Flames Take Two

The Flames went into two arenas that have been quite unfriendly in the past and walked away with 4 points. First, the Flames shut out the two time defending Western Conference Champion Red Wings in Joe Louis Arena, which is no easy task. For the first time since 1977, the Red Wings were shutout twice in a row at home; the Flames being the back half of that equation. The following night, the Flames are down 3-1 going into the third period, yet manage to battle back to beat the slumping Blue Jackets for wins on consecutive nights. The Flames now have won 9 road games on the season and have gained points in 13 of their 14 contests away from the Dome. A drastic change from past years where “the Road” was the last place the Flames wanted to be.

Miikka Kiprusoff once again stole the show in a Flames game, not to mention stole two points for the win. The Flames were out shot 40-17 over the three periods of play and Kipper managed to stop everything that was thrown at him (well, sort of). Detroit had two goals that were disallowed that looked to be legitimate scoring plays. The Wings must have thought they jumped in Doc Brown's Delorean and went back to 1999 when the infamous “foot in the crease” rule was a topic of conversation. The goal was apparently called off because Kipper did not have a chance to save the puck due to Cleary being in front of him, and being slightly in the crease. Is that not called screening the goalie? Most fans, even Flames fans, thought that it should have counted yet the Flames caught a major break. It is a very vague rule as there was no penalty called on the play and is something the league should look into changing. Nonetheless the Flames played a strong third period and kept the home team off the board and Miikka earned his second shutout of the season.

Now if you read this blog often, you will know Olli Jokinen really grinds my gears. Well Olli, you really have shown you can contribute to this team after all. Scoring 10 points in the last 8 games, he is showing more confidence and playing like he is capable of being a high calibre NHLer. He is fore-checking with authority and using some patience when he is handling the puck, which is a drastic change from earlier in the season. Scoring 2 goals and 2 assists during the weekend’s two wins, Olli is shutting up his critics and letting his playing do the talking. The Jokinen-Iginla experiment is clicking right now as they have provided a majority of the Flames offence over the last couple weeks. Sutter must have implored the motto, “at first you don’t succeed, try, try again, and again, and again,” until it works. Sutter does make an interesting point, where as Keenan might have diverted away from the duo playing together rather quickly, Sutter let the two superstars gel through time and let both players grow accustomed to one another. Things do not always click right away, and this seems to be the case here.

Curtis McElhinney, starting his 3rd game of the season, had a very average game amid the “Whiteout” in Columbus, but shockingly came out with the win. Normally, that would have been a loss for the back-up goaltender, but the Flames persevered and rallied to win the game. Allowing two very soft goals from the Blue Jackets, it looked as if McElhinney and the Flames were headed towards their second road loss in regulation this season. But, Curtis stopped all 13 shots he faced in the third and overtime and then made a key stop in the shootout to win his 2nd game of the season. He has had better games, but this was a good sign that the Flames back-up goalie does not need to stand on his head to win the game.

The Flames have not lost in regulation on the road since a 2-1 defeat to very same Jackets back in late October. The Flames have gained point in 9 consecutive road games and look to set a record when they travel to Nashville on Monday. The Predators, for their part, are one of the hottest teams in the NHL. They have won 8 of their last 9 games and have quickly vaulted into contention in the tight Western Conference. The Flames swept the season series last year against the Preds, outscoring them 18-12 over the four games.

The Flames are now atop the Northwest division by 2 points over the Avalanche and hold 2 games in hand. November has once again been the Flames month and hopefully they can close it out with another good showing on Monday in Music City.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Source of Photos:http://www.life.com/image/73870860

Arena #2.5, #3.4 - Southern California

My mission is to see the Flames play in all 30 NHL arenas, a mission that began in October of 2005 while at a local pub watching the Flames take on the Oilers. With the previous season’s work stoppage, and the season before’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals, Flames tickets had become a very hard item to come by. I was then struck with the idea of combining two of my favourite activities; watching hockey and travelling. You can follow my quest to visit all 30 arenas right here…

November 21, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA

As winter settles into Calgary, it’s always nice to make a little road trip to Southern California to see the Flames play a couple of games in warmer climates, so this past weekend, we made what has become our annual pilgrimage to Los Angeles. The Flames were playing in the Staples Center on Saturday afternoon and the Honda Center on Monday night.

