Calgary Flames ease past Montreal Canadiens winning the game 4-0 in a shutout performance
The final game of the weekend was played at the McMahon Stadium as the Calgary Flames welcomed the Montreal Canadiens. This game was 2011 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic with a record 41,000 people attending the game.
Both the teams are in the play-off positions but a win would strengthen their position in the league.
The Flames were on the front foot right from the start of the proceedings and scored in each of the three periods.
Miikka Kiprusoff, goal keeper of the Flames did an excellent job to keep his goal safe and didn’t allow any goals.
This also earned him the player of the game award as he made 39 saves during the game. In the end, it was the Flames who won the game 4-0.
The opening period of the Winter Classic encounter saw the Flames on top of their game. Not only did they dominate possession but they were out-class in every department from shooting to passing.
Their play-making was fabulous that saw them coming across scoring chances frequently.
The Canadiens had their chances as well but they didn’t come up with the play that was expected from them and hit the shots wide off target. Not only this, but their passing was very weak in the opening stages.
However, the Flames deservingly got into the lead with Rene Bourque scoring in the 9th minute during power play.
The Flames continued to attack and their passing and shooting got better with the passage of time.
At one stage it looked as if they would score more the 10 goals but the opposing goal keeper did an excellent job in not allowing any.
The period ended with the Flames leading 1-0. During the course of the period, the Flames made 19 goal attempts and their solid defence restricted the Canadiens to just 8 goal attempts.
The second period started on a high for the Canadiens as they went out in search of the equalising goal.
They constructed some brilliant plays in doing so but weren’t able to score any goals. The Flames got better with the passage of time and created chances of themselves.
The huge crowd went wild as the Flames scored once again in the 13th minute to double their lead.
The goal was scored by Anton Babchuk from a powerful strike. The Flames kept the pressure on the opposing defence and successfully scored in the 15th minute. The goal was scored by Rene Bourque who bagged his second for the night.
Though the Canadiens were definitely the stronger of the two teams in the period in terms of creating chances but making goal attempts but they couldn’t find the final touch.
Flames were leading 3-0 as the teams went into the lead. During the 20 minutes of play, the Canadiens made 21 goal attempts while the Flames made 11 goal attempts.
The final 20 minutes of play weren’t as productive in terms of goal attempts as the first two but still there was a goal scored. Both teams didn’t go on the attacks relentlessly and waited for spaces to develop.
The Flames scored in the 11th minute through Alex Tanguay during power play to seal the game.
The period ended with the Flames making 7 goal attempts while the Canadiens made 10 goal attempts.
In the end, Flames emerged as 4-0 winners of the game.
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