The final score in Game 1 was 4-1, which may have flattered the Calgary Flames. Not that they didn't deserve to win, because they most certainly did. It's just that the play wasn't as one sided as the score.

For the Lightning, though, that should not be a comfort -- more of a reminder. As in, without winning your fair share of battles in the trenches, there can be no open ice glory.

Granted, the Lightning's lack of collective concerted energy was probably predictable coming off the emotional seven-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers. And they may have even been lulled into a false sense of security after 20 minutes despite trailing 1-0.

After all, the goal was the result of a fluttering fluke that deflected off Martin Gelinas and barely eluded goaltender Nik Khabibulin. Yet the Bolts could take solace in the fact that they out-chanced the Flames and created half their opportunities off the forecheck. What they didn't account for was that the Flames were shaking off the rust of the longer layoff before the finals. From Calgary's perspective, they led despite playing poorly in the first.

Enter captain Jarome Iginla. As he has done throughout the playoffs for the Flames, he reset the intensity meter, and his team followed his cue. He generated four scoring chances alone -- three shorthanded -- finally netting one on the penalty kill with extra effort on and after a clean breakaway to stretch the lead to 2-0.

Shortly thereafter, Stephane Yelle followed suit with another premium individual effort, first on the forecheck -- banging Dan Boyle into the end boards and stripping him of the puck -- and then with a composed move to the front of the net and placing a perfect shot over the short side glove-side shoulder of Khabibulin.

Those two plays defined this win for the Flames. They won more one-on-one battles and for the umpteenth time this spring exhibited uncanny offensive opportunism.

For the Bolts, the search for the requisite energy level -- one they were incapable of mustering on this night -- was on. They had moments of sustained pressure, but never looked in sync. Again, credit the Flames for finding their stride and making timely plays.

Still, the burden of bearing down fell on the Lightning, and they failed.

Now the responsibility of responding is all on the Lightning in Game 2. They find themselves trailing in a series for the first time in this postseason, while the Flames earned a series-opening road victory for the third straight time. In other words, they are exactly where they want to be.

In that, the Lightning can find little solace.

Three Stars

1. Andrew Ference: He led all players in ice time, playing more than 27 minutes, blocked four shots, had an assist and was a plus-2 on the night. With coach Darryl Sutter predominantly playing five defensemen, Ference elevated his game to match the moment.

2. Iginla: He led by example at precisely the right time, allowing his team to seize control of a game up for grabs.

3. Chris Clark: He was feisty all night long and maximized his impact -- both on the penalty kill and at even strength, with four shots on goal and pesky puck pursuit.

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for SI.com.