Stanley and Iggy

There was a letter that appeared on ESPN.com this week, which was answered by SportsCenter anchor John Buccigross. The question concerned Jarome Iginla, and asked “…if the Flames don't win the Cup this year or any time soon and Jarome Iginla doesn't move on, where would he rate for you in terms of best player never to win a Cup?”

After reading this question, I started to do some thinking about the possibilities. Naturally, I’m always hoping the Flames are going to win the Cup, and my love for Iginla’s play knows no bounds; but what if he doesn’t win a cup? Buccigross listed several hall-of-fame players who never won a cup, including Marcel Dionne, Mike Gartner and Dino Ciccarelli and feels that should Iginla never win a cup, he would be a worthy member of this group; a group than includes three players who scored a combined 2,047 goals in the National Hockey League. While a Stanley Cup for Jarome would certainly be a feather in his cap, not winning one would not take away from his already successful hockey career. Iginla has won the Rocket Richard trophy twice and the Art Ross once, won the gold medal with Team Canada in 2002, the Memorial Cup with Kamloops in 1994 and 1995, and has been captain of an NHL team for over five seasons. Most hockey players would be happy to have such a resume. Iginla’s legacy is safe.

But after thinking about this question some more, I was struck with a scary thought. What if Iginla took a page out of Ray Bourque’s book, and decided that he would be unable to win a Stanley Cup in Calgary, and instead decided to head for ‘greener pastures?’ I hate to think of Iginla wearing a different jersey, but I wonder what my actual reaction would be to him requesting a trade for this reason. I remember seeing Bourque raise the Cup with Colorado in 2001, and how so many people said it was great to see him finally win it. My first reaction to Iginla moving on would be disappointment; disappointed that the Flames weren’t able to win a Cup with Iginla on the roster, and disappointment with him for, in a way, giving up on the team. But after that, I wonder if I could feel happy for him getting to win one, even if it was with, say, the Thrashers.

After reading this letter on ESPN.com, and contemplating different outcomes for Jarome and the Flames, I thought of Phil Mickelson before he had ever won a major championship. Always dogged by questions about if he would win and if he was the best player never to have won, the only way Mickelson was able to fix this problem was by winning, which he did with his first Masters in 2004. As soon as he put on his first green jacket, these questions stopped. So let’s see the Flames win the Cup this year, and I won’t need to ponder this letter any further. Let’s do it for Iggy!

You can find the abovementioned letter at:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/notebook?page=buccigross/091028mailbag


- TheRev

New Banners...small consolation

Just a few quick thoughts before I hit my pillow…

The Flames have no problem starting games anymore; it is simply playing the rest of the 60 minute game that they seem to have issues with. Leading 2-0 a minute into the game and the Flames stepped off the gas pedal and idled in neutral for most of the game. They were so close to running Anderson from the net, yet they change their game plan after they started so well. Jokinen showed some life tonight, but still looks out of place and stick handles like a 9 year old tyke player looking to go end to end.

Only allowing 14 shots on net, you think the Flames would be the victors; regrettably not. Their stingiest effort of the season was thwarted by a breakdown in the defensive zone, which allowed Colorado’s leading scorer to waltz into the slot unabated and snap one top cheese. A tough break, but a common sign for the Flames this year as small mental lapses have cost them a lot of goals against. Is it the new system? Is it laziness? Wolski split Dawes and Langkow and then Dion waved his stick at him like a magic wand hoping Wojtek would fall under a spell…all for not unfortunately.

One last thing.

The Flames finally changed the banners in the Saddledome and aligned them all on one side, in this case the Flames end, and made it look simply better. Not to mention changing the retired jerseys so they all look the same. Having Vernon’s jersey retired in a jersey he never even played in was a disgrace. This is the only time I am glad the Flames followed something the Oilers have done. Now all they have to do is retire Chopper’s number 2, which is something that should have been done before Vernon ever touched the rafters.

That is all.

