Defense wins championships, according to the old saw. And it was the difference between the Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings on Friday.
A look at the scoreboard tells an observer the Flames won 5-2. How the teams got to that point is insightful, and own-zone play was the determining factor.
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First, the Flames' point of view.
"In our books, we gave up one scoring chance in the third period, which is unbelievable (when you're) trying to protect a lead (against) such a dynamic hockey club like the Wings," coach Bob Hartley said, via the Calgary Herald.
"Our guys did a wonderful job."
Down 2-0 early, the Flames plowed in the game's remaining goals. So something didn't work for the Wings.
"We had those couple of goals and then sat back and got sloppy and they got back in the game," Justin Abdelkader, who scored both the first-period goals, told MLive.com. "They found energy and they found ways to create turnovers and get pucks in our net."
Coach Mike Babcock told The Detroit News: "We controlled a lot territorially, and did a lot of good things. But the puck went in our net consistently, and then we end up chasing the game."
The Wings got a great game from goalie Jimmy Howard in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime victory against the New York Rangers. On Friday, Howard wasn't as good. He allowed four goals — the Flames' final was with the net empty — but got little help.
"We're all in it together," Babcock said. "Anytime you don't win we look at everybody, coaches, too. We got to do a better job."
The Wings are third in the Atlantic Division, their playoff position secure and their chance to improve good, sitting five points behind the Montreal Canadiens and three back of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Friday counts as a missed opportunity to close that gap.
Speaking of Babcock, Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press makes a solid case why Babs should be the NHL's highest-paid coach and why the Wings shouldn't let him leave Motown when his contract expires.
What's the sentiment … hell to the yes.
Meanwhile, the Flames are in a much more precarious position. They are third in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks hot on their tails. And with leader Mark Giordano out for the season with a torn arm muscle, it would be easy for them to slide.
Except Hartley's players aren't going to let that happen, in part thanks to Giordano, their captain and inspiration even when he is not with the team.
"Talking to Gio, he was upset that he's out for the year," Matt Stajan said after the game. "Everybody turned on us, saying we don't have a chance. It's been like that all year. And when you lose your best player, it's even more of a challenge.
"We're up against it all the time — we know that — and we want to prove people wrong. Gio's helped us get to this position — he's the reason we are where we are — and we've got to finish the last 17, 18 games to make sure … we get to the fun part of the season."
Defense begins in front of the goal, where players disrupt flow and prevent clear shots on net. It ends with the goaltender, and Jonas Hiller was better than Howard on Friday, making 33 saves.
"We created enough chances to score more goals," the Wings' Henrik Zetterberg said, with a nod toward Hiller.
Final word to defenseman Niklas Kronwall: "We have to do a way better job defensively. I thought too many times at times in the game we left the puck in the wrong areas of the ice and we were too passive in our own zone."