I’ve never liked afternoon games as it just doesn’t seem right to be watching hockey while it is still daylight out, and sunlight is beaming through the tunnels and into the seating bowl. Nonetheless, we arrived at the Staples Center about an hour before puck drop, which on this sunny afternoon was at 1:00PM. We were walking from our hotel and passed through LA Live, which is being dubbed the “Times Square of the West.” Of course it is nothing like Times Square, and far too contrived to ever be like Times Square, but it is filled with bars and restaurants and adds more to the vibrancy of the city than what was previously there, a two level parking garage. LA Live also features the Nokia Theatre, which hosts various awards ceremonies and movie premiers. On this particular Saturday, it was being set up to host the American Music Awards the following night.

As this was not our first trip to the Staples Center, we were less inclined to do the usual circle of the concourse. Instead, it is a quick line to the concessions for an afternoon beer, before heading to out seats in section 207 behind the Flames’ attack end. Noticeable at this game, was the poor attendance. Of all the games I’ve been to at the Staples Center, there are usually pretty good crowds, nearing capacity. I don’t know if it was because it was an afternoon game or not, but by the time the puck dropped, the arena was only half full.

Things started off with a bang as most fans hadn’t even sat down yet, when Iginla came in and scored 13 seconds into the game. The Kings were able to take the lead in the 2nd period with two goals in 38 seconds, but the Flames settled down and scored four unanswered goals, taking the game 5 – 2. The afternoon was highlighted by Jarome Iginla scoring his 9th career hat trick in the win. It was great to see the hats being thrown onto the ice at an away game, and I’ve been asked many times if I threw mine. I’d like to set the record straight: I did not throw my hat, as we were sitting behind the net in the 200 level. I wouldn’t be able to reach the ice on my own, and as we were surrounded by Kings fans, I don’t think they would have passed my hat along to ice level. If I could have thrown my hat, I would have. Really. For serious.

We headed to ESPN Zone across the street after the game for some beer and nachos, and then spent most of the night at one of the greatest bars in the world at the Figeuroa Hotel, two blocks from the Staples Center. If you’re ever in LA, head to the Figueroa for a drink, you won’t be disappointed!

Staples Center Fast Facts

Seats: Section 207; $40; StubHub
Score: Flames 5, Kings 2
Souvenir Stick: none
Public Transit: Train stop across the street
Unique Arena Trait: Three levels of luxury suites
Swag: Anze Kopitar 8x10 photo

November 23, 2009 – Anaheim, CA

The second leg of our Southern California trip was the Flames-Ducks game at the Honda Center in Anaheim. For the past four years, a trip to SoCal meant a game against the Kings who haven’t made the playoffs in almost a decade, and a game against the Ducks, we were perennial Stanley Cup contenders. This year however, the roles have been reversed, as going into the weekend, the Kings and Flames were tied in the standings at fourth place in the Western Conference, and the Ducks found themselves in the cellar. This was my fourth game at the Honda Center, I thought this would be the best opportunity to see the Flames do something I’d never see before; win in Anaheim.

We arrived at the arena only ten minutes before the game, as there isn’t really anything to do in the Honda Center beforehand. It may be the most vanilla arena in the league, and it is exactly what I fear when there is talk of a new arena for the Flames; I fear we end up with something like the Honda Center. It lacks any unique characteristics, or any atmosphere. It kind of feels like the Saddledome during the Superskills competition, as the crowds are sparse, few people really care about the result, and after the game everybody will leave as soon as possible to get home earlier.

Our tickets for the game were purchased on Ticketmaster and were part of a “Miller Lite Beer Pack” promotion, which for $60 each, we received a ticket in the lower bowl, a hot dog and a beer. Ahhh, the benefits of watching hockey in California! Interestingly enough however, when we redeemed our hot dog and beer vouchers, we received Coors Light, despite the promotion being sponsored by Miller Lite.

Like the game in LA two days earlier, the stands were pretty empty, with an announced crowd of 15,000 and change, but a crowd I’d guess to be closer to around 12,000. With the Ducks in last place, the fans have obviously stopped coming. Our seats were in section 227, which is in the lower bowl and behind the net in the Flames attack zone. As usual at a Flames-Ducks game, we were surrounded by enough Flames fans that it didn’t feel like watching a game 2000 miles from the Dome.