This is been,

Newman on the Flames

Amazing Anderson

I am guessing that when the season began not many expected the Colorado Avalanche to have only 1 regulation loss through 11 games and be leading the Western Conference. A team that was scheduled to be occupying the cellar of the west for most of the year has come out of the gate on fire due to some stellar goaltending from journeyman tender Craig Anderson. Toiling in the Chicago and Florida systems for the last 7 seasons, Anderson has never been given the chance to take control of the number one role. He has had spurts of great goaltending the last couple of years in Florida, but the team always reverted back to the veteran Tomas Vokoun. Anderson went to Colorado with the hope of being the number one. He has shown everyone that he is clearly the man for the job. Posting a 8-1-2 record, with one shutout, a .923 save percentage and a 2.14 Goals against average, he has made the Avs a legitimate opponent on a nightly basis. He ranks 2nd in GAA and save percentage, amongst starters, and tied for 1st in wins. It is amazing how having confidence in your goaltender changes a player’s outlook on the game, as the Avalanche have not had this type of goaltending since Roy was between the pipes.

To add to his stats, Anderson has now officially just shut the Oilers out.

Looking ahead to tomorrow night when the Flames take on Anderson and the Avs. The Flames, for their efforts, are red hot coming off their most complete game of the season on Saturday, and look to continue the trend against the division leaders. The Flames out shot their opponent for the first time all year on Saturday and will have to extend that streak tomorrow night in order to get the 2 points. They will have to pressure the young Avalanche squad into making mistakes and continue to improve on their league leading powerplay.

The emergence of Rene Bourque has been a huge contributing factor into the Flames success this year and he will hope to build on his team leading 14 points against Colorado.

The Flames will look to go 6-0 against the division tomorrow night; which would go a long way into securing the Northwest title.

This has been

Newman on the Flames

Battle of Alberta Fight Night

For the last couple years the Edmonton Oilers had their way physically with the Calgary Flames. Steve MacIntyre would run amok on the ice and bowl over anyone that stood in his way.

Enter Brian McGrattan. Cue one the best fights of the year and McGrattan landing some of biggest bombs you will ever see NOT drop a human being to his knees. A heavyweight tilt that lived up to its billing.

Holyfield vs Tyson minus the ear biting.
Ali vs Foreman minus the jungle.

A great fight in which both combatants landed significant punches and energized the crowd, en route to a Flames team dominating 2nd period performance where they out shot the Oilers 19-9. The Flames peppered Khabibulin with 38 shots over the game and managed to outshoot the opponent for the first time all year. Not to mention the Flames eclipsed the 30 shot barrier for the first time, all the while limiting the Oilers to 25 shots; the Flames stingiest effort of the season. Despite having 7 Powerplays against them, including an extended 5 on 3 at the end of the second/start of the third period, the Flames limited the Oilers to only 2 goals.

The second line of Bourque-Langkow-Dawes provided a majority of the offence, including a beauty 2 on 1 shorthanded marker in the first period. Dawes potted in 2 goals and put forth his strongest game wearing the Flaming C.

Where are all the pundits that said this team would have trouble scoring goals? What is Calgary going to do without Cammalleri? Well, the Flames are averaging over 4 goals a game and are the highest scoring team in the league. Even with “Olli the Invisible” providing next to nothing on the score sheet, the Flames are scoring at will with help from their depth players like Nystrom, Dawes and Langkow. The emergence of Rene Bourque has been a welcoming sight and should be able to continue his ways unless the injury prone winger falls victim to another ailment (knock on wood). His shorthanded tally in the first, in which he shoved Grebeshkov over, took the puck and raced down the ice with Langkow proved to be one of the turning points in the game. He very much reminds us of a younger Iginla with his speed, his shot and his sense for the net. Let us hope he stays healthy.

The Flames are off to their best start in franchise history. 15 points in their first 10 games and they are seemingly hitting their defensive stride if last night is any indication. The highest scoring team in the league with the arguably one of the best fighters in the league provides for one nasty team to play against on a nightly basis.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Feeling Good

The Flames came out firing (no pun intended) on the Blue Jackets tonight. A well rested team hungry to re pay Columbus for a loss one week ago, the Flames took control of the game from the drop of the puck. Except for getting into some penalty trouble at the beginning and end of the second stanza, the Flames controlled much of the 5 on 5 play and came out with a the win.

