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DETROIT -- Two trips to the record books: Neither one a source of pride for the Calgary Flames.
The 23 shots on goal surrendered in the opening 20 minutes of yesterday's 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings set a new franchise standard for most allowed in a period of a playoff game. The old mark of 22 was set April 6, 1984, a 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The 15 shots Calgary sent at netminder Dominik Hasek equalled the lowest ever recorded by the team in a post-season clash, a lowlight reached on three previous occasions, the last against Vancouver April 8, 1989.
Granted, it's hard to believe Calgary fired only three shots in the second period of yesterday's affair -- the Flames had a half-dozen scoring chances in what was easily their best 20 minutes of the series -- but it can't be disputed Hasek has seen too little rubber.
"We've got to start throwing everything at the net," said Flames centre Craig Conroy. "If it's from the blueline, if it's from the corner, doesn't matter. I think we're trying to make the real pretty play. We have to get a shot-first mentality.
"Get shots going and go for rebounds -- that's what they're doing."
And the Wings are doing it remarkably well. They fired 51 pucks at Miikka Kiprusoff yesterday, adding to the 46 in Thursday's series-opening 4-1 win that included 21 in the middle frame alone.
Kiprusoff has been great but the Flames know they won't last long if that trend continues. Their porous defence has been only part of the problem. The Flames have given Detroit 15 powerplays, including three 5-on-3s yesterday.
"As a whole, we've got to cut that down," said defenceman Dion Phaneuf. "It's unacceptable. We've got to be better, not only as defenceman but as a five-man unit in front of him, blocking shots, and doing whatever it takes to keep the shots down."