The Flames came out gunning, keen to make a sweep of the SoCal teams and outshot the Ducks 43-34. Despite this advantage however, the Ducks were up 2-1 on the Flames heading into the final minute of play. With much of the sparse crowd heading for the doors, hoping to beat traffic, the Flames pulled Kiprusoff for an extra attacker. On a pass from Jokinen, Iginla was able to score with only 18 seconds left in the game to tie it up. Unfortunately, the Flames were not able to score in overtime or a shootout, while Teemu Selanne was, as he beat Kiprusoff on the Ducks’ third shot, to give them the victory. Despite not winning, it was still the best Flames performance I’ve seen in Anaheim.

After the game, we headed to a nearby pub to have a beer with 'Phil in Anaheim,' whom we had met two seasons earlier at a Flames-Ducks game. Phil's a die-hard hockey fan, and we had another great discussion of everything hockey related.


Honda Center Fast Facts

Seats: Section 227; $60; Ticketmaster
Score: Flames 2, Ducks 3 in a shootout
Souvenir Stick: none
Public Transit: none
Unique Arena Trait: none
Swag: none

Photo from: http://www.life.com/image/84302189

A Tale of Two Goalies

The Flames needed a win at home, and they did exactly that; gaining a decisive 2-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes. Not the prettiest game in the world to watch but a win is a win anyway you slice it.

With two of the better goaltenders going head to head, one could have guessed that this would have been a low scoring affair. Let’s compare their stats after tonight’s contest:

Ilya Bryzgalov: 12 Wins, 2.13 GAA, .918 Save %
Miikka Kiprusoff: 13 Wins, 2.49 GAA, .917 Save %

Both goalies played well enough to win the game tonight but only Kipper came out with the W. Phoenix does not exactly possess the highest scoring offence; they average the 3rd least goals in the league while Calgary ranks 6th best. The Coyotes did not create many actual scoring chances throughout the game and the Flames were able to keep the chances they did get mainly to the perimeter. The one goal Phoenix did score was a point shot on the backend of the powerplay, which found its way through a maze and into the back of the net. Calgary managed to play one of its stronger defensive games this season.

As for the Flames offence, they were propelled forward by their second line and some great fore-checking. The first goal was produced by some great work down low by Eric Nystrom, coupled with a timely broken stick from Conroy, which enabled Langkow to slip onto the ice and into the slot unabated ripping it through Bryzgalov’s five hole. Calgary’s second goal was created also by some diligent fore-checking and a dandy no-look pass from David Moss, which Nigel Dawes through into the net for his first goal in 13 games.

A strong game from the secondary scoring of the Flames which is much needed as Jarome Iginla, unfortunately, can not score every game.

Anyone watching the game would have noticed Sutter shuffling the deck with the top line Left Wing spot all night. Lundmark, Dawes and Boyd all sifted by Iggy and Jokinen’s left side and no one seems to be able to cement their spot on the top unit. Who else is there? Do we bring up Backlund and give him a shot? Is it too soon for him? I think Boyd is the best fit for that line and presents the most upside at this point, but only time will tell. As for Lundmark, he is too much of a defensive liability at this point to be a permanent fixture on the top line or in the NHL. He does possess some offensive flare but his inconsistencies on the defensive side of the puck have plagued him for years and are a main reason he has never stuck it out in the big leagues. His ice time has severely decreased in the three games he has played, dropping to 11:06 in tonight’s affair.

Going back to the goalies, both have the opportunity to represent their countries at the upcoming Olympic Winter games. While the Breeze will battle Nabokov for the starting job for Russia, Kipper has stated that he will only play for Finland if he is named the starter. The decision by Kipper is controversial in some respects, but the right choice. He is deserving of the starters role at this point, by simply being the most experienced Finnish goalie and arguably playing the best right now. Pekka Rinne and Antero Nittymaki will both challenge Kipper for the job, but Rinne is very inexperienced and Nittymaki has been quite inconsistent over the years; albeit both goalies are playing well at the moment. In the end, it is Kiprusoff’s job to lose, and Jari Kurri’s decision to make.

As for the Flames, they head out on a six game road trip that takes them through Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, Phoenix, San Jose and Los Angeles. A very critical road trip as the Flames are looking to uproot Colorado from their perch atop the Northwest division. We should expect to see McElhinney at least once along the long trip as Kipper can not be expected to rival the Energizer bunny for endurance, like he has in years past. The Flames will look to improve on their spectacular road record of 7-1-3, and put some separation between them and the rest of the western conference.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Source of Photo: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/dawes-propels-flames-past-coyotes/article1377911/

Flames Can't Solve Ducks

For the tenth straight time in the regular season the Flames failed to beat the Anaheim Ducks in the Honda Center. Not sure if it is the mystical aroma or the echo you get when you drop a pin in the stadium, but the Flames have constantly had trouble winning in Disneyland.