This was Jarome Iginla’s 09’ coming out party as well, a welcoming sign for all Flames fans. He had two assists in the first and then contributed a vintage Iginla leg-pump-top-cheddar goal off the cross bar in the third period to seal the deal for the Flames. He came out skating hard and did not let up throughout the game. His line, alongside Conroy and Glencross, was responsible for 2 of the first 3 Flames goals and tallied 6 points on the night.

On a night where Steve Mason was not at his best, the Flames took advantage of the shaky sophomore and put 6 goals past him; only Iginla’s was of the highlight variety. The difference from Flames teams of old tonight was the simple ability to exploit a weak goaltender. The Flames were out shot, again, by the opposing team but managed to get 6 goals on only 22 shots. Kipper faced 30 shots for the 6th time this season. Tonight was slightly different as the Jackets had 7 power play chances including two 5 on 3 advantages, on some “interesting” officiating.

One troubling thing that I found watching the game tonight was the complete ineffectiveness of Olli Jokinen. He consistently underwhelms every time he is on the ice. The Flames are paying this guy $5.5 million for what exactly. He has One, Uno, Un, Eins, yksi goal on the season. Remember that snipe to the top shelf? Oh wait, it was a dribbler from outside the blue line in that rollercoaster Blackhawk game, not exactly the output we were expecting from this guy. This was his scouting report coming in here though; a top grade player that tends to disappear for weeks at a time. This is true, as he has one regular season goal dating back to March of last season. He is being outplayed by a number of players on this team; Sjostrom, Nystrom, Bourque and Glencross to name a few. A concern for Flames fans, maybe?

Lombardi has one less point and makes $3 million less, just saying.

The Flames are 6-2-1 and if they manage to beat the Oilers on Saturday will card 7 wins in the month of October for first time in some while.

Everything is coming up Milhouse!

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Flawless Victory; well sort of...

Well, I believe Mr. Dion Phaneuf must have been reading this blog because he took my advice and gave his body up for the team to save a goal. Good for you “Neon Dion”, you did yourself proud! Not to mention a +2 on the night; a vast improvement from prior games for #3.

In other news the Flames managed to play their most complete game of the season last night, beating the Canucks 5-3. The Flames were up 5-0(Yikes!), and managed to give up a couple late goals to make fans sweat a bit. Luckily Burrows interfered with Kipper, sealing the win for the Flames. A game won by the Flames unsung heroes as the Flames top snipers, Iginla and Jokinen, failed to produce any sort of offence. Brian McGrattan single handily reminded us what it is like to have a good fighter around once again; dropping Hordichuk with one clean punch. Unbelievably, Darcy wanted another go around later on, only to see McGrattan score a goal against his team. McGrattan made a Gordie Howe hat trick look like a walk in the park.

The team played well, they skated hard and forced Vancouver into making mistakes. The Flames team last night looked like the Flames team all fans have been dreaming of; a dominating force.

Kiprusoff was unreal last night when needed to be through the first two periods. He made save after save and even used his Jedi Mind tricks to guess where the puck might be, making an unreal right pad save. Kiprusoff has been the Flames MVP through the first 7 games, and without him they are far from where they are currently sitting. Getting outshot for the 6th game this season (they have only matched the opponents shots once), the Flames are forced to rely on #34.

Iginla was invisible for most of the night, but the scary thing is, the Flames did not need him last night. The days of relying on #12 every night are officially over, but that is not to say that Iggy’s 09’ breakout party is long overdue. He will break out of this funk sooner or later, as players of his calibre do not stay hidden for long.

The question around last nights game is, without D. Sedin and Sami Salo for an extended amount of time, are the Canucks in some serious trouble? If they continue to lose at this pace, will they be so far behind the pack that they will not be able to recover? Looking at last year when they lost Luongo for a number of weeks, they managed to go on a tear at the end of the season and take over the division crown. Arguably Bobby Lu is more important to the team than Sedin or Salo, but put together, and coupled with the injury to Pavol Demitra, do the Canucks slide down the ranks in the Western Conference? I think they might, and that is all the better if the Flames hope to finish ahead of them in the standings.

The Flames are 4-0 against the division; a fantastic start to a very young season. Ever since Darryl arrived here, he made it a priority to beat Edmonton and Vancouver. It seems Darryl and Brent share similar minds when winning the games that matter most.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Line Juggling

A quick hit on this Friday afternoon.

