This game was good all around in my opinion. Flames started off rusty, then after the first 10 minutes plaed good hockey until a third period breakdown, and played well after that. The Stars were good at taking advantage of Flames breakdowns today, Dube on the first goal was especially rough, and they continued to abuse the fact that the Flames wingers collapse to the middle. For a team that uses their d-men alot, we can't give them so much space on the line.
I like Ward and he is doing everything in his power to win this series. He puts Lindholm on the second line and they generate chances, yet Rieder on the top line contributes to the GWG (and a missed one timer in back to back games that could've won/caused a tie). He sees Dube is playing well so he puts him on 4v4, yet he tries to do too much/loses a handle and there's the first goal. Flames just need to be sharper off the hop. Turnovers led to penalties (Giordano's momentum killer). Andersson is a big culprit of this, he and Hanifin got caught playing catch but played it to each others backhanded on the 2nd goal for the Stars, and he in general always seemed gassed in the 1st. Oh well. I feel like we could see the team come out tomorrow well. Backlund and Lindholm was great today, if Mangiapane is there to bury some of those chances on Thursday the Flames are looking good going forward.