Tonight the Flames outplayed the Ducks in the 1st and 3rd periods outshooting them 33-13 during those two frames. Despite doing so, the Flames were only able to generate 2 goals and allowed the Ducks to score on their limited chances during the first period. It just happened that the Ducks scored these two goals faster than most people can use the bathroom. Does this sound familiar? For the fourth straight game the Flames allowed two ‘bang-bang’ goals to occur:

Colorado- 2 Goals in 1:06
Chicago- 2 Goals in 36 seconds (Albeit the game was out of reach at that point)
L.A- 2 Goals in 38 seconds
Tonight vs. Anaheim – 2 Goals in 1:08

Is it a lack of focus? A sudden lack of confidence? Do they forget about their assignments because they are worried about getting scored on again? For professional athletes to show such a lack of mental toughness is brutal. This has happened far too often this season to simply consider it a strange occurrence. This problem, along with the “shift after a goal” dilemma needs to be fixed immediately.

Jarome Iginla was again a force, scoring the tying goal with 18 seconds left in the game, while logging a beefy 28 minutes of ice-time. Olli Jokinen played better; that is all. The other part of that top line, Jamie Lundmark, may have paved his way back to Abbotsford tonight for “the bonehead” play of the year when he fired the puck directly into the slot from behind his own net, right onto the tape of Corey Perry, which led directly to the Ducks first goal. This play, coupled with a -2 performance on the night, really nullified any good progress he made in the Kings game.

The Flames head home to face the Hamilton (Phoenix) Coyotes on Wednesday night. The Flames have been horrifyingly average at home and need to exert their dominance inside the Dome. The Coyotes seem like a good place to start doing so.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Source of photo: http://www.seattlepi.com/hockey/2041ap_hkn_flames_ducks.html

Iginla Wears a Nice "Hat"

On a Saturday afternoon in mid November, Jarome Iginla showed why he is considered one of the most dangerous players in the NHL. Netting his 9th career hat trick in the Flames 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, Iginla dominated from start to finish.

A mere 13 seconds into the contest, as Kings and Flames fans alike were still getting comfortable in their seats, Iginla snapped home his 13th of the season. Playing on a line with Olli “Joke”inen and recently called-up Jamie Lundmark, Iginla continued his hot streak and helped Calgary stop their recent 2 game slide.

The second period offered some suspense as flashes of Thursday nights collapse came into view when the Kings scored 2 goals in 38 seconds to take the lead by 1. Fortunately, Sutter called a timeout and calmed his troops down, enabling them to force the Kings into making some mistakes. The Flames responded, coming back and scoring a powerplay goal on a highlight reel pass from Bouwmester to Iggy to tie the game up at 2. The turning point in the game came in the early portion of the 3rd period when the very same Iginla took an untimely tripping penalty, opening the door for L.A. to take the lead. However, the Flames “flipped the script” on the Kings with some aggressive fore-checking forcing a turnover in the Kings zone. A well timed pass from Glencross turned into Daymond Langkows 7th goal of the season, and a 3-2 Flames lead. Iginla finished off his afternoon with a rebound goal that let the hats rain down from the rafters from loyal Flames Fans following the team down to Southern California.

Rebounding from Thursday game was vital. A disappointing game today could have been disastrous. Jarome Iginla knew this, and carried his team on his very broad shoulders.

Jay Bouwmeester and Cory Sarich were two defensemen that stood out in this game. The pass from Bouw was “all-star esque” and Jay seems to be finding his way with his new team after a very quiet first 20 games. Cory Sarich’s hit on Wayne Simmonds behind the net in the first period helped to set the tone for the whole game; something Sarich has to do much more of if he wants to justify not being traded.

The Flames powerplay scored two goals on seven chances, and one goal was scored on a 2 man advantage. It did look better today but is still not producing at the level it should be.