Coach Sutter manufactured some interesting line juggling in preparation for tonight’s tilt with the Canucks. Seperating Iginla and Jokinen might have been his smartest move as this tandem has not clicked since Jokinen landed in Calgary last winter. I like the fact he kept the line of Langkow-Dawes-Bourque together as that has been great throughout all 6 games. The Forward line up like this tonight:

Dawes-Langkow-Bourque

Glencross-Conroy-Iginla

Sjostrom-Jokinen-Nystrom

Prust-Boyd-McGrattan

One thing Sutter did not do was separate Phaneuf and Regehr, a tremendous oversight on his part. A combined
-12 playing together, I am thinking a separation would be right at the top of Sutter's list. Instead he moved Bouwmeester with Sarich, and Gio with Pardy. Why wouldn’t he maybe put Regehr with Bouwmeester and maybe put Dion on the bench...err with Pardy, and then have Gio and Sarich play together? I think that evens out the lines a little better, but then again I am not an NHL Coach. I hope the line juggling pays dividends.
Playing against a Canucks team that is depleted of two of its stars should bode well for a Flames team chomping at the bit for a win. I am predicting a goalie battle: 2-1 Flames.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Limping Home

Well, a game removed from the biggest collapse in NHL history and the Flames should come out angry as all hell, right? Wrong

The Flames were out shot 33-23 and if it were not for Kiprusoff, this game would have been 6-1. Kipper made several tremendous saves to keep the Flames up 1-0, but finally succumbed to the pressure of a 5 on 3 powerplay and let in two goals in just over two minutes of play. The Flames lacked any significant scoring chance over the final two periods until about 2 minutes left in the game when Iginla crashed the net and nearly shoved home a rebound; only to be thwarted by reigning Calder trophy winner Steve Mason.

The Flames only had one powerplay in the game and it lasted all of 45 seconds, failing to score in that time. The lack of powerplays suggest a lack of fore-check, lack of creating chances, and lack of beating the opposition to the puck forcing them to make a mistake. A lack of effort might be a better way to put it. The Flames looked tired and struggled to piece together more than 2 passes all night.

Kipper was easily the teams best player on a night where two former (I use that term loosely) Flames scored the Jackets only goals. The reason I say that is Stralman never actually played a regular season game for the Flames, as he was traded at the end of the pre season. Kristian “Juice” Huselius potted the eventual winner for CBJ.

Once again the Flames were able to play one third of a 60 minute game, having a decent first road period coming out leading 1-0. Once again though, the Flames faltered in the 2nd frame and end up losing the game. Also noted is that the Blue Jackets had two goals called back against them, two goals that probably should have counted. One was called no-goal due to a fight breaking out, and the other due to a pre-mature whistle blowing ref.

In the end, the Flames did not deserve to win this game and finish this short two game road trip with 1 meagre point.

Canucks are due up on Friday. The Flames have a lot; check that, a MAMMOTH amount of work to do if they plan on going 2 and 0 against their biggest divisional rival and in the process try not to lose their 4th straight game.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Deja Vu All Over Again?

It will be difficult for Flames fans to stay positive after Monday night’s humiliating loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Flames were, as everybody knows by know, up by 5 goals midway through the first period and lost the game in overtime 6 to 5. While much has been written on why this was a terrible loss for the team, why it was embarrassing, why this team is not as good as many thought they were, and so on, I’ve had a hard time finding anything positive about the loss. It then occurred to me that there wasn’t anything positive about this loss! However, the optimist continues to look for the silver lining in this stormy, dark cloud, and I for one am an optimist.

Last season, as the Flames struggled to an 8-6-1 record, they headed to Chicago on November 9th, 2008, to face the new, young, upbeat Blackhawks. Having lost 3 of their previous 4, things were looking gloomy for the hometown heroes. This continued that November night in the Windy City and after 60 minutes of play, the Flames found themselves down six to one, having not only lost the game by five goals, but also having been beaten by the Blackhawks in pretty much every measureable statistic in hockey: face offs, giveaways, takeaways, shots, penalty kill, power play, fights won, even amount of Gatorade drank. It was an embarrassing, humiliating loss, plain and simple. Sound familiar? After last season’s humbling defeat in Chicago however, the Flames went on to win 15 of their next 22 games, putting them atop the standings in the Northwest division. The loss to the Blackhawks was looked back as a turning point for the team, as its’ humiliating nature served as a wake up call for the team.

