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Friday, December 24, 1999
All for one
For a pipsqueak, generously listed at 5-ft.,7-in. (maybe standing on an apple crate), Fred Brathwaite has cast a long, daunting shadow.
Caught in the glare of the spotlight this past month, Brathwaite's star has all but put a total eclipse on the rest of the Flames as they continue their uphill climb through the Western Conference standings.
It's like he's Gerry and they're the Pacemakers; he's Gladys Knight and they're the Pips; he's Michael Flatley and they're the rest of the lords of the dance.
Freddie has planted his feet at centre stage this last month and a half and held it, brilliantly. And, they'll all admit, he's been one boffo headliner.
Last night, though, Brathwaite gladly stood to one side and let a few of his buddies take deep, deserving bows.
"That," said Val Bure, "was as good a team game as you'll see. Everybody chipped in. Freddie did his part. The defence was hitting everything in sight. The forwards did a great job of coming back and helping out.
"Guys were dropping in front of shots. We stayed patient. We were just ... solid. I think that's the best way I can describe it. That's why we've been able to play 0-0 games and 2-1 games this last month. We're all starting to believe this style can work for us because we're getting results.
"Look, everybody's happy for Freddie. Thrilled. He and Grant (Fuhr) have both played really, really well for us, but you don't win in this league if you're only good at one position."
Certainly, this keynote 2-1 nailbiter against the Oil, that sends the Flames to the Christmas break on as high a high that can be obtained by legal means, showed off the collective effort that coach Brian Sutter natters on about every single day.
"This," said a satisfied Sutter, "is going to be a very merry Christmas.''
What is it that makes up such a gritty, ego-boosting, all-encompassing win?
Well, a lot of things. To many to list off, actually.
It's Tommy Albelin skedaddling back, diving flat out to sweep the puck away from the speediest Oiler, Todd Marchant, apparently in home free off the right side, as they cling to the precarious 2-1 lead.
It's Bure, the focal point here before Brathwaite started his run, battling through the flu to score the game winner and set up the first goal.
It's Derek Morris, returned from concussion, and Bure sweeping pucks off the goal line with Brathwaite all at sea.
It's Jason Wiemer's line shutting down Alexander Selivanov and Ryan Smyth, the two most productive Oilers.
It's Phil Housley and his elasticized legs logging another 27 minutes.
It's Denis Gauthier taking the attitude that he gets paid by the hit.
It's unheralded Bobby Dollas killing penalties. It's Bill Lindsay and Clarke Wilm and Rene Corbet doing the grunt work. And, yes, it's Freddie, the last line of defence, making 30 stops.
This isn't a solo act, by any stretch of the imagination.
"I can't say enough about them," beamed Sutter, looking like a dad who'd just seen his kids get their master's degree. "Where do you start? Val was so sick we didn't think he could play. I told him, 'Look, they're going to be checking the heck out of you tonight but I can't take you off. Doesn't matter how you feel, you've got to fight through it.'
"So what does he do? Scores the winner and has two points. Tells you all you need to know about Val, doesn't it?
"Mo comes back, didn't have his best game, but it was great to have him out there to count on again. Wilm did a great job. Tommy ... solid as usual. Gauthier set the physical tone again.
"We haven't allowed a 5-on-5 goal in three games. That's a real testament ... "
Sutter stopped mid-sentence, slapped Cory Stillman on the back as he was leaving the dressing room. The coach had given his charges two well-deserved days off.
"Way to go, Stiller," he said. "Great job, lad. Have a good holiday. You've earned it."
They all have.
Yeah. Yeah. Freddie, too.
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