And a new “Joke” segment that I have added until my favourite whipping boy turns it around (who knows if he ever will?):
Lombardi- 4 Goals, 8 Assists, 19 GP
Jokinen-3 Goals, 10 Assists, 21 GP

Bottom line- Jokinen continues to pave his road out of Calgary.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

source of photo: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott-kings22-2009nov22,0,1323445.column

Thursday Night Massacre

Well the Flames came out looking good against the Hawks tonight...no, let me start again. The Flames special teams were outstanding tonight…wait, lets try it one more time. The Flames stunk up the Saddledome in one of the most humiliating losses on home ice in recent memory. There, that sums it up better.

In a game that was reasonably close through half the game, turned into a laugher as the Chicago Blackhawk’s demonstrated that they are a far superior hockey team. The Flames allowed a season high four powerplay goals and with no pressure to speak of on the penalty kill, the Hawks were able to work it around with ease and score at will. Kiprusoff had one of worst nights of the year, but also had little to no help in front of him. The turning point of the game came early in the second period. After the Flames managed to tie the score at one, Blackhawk Defenseman Nik Hjalmarsson absolutely obliterated Rene Bourque; a great hit that sent Bourque crashing to ice and out of the game (Not sure if this was true as the TV in bar had no sound, but by looking at Bourque’s TOI, it would seem to be correct). A powerplay goal would follow, and then the Hawks would pile on four more in the period to make it 6-1.

What happened?

Well, the lack of discipline was depressing for a veteran team that are playing like a bunch of rookies. For the second straight game against the Blackhawk’s (a team they should aim to beat) the Flames have been embarrassed on two different levels.

One key problem is the powerplay as they have gone 4 for 38 in their last ten games (no bueno) and failed to even gain the zone on many occasions, which is a serious concern going forward. Once again, why is Lowry consulting Preston about the PP?

Another serious concern is the lack of defensive ability anywhere on the team. Case in point, Colorado’s first goal on Tuesday night when the puck just sat in the slot while 5 Flames players stared at it, and eventually stared at it going into their own net. Tonight’s game; the Hawks control the play and are rarely pressured when handling the puck. Going back to the Leafs game, similar deficiencies can be found as the Leafs controlled much of the game and if it were not for Kipper, the Flames would be on a four game losing streak right now.

All of sudden the Flames can not win at home either. They have lost four of the last five games on home ice, getting outscored 16-6 in those four losses. What happened to teams being intimidated when they came into Calgary? That seems to be a thing of the past now as teams are coming in on a regular basis now and having their way with the Flames.

The Flames have now lost 3 of their last four games overall and have been severely outplayed in two of them (Toronto and Chicago). Maybe a road trip is the best thing for this team, as they need to re-group and re-focus on what it means to play as a team.

One final note, when did Sutter yell louder: during the second intermission tonight or yesterday talking to Phaneuf in his office? Apparently showing his displeasure towards Phaneuf about being selfish after Tuesday loss to the Avalanche, Sutter was witness to an entire team of heartless individuals play a game of hockey tonight.

I feel for the people that paid good money to see that game live…

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Source of Photo:http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2009/11/20/sp-hockey-wharnsby-take5.html

Blue Jacket Blues

I received an interesting email today from the Columbus Blue Jackets. I’ve been on their mailing list for a couple of years after buying tickets from their website, but haven’t unsubscribed as I enjoy getting some of their offers. For example, last month, I received an offer of a lower bowl ticket, a pre-game buffet in the club section and a beer in their in-arena pub after the game. All of this could be had for the low price of $50. I don’t think you could have the buffet for $50 in Calgary.

Today, however, I received a different type of email from the Blue Jackets, and one I’m glad we won’t be receiving in Calgary anytime soon. The email, with a subject line of “Important Question,” talked about how the Blue Jackets and Nationwide are working with local officials for a solution to their economic problems. It then asks you to complete a survey, which is being conducted on their behalf by Business First of Columbus. The survey consists of a single question: “How Important Is It That Columbus Retains the Blue Jackets Hockey Franchise?” I can’t imagine what it would be like to get an email from the Flames asking how important it was to me that they stay in town.

The email speaks volumes about what is happening in the NHL right now. Most of the talk recently has been around the Phoenix Coyotes and their financial troubles and the discussion of the viability of hockey franchises is usually confined to the Sunbelt locations. It is usually assumed that the teams in the North are safe and can survive without any problems. When one of these so-called “northern” teams is sending their fans an email asking if the franchise is important, you know something is rotten in the City of Columbus.

I attended a Blue Jackets game in 2008 against the Flames. The game was fairly late in the season, and the Blue Jackets were already effectively eliminated from the playoffs, but the arena was about three-quarters full. The problem for the Blue Jackets isn’t getting fans into the building; it’s getting them to pay more to do so. We sat in the lower bowl, three rows behind the Flames bench with tickets that cost less than $50. The same tickets in the Saddledome would cost at least three times that much.

Here in lies what I believe to be the problem with many of the teams in the NHL. The attendance problems in Phoenix are well documented, but people often point to some successful franchises were attendance is ‘good,’ like Carolina or Tampa. Yes, there may be a lot of fans in the building, but their ticket prices are so low, they are at a serious disadvantage economically compared to teams in Vancouver, Philadelphia or New York, and this doesn’t take into account the fact that their TV audiences are almost non-existent. While the Phoenix situation seems to have been resolved temporarily with a sale to the NHL, it hasn’t. Attendance in Phoenix has plummeted to even lower levels, and those fans in attendance are hardly paying anything to be there. Their problems will come to the surface again, and the next time the Coyotes are the top story, I would expect a few other franchises to be right there with them.


-TheRev

Battle for Supremacy

A battle for first place in the Northwest division turned out to be a bit of a snoozer. Coming off a 3 game road trip in which they secured 5 of 6 possible points, the Flames came out looking tired. Getting beat to numerous pucks, the Flames could never find their groove in a loss to the Avalanche. For the second time this season on home ice, the Flames fell 3-2 to the Avs in what turned out to very similar games. The Flames once again severely outshot Colorado but failed to win the game. The Avalanche took advantage of their chances and were able to hang on to the lead; something they have been very good at this year. They are eerily similar to the Minnesota Wild of yesteryear, in that they lull you to sleep and then pounce on you when given the opportunity. Coach Joe Sacco (not Joe Sakic), has installed a very good system in Colorado and the young Avs are executing on a very consistent basis.

Can somebody tell me why Rich Preston was brought back to run the powerplay? Over the last nine games the Flames have gone a horrifying 3 for 33 with the man advantage. A team that was firing on all cylinders early in the season has gone ice cold. What is wrong? What is different? They can barely get into the zone and when they do, they take ill-fated shooting attempts that are either blocked or tipped into the netting. Jokinen simply fires the puck when it hits his stick as the thought of actually setting a play up never really seems to cross his mind. Nowadays a powerplay reverts back to two less minutes that the Flames have to defend their own goal. They might as well just ask the timekeeper to subtract two minutes from the time remaining and resume the contest. They must figure out their problems on the powerplay or the ‘goals for’ column will continue to shrink, and subsequently the loss column will continue to grow.

The Flames had a fantastic opportunity to claim first place in the division tonight with games in hand, yet failed to do so. Were the Flames complacent after winning five of the last six games? The first game back from an extended road trip always seems to cause problems for teams, yet that is no excuse for a Flames team that craves to achieve the elite rank in the NHL.

The Flames better be rested up because the pesky Blackhawks come into town on Thursday night. The history between the two teams is growing, and after the last match-up with the Hawks, the Flames should be chomping at the bit to destroy them. This time, Sutter will make sure to get out to a 6-0 lead….just to make sure.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Arena #14 - Air Canada Centre

My mission is to see the Flames play in all 30 NHL arenas, a mission that began in October of 2005 while at a local pub watching the Flames take on the Oilers. With the previous season’s work stoppage, and the season before’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals, Flames tickets had become a very hard item to come by. I was then struck with the idea of combining two of my favourite activities; watching hockey and travelling. You can follow my quest to visit all 30 arenas right here…

November 14, 2009 – Toronto, ON

The time had finally come to make a trip to the self-proclaimed “centre of the universe” to visit the Air Canada Centre, home of the 2nd last place Toronto Maple Leafs. Being the Leafs, these weren’t easy tickets to come by, but I was going to be visiting it sooner or later, so why not this weekend? A friend of mine’s brother was able to secure some tickets, so we ended up with lower bowl tickets, free of charge, which really helped make this trip possible.

The Air Canada Centre, or ACC as it is known, is located in downtown Toronto, just south of the CP Rail tracks. The arena, which is also home to the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, opened in 1999 and replaced the much more storied Maple Leaf Gardens. It is located a couple hundred yards from a subway station and is easy to get to from anywhere in the city. Outside the arena, there is still a lot of construction going on, as two luxury condominium buildings are currently going up. Talking to some Torontonians, I learned that in one of the buildings, for an extra $300 per month on your condo fees, you can have the Maple Leafs’ symbol on your door and access to a Leafs and Raptors themed sports pub. Only in Toronto.