Can last night’s loss, last night’s debacle rather, serve as the same motivational tool for this year’s team? While the Flames record is 4-1-1, it would be hard to say they have played a full 60 minute hockey game, with a couple of last minute (even last second) wins over the Oilers, having nearly blown a 3-0 lead to the Canucks in the home opener, etcetera. Perhaps this loss to the Blackhawks, a team the Flames have not beaten in the regular season since March 16th, 2008, a team that many pundits have picked to be one of the top team in the Western Conference, and the same team that knocked the Flames out of the playoffs last year, will serve as the wake up call for what should be an improved team. Perhaps this game will serve as a wakeup for a defence that is allowing an average of 33 shots per game and hasn’t allowed fewer than 3 goals in a game this season. Perhaps this game will serve as a reminder to the fans that while the Flames may be improved this season over last, there is still a lot of work to do if the city of Calgary is to see any post season success next Spring.

If, like last season, a turnaround is to happen after this loss to Chicago, it will need to begin tonight, as the Flames travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. Last week this game would have only been looked at as a road game against a 2nd tier team, but after last night’s loss, tonight’s game as become a litmus test of the character and skill of the team and a game that could determine whether this season is a success or not. The optimist thinks that history can repeat itself, and last night’s loss may eventually be looked upon as a turning point in a successful season. Only time will tell.

- TheRev

That Was Something Else

Watching the Flames blow a lead like that should not be surprising for any true Flames fan. We watch year after year, game after game as the Flames jump out to early leads and either wind up blowing them, giving up last minute goals or barely hanging on. And there are some prime examples only six games into this very young season.

The opener against Vancouver where the Flames jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, only to barely win after Phaneuf (I will deal with this bum later) finds the empty net. Shots against: 42

The second home game against Les Habitants, the Flames allowed the Habs to score 2 goals in the last 2 minutes of the first period and a goal in the last 11 seconds of the second period. The Flames managed to squeeze a win out in the third; a nailbiter. Shots against: 30

Tonight, against a team that the Flames were eager to beat, after the Blackhawks ousted the Flames in the first round of the playoffs last year, the Flames tie an NHL record for giving up the biggest lead in history. Up 5-0 in the first 11 minutes of play and they find a way to lose the game. It’s not as if the Flames found themselves in serious penalty trouble; they killed off all 4 opportunities. The Flames came out and played 15 minutes of inspired hockey. The problem is that a hockey game is 60 minutes long, and in this case 60 minutes and 26 seconds long; the amount of time it took for the Hawks to complete this astounding comeback. Shot against: 39

Are you seeing the trend? The Flames are averaging 33 shots against a game, ten more than they are firing on the opposing team. I thought this was supposed to be a defence first team. What the hell happened to the talks of not allowing any goals and making it so Kipper did not have to bail the team out all the time? This group of so-called “Professional” hockey players are eerily reminiscent of last years team under Coach Keenan. That was an ugly two periods of hockey to watch and if you are Flames Fan, I am sure you could see it coming; I sure did.

What was Dion doing on that 4th goal by Chicago? The puck is lying in plain site of Phaneuf and he just %&$%ing stands there and watches as Bolland takes three whacks at the puck and shoves it in the net. Ever heard of giving up the body Dion? You know, taking one for the team? He is Calgary’s worst defensemen, simply put. He makes Sandis Ozolinsh look like Nick Lidstrom. He can score goals, which is all fine and dandy, but when it comes to being an actual defenseman he ranks in the bottom 1% of the league. He is so unaware of what is going on in his own end it is scary, and I am beginning to see the idea that trading him might be the Flames best option. Also take note tonight that he had the “A” on his jersey taken away from him and given to Langkow. Maybe the team has finally had enough of his ego. Hopefully this wakes him up!

