The Calgary Flames appear to be a team in disarray. They are down 2-0 to the Blackhawks in their first-round playoff series and questioning the officiating, themselves and coach Pierre Page.
“We have to try to go in for the kill,” says the Hawks’ Jeremy Roenick. “We can’t sit back and think we have anything won. I’m sure they’re an angry team and a team that will be motivated.”
Angry, indeed. The Flames are angry about the officiating in Friday night’s 3-0 Hawks victory and, some of them, angry at Page, who benched some of his best offensive players Friday in response to what he considered an inferior defensive effort in Wednesday’s Game 1 defeat.
Page dressed eight defensemen Friday night and played two of them at forward. Left out was winger Dean Evason, who was responsible for the Flames’ only goal in the series.
“I don’t want to rock the boat, especially in the playoffs,” said Evason, “but something’s got to be said. I don’t understand this.”
Potentially more distracting to the Flames was Page’s refusal to talk–or let his players talk–after Friday’s game, apparently in frustration over some of referee Kerry Fraser’s penalty calls.
Theo Fleury was so incensed about being called for tripping after being decked from behind by Murray Craven that he had to be restrained from attacking Fraser.
“There is some frustration and maybe some distraction on their part,” said Hawks coach Craig Hartsburg. “Rather than worry about us they’re worrying about the referees . . . some of them, anyway. That works in our favor.”
Also working in the Hawks’ favor Friday was the midgame shift of Denis Savard to the first line, a move that could be repeated Sunday in Game 3.
Savard, who was on the fourth line for Game 1 and the first half of Friday’s contest, produced immediate results when Hartsburg moved him between Roenick and Tony Amonte.
“We needed a shot in the arm,” Hartsburg said. “I thought that line created some things. Savvy obviously was fresh. He hadn’t seen a lot of ice time. With his energy and experience, he can give us a lift.”
On his first shift with his new linemates, Savard set up Roenick’s goal for a 2-0 lead. “It’s great to play with Savvy,” said Roenick. “He’s one of the all-time best in the game.”
Savard, who needs two goals to tie Bobby Hull as the Hawks’ all-time playoff goal scorer, said he was not unhappy with his fourth-line assignment in Game 1.
“I don’t have a problem with it,” he said. “It’s the playoffs, not the time to worry about how much ice time you get.”
Roenick’s goal was critical because “they were playing us pretty good,” said Savard. “You like to get the first goal, which we got with Gary (Suter). Then to go up 2-0 the way Eddie (Belfour) was playing . . . and the way we play defense, it’s a big hill for (Calgary) to climb.”
The Flames appear to have a mountain to scale, but “we were down 2-0 last year and still won the (Toronto) series,” reminded Roenick. “These next two games will be the hardest ones. They’ve got a lot of pride.”
And a lot of problems.