We entered the arena at the main entrance on the West side of the building. There isn’t anything overly spectacular about the entrance, although it does feature a television studio for Leafs TV. Touring the concourse, there was a variety of different concessions, including Japanese and Greek cuisine, sandwich stands, pizza stands, and Tim Horton’s. For beer, there was the ironically named “Lord Stanley’s Mug,” a brew pub, featuring an attached Molson brewery. The unique thing about beer in the ACC is the price; $14 for a large beer. You read that correctly, fourteen dollars! Granted it was quite large, but fourteen dollars? Without a doubt, the most interesting concession was a hotdog stand called “Burkie’s Dog House,” featuring a cartoon of Leafs’ GM Brian Burke and a selection of specialty hot dogs. I didn’t think I’d ever see a concession stand named after a General Manager, but judging from CBC and TSN’s hockey coverage there is a major obsession with Brian Burke in Toronto; an obsession I just don’t understand. I’m still trying to figure out why they show Burke every time Toronto scores or is scored on.

The seating bowl of the ACC is similar to most new arenas, with two tiers of seating and a row of luxury suites between them. There are also two sections of luxury suites at each end of the ice in the upper bowl. Hanging from the rafters are a row of banners honouring their many retired numbers and another row celebrating their Stanley Cup victories. I enjoyed seeing they hadn’t left room for any more Stanley Cup banners to be hung. Perhaps this 42-year drought is no accident. The best part of this seating bowl was the amount of Flames jerseys in the crowd. I think it might be the most Flames fans I’ve seen at an away game that wasn’t in Phoenix or Anaheim; I was quite surprised.

The game was being billed as “80’s Night” and featured a brief ceremony before the game with Wendel Clark and Russ Courtnall. I thought it was a little strange that the Leafs would chose to dedicate a night to what was arguably their worst decade of hockey. To each their own I guess. The game started off with a bang, as Jarome Iginla and Eric Nystrom scored 16 seconds apart only 2 minutes into the game. This was followed by two back to back fights, including Colton Orr issuing a beating on Brian McGrattan. Despite being outshot by the Leafs 20-4 in the 2nd period, the Flames were able to win the game 5-2, with goals from Bouwmeester, Nystrom, Boyd and two from Iggy. Following the game, during the Three Stars presentation, I was excited to see that both Iginla and Kipper, 1st and 2nd stars respectively, skated out onto the ice when their names were announced.

I was a little surprised at how timid the Toronto fans were. I suppose there isn’t much to cheer about these days, but we didn’t hear a peep from a single fan in attendance, be it good natured ribbing or off-colour remarks meant to insult. I thought it might also be because we were sitting in the lower bowl where there tends to be more of a corporate crowd, but we didn’t hear anything in the concourses or the streets of downtown either. I had been a little nervous heading into this game, knowing the Flames recent track record in Toronto, and not wanting to face any rabid Leafs fans after a Flames loss. Fortunately, the only thing we needed to worry about was where to go for a celebratory beer after the game.

The following day we headed over to the Hockey Hall of Fame, located on Front Street, only a few blocks from the ACC. I thought the Hall was very well done and we had a great afternoon reading about so many great players and moments in hockey history. Some of the highlights for the Flames included Lanny’s booth in the main hall, Doc Seaman’s Stanley Cup ring, and seeing the Flames’ names on the Cup itself. I would highly recommend the Hall of Fame to anybody visiting Toronto.

That’s fourteen arenas down, sixteen to go.

-TheRev


Air Canada Centre Fast Facts

Seats: Section 106; $203; brother of a friend
Score: Flames 5, Maple Leafs 2
Arena Rating: 6/10
Unique Concession: Concession named after the GM. (Burkie’s Dog House)
Souvenir Stick: Maple Leaf, plastic; Hall of Fame, plastic
Public Transit: Subway one block away
Unique Arena Trait: $14 beer
Swag: None

Photos





Next up is a return to Southern California to see the Kings and Ducks…

Finland's Finest

Miikka Kiprusoff, Miikka Kiprusoff, Miikka Kiprusoff, Miikka Kiprusoff, Miikka Kiprusoff.

5 times, because he has been that damn good.

The solitary reason the Flames snatched three of four points over the weekend. The only reason the Flames did not get beat by the 29th ranked Toronto Maple Flakes.