And a side note, why do they dress McGrattan but not send him out there to take on Byfuglien? He is only guy that stands a chance against the “Manchild” and what else was McGrattan brought in to do? Byfuglien owns the Flames every time he plays them, because there is no one strong enough to move him. Jokinen and Bouwmeester tried to double team him, but that proved futile.

This hockey game should serve as a stiff reminder to the Flames that no lead is EVER safe. Keep the pressure on and NEVER let up!

Tomorrow should be very interesting.

Does Curtis Mac get his last chance between the pipes? Do the Flames come out of the gates as angry as David Letterman’s wife?

Newman, Out

Who Can Spell Kipper?

A quick hit on this Sunday morning about the state of Calgary’s backup goalie situation. Curtis McElhinney might just not be good enough to play for the Flames. He has a whopping total of one win in the year and a half he has been with the team and constantly disappoints every time he gets between the pipes. He does not make the saves that Kipper does and unfortunately for Mac, that is who he is compared to. Is it time to dump the Curtis experiment? I think so.

In the 07/08 campaign Sutter went out and grabbed Cujo of the free agent wire. He turned in some better performances, albeit with some of the most awkward saves of all time, including a magnificent showing coming off the bench against San Jose in Game 3 of the playoffs. With Cujo older than dirt now, what are some of Sutter’s other options?

Well he can give Mac a couple more starts which will probably happen with the copious amounts of hockey in the next month and a half including the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets tomorrow and Tuesday. If Mac does not provide the Flames with the supplementary goaltending that they need, who else is there?

There is David Shantz, Matt Keetley and Leland Irving in the AHL. Shantz had a great pre season and probably warrants a look for the back up job. Irving has been touted as the “Heir to Kippers Throne” since he arrived here. Keetley has been simply average.

Sutter could go grab a veteran via trade or free agent signing. I think Manny Legace is still out there…

Regardless of what Sutter does, this issue must be solved or Kipper is going to be subject to another 70+ game season, which will most likely lead to another early playoff exit.

What are your thoughts on what the Flames should do?

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Old Man Quinn

It’s not often I like to talk about our neighbours to the north, but I think Oilers coach Pat Quinn’s comments after last night’s Flames win warrants some discussion. Following an incident where Jarome Iginla and Sheldon Souray slid into the boards, resulting in Souray leaving the game with a mild concussion, Quinn was quick to climb onto his soapbox and let fly on the Flames captain. Talking about the incident, Quinn said, “I don’t understand the players of today…if that had happened in my era, the player would have been hit over the head with a stick right afterwards.” It is hard to believe that a modern NHL coach would suggest a player should be hit in the head with a stick, but this is exactly what coach Quinn did in his post game press conference last night. Quinn continued with his vigilante utopia, saying “that’s the way you dealt with things in the era I come from, you deal dirt with dirt.”

Besides the fact that replays show it was not a dirt play on Iginla’s part, nor was there any intent to injure, nor does Iginla have a reputation for dirty plays, Quinn’s “eye for an eye” suggestions offers a stark reminder of his advancing age. The veteran bench boss will be 67 in January, and has been coaching in the NHL since before most of the players on his roster were born. His comments demonstrate a generational gap that both the coaching staff and the players will need to overcome if they are to have any success this season. It is difficult for a man born during World War II to relate to kids who were born with Super Mario Bros. II. Quinn’s comments in the press conference last night might have been a way of deflecting attention away from his team’s second last minute loss in less than a week, but more simply, it made him sound old. When Quinn starts off comments with “back in my day,” he’ll remind his players more of their grandfathers, and less of their coach.

Quinn represents one of the last coaches of the previous era, and seems to believe that players in his era were better and tougher. Much like Mike Keenan last year, it might be time for Coach Quinn to move on into retirement, as his comments last night demonstrate his old-fashioned way of doing things. Fortunately for Oiler fans, management has already put a line of succession in place, with Tom Renney ready to take over when Quinn’s tenure ends. Whether or not Quinn finishes his three year contract remains to be seen, but if he does, he will be 70 years old at the end of that third season, trying to guide and mentor kids in their early 20’s. Perhaps he won’t finish the contract though, as he tires of players doing things like wearing helmets, because in his day you didn’t wear helmets. After all, as Coach Quinn said, he simply doesn’t “…understand the players of today.”

