calgary power play went 0-for-7, and looked bad all night.
Flames' defenseman Tony Lydman missed the third period with an undisclosed injury.
Game Two: Flames 2 - Canucks 1 (OT)
(series tied 1-1)
Outstanding playoff hockey, with little to choose between the teams. Calgary goalie Miikaa Kiprusoff came back strong after a weak showing in game one.
The Flames took a 2-0 lead with goals at 3:06 and 3:56 of the first period.
Vancouver's goal should have been disallowed because of goaltender interference. Jarome Iginla's goal for Calgary was suspect for the same reason.
Game One: Canucks 5 - Flames 3
(Canucks lead series 1-0)
Vancouver's dead power play came to life, with four goals on six opportunites.
So much for Miikaa Kiprusoff as the next Great Goalie of Spring (17 saves on 22 shots).
Vancouver blew a 2-0 advantage before regrouping to win.
Canucks vs. Flames: Series Preview
Stanley Cup 2004: Analysis and Recaps of Every First Round Series
Stanley Cup 2004: First Round Schedule and Results at a Glance