Kipper has been an impenetrable force over these first 18 games this season, and even more so on this three game trip. He has allowed, on average, a goal a game over the past fives games, in which the Flames are 4-0-1. He has faced an average of 32 shots a game over that stretch and has looked spectacular in doing so. He is earning every ounce of his 7 million dollar salary and is an integral part to the Flames ongoing success.

He is once again in the top echelon of the league in goals against average and save percentage and has regained his Vezina winning form of 05-06. The more he plays, the better he plays.

Looking a little into the future though, he has played between 74 and 76 games over the past four seasons, and has clearly worn out due to fatigue in almost every campaign. This is where our backup goaltender, Curtis McElhinney, must be played. Give Kipper the rest he deserves and have him “Vezina Ready” for a long playoff run; unless you like seeing first round exits. Sutter must realize this before he overplays him. Prime example was this weekend, where most people thought that Mac would see some time between the pipes, yet Kipper suited up for both affairs. The point is that this can not be an on going trend if the Flames plan to drive deep in the post season. If Sutter falls into the mindset of prior coaches (Darryl, Playfair, Keenan) and continues to ride Miikka, then the Flames could sputter like prior years. The Flames won, which is great, but there is a bigger, MUCH BIGGER, long term goal in mind here.

Iginla scored another two goals tonight as he continues to dominate the month of November. He was able to silence the ACC in the beginning of the third and shut down any chance of a Leafs comeback. He is the Captain, and he leads by example.

The First and Second stars of the night, Iginla and Kiprusoff, came onto the ice for the three star announcements in Toronto; giving the numerous Flames fans in attendance an extra treat.

To the Maple Leafs: Good Luck in the future. Brian Burke is not your saviour, and for that matter neither is the “Monster” or Phil Kessel.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Triskaidekaphobia

In celebration of today being Friday the 13th, I thought I’d take a look at triskaidekaphobia in relation to the Calgary Flames. Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13, one of the most common phobias amongst North Americans. Why the number 13 is considered unlucky is not known for sure, but a common speculation is that Judas, who betrayed Jesus at the last supper, was the 13th person to sit down at the table. Whatever the reason, it is quite common, and examples of this phobia are evident throughout our society. Many high rise buildings do not have a 13th floor, some airports do not have a Gate 13, and hotels often do not have rooms numbered 13. Some say the ill fated mission to the moon on Apollo 13 was doomed from the start due to the unlucky mission number, and others point out that some of the most infamous men in history have names that contain 13 letters, like Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson and Jeffery Dahmer.

When it comes to jersey numbers, 13 is by far the least worn number in team history. Only four players have worn the unlucky number; Martin Simard, Shawn Heaphy, German Titov and Mike Cammalleri. Even the number 9 has been worn by more players, at it has been retired for 20 years! It’s no doubt a case of triskaidekaphobia that has caused so few players to select it over the years. In comparison, lucky number 7 has been worn by 22 different Flames players, and number 15 has been worn by 19 different players.

The longest tenure for a Flames player wearing ‘13’ is by German Titov, who played 345 games for the team over five seasons between 1993 and 1998. During his career with the Flames, Titov notched 107 goals and 228 points. The most recent member of the Flames to wear ‘13’ is Mike Cammalleri, who led the team with 39 (that’s 13x3) goals last year. Cammalleri only played the one season with the Flames before signing with the Canadiens as a free agent this past off-season. Martin Simard played 37 games with the Flames during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons, recording six points and 172 penalty minutes. He was then traded to the Nordiques, played seven more games for the Lightning, and was out of hockey by 1997. The final Flame to wear number 13 was Shawn Heaphy, who is included on the NHL’s list of one-game wonders, playing only one career game in the NHL, for the Flames in 1992. These four players had varying degrees of success wearing the number 13, but Flames fans will not see this sweater raised to the rafters anytime soon. Combined, the four players notched 147 goals and 169 (that’s 13x13) assists in 464 games.

The number 13 becomes particularly unlucky, when there’s a Friday the 13th on the calendar, which some say is because Jesus died on a Friday, while others think it was because the Knights Templar were arrested and disbanded on Friday, October 13, 1307. Tonight’s game against the Sabres will be only the fourth time the Flames have played a game on Friday the 13th. I’m not sure if this is because the NHL has paraskevidekatriaphobia or not, but it seems someone is trying to avoid scheduling games