-TheRev

Stealing 2 in Edmonton

So…the Flames go in to Edmonton last Saturday and “steal” 2 points when Khabibulin flubs a clearing attempt and Moss pots the game winner. Fast forward 5 days later. Rene Bourque tips a Jay Bouwmeester point shot with less than 2 seconds left in regulation to send it to extra time, leading to a shootout win. Not to mention the Oilers get a man advantage in the OT and fail to score, despite out shooting Calgary 7-0 in the 4th period of play.

The Flames should be running out of Rexall as fast they can. They legitimately stole 4 points and 2 games away from the Oilers in less than a week; a site all Calgarian’s can enjoy.

It seems to be a night of lines this year for the Flames. First three games can be attributed to the 4th liners for creating amazing energy and reasons for winning each game. Tonight it was the second line that did most of the heavy lifting. The line of Langkow, Bourque and Dawes accounted for five of the Flames nine points, and all three of their goals. Dawes even ripped one “Top Cheese” in the shootout to help the visitors get off to a good start in the shootout.

As you look at the TOI for the forwards for the first four games, you begin to realize that there isn’t really a top line, per say, more so just twelve “friends building a house together.”

The first unit of Iginla, Jokinen and Moss have a combined 3 goals in the first four games. Jokinen has not scored a regular season goal since March 14th of last season. Remember the hat trick against the Leafs last season; yeah…that was a long time ago. Iginla only has 1 goal in four games, very similar to last season when he only had 1 goal in his first 5 games.

I guess what I am trying to say is this: Iginla will break out sooner than later and with that, Jokinen will likely follow; and when they do, watch out for the Flames. The secondary scoring is scorching hot right now, and when Iggy and Olli hit their mark Calgary will be tough to beat.

The first line did look a lot better tonight. It was nice to see Iggy defend himself after Moreau stood up for Souray; Iginla could have popped him about five times in the head but chose the gentlemanly path. Jokinen played more aggressively, which was good. I am not sure the experiment with Moss on the top line is working so well. I think its sort of the “small fish in big pond” scenario, as in he might be better suited to step out of the spotlight and play on the second line. I just think he might have more success there instead of having the pressure of playing with 12 and 21.

In the end, the Flames are 4-0, so let us enjoy this unbeateness(yeah I made up a word) while it lasts.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Fourth Line Dominance

Saying that our fourth line was good for the first game was one thing. The second game, impressive. The third straight game in which the fourth line outperforms the other three is astounding and re-iterates the immense amount of depth on this Flames squad.

Let’s look at the stats for the first 3 games:
Sjostrom- 2 A, and a Plus 3
Nystrom- 2 G, 1A, a plus 5, and 1 fight
Prust-1 G, Plus 3 and 2 fights.

Not to mention they never quit skating and create insane energy when on the ice. Sjostrom’s speed is up there with Glencross and the hands of both Prust and Nystrom or very underrated. Although Nystrom’s hat trick was rescinded he still had a fabulous tip in and great reflex shot over Jaroslav Halak. These guys can skate, hit, fight and score and they are the Flames 4TH LINE!

With this added depth, it is hard to say that this is not the deepest the Flames been since the early nineties. Not to mention we have Jason Jaffray in the press box, fresh off an impressive pre season campaign and chomping at the bit to get into the action.

And it’s not just our low end forwards that are providing the spunk, it’s also the back end lesser lights that have really shown they belong. The emergence of Adam Pardy has to be mentioned. He already has amassed one goal, two assists, is a plus 5 and has had some timely hits in the first three games. Remember, he had 10 points all of last year. Stefan Kronwall has been an admirable replacement for Cory Sarich and is a tower on skates. Mark Giordano has matured by leaps and bounds in the past year and his smooth skating ability and “calm under pressure” mentality has easily moved him up the depth chart; not to mention a fantastic block at the end of the game tonight.

The Flames look good; their depth has been proven over the first three games of the season. Kipper has been fantastic, minus the third goal tonight, and without him we are winless, not unbeaten.

If the Iggy and Jokinen wake up, hopefully tonight was the start, and the defence tightens up on late period mental lapses, then watch out for the Flaming C!

This has been,

Newman on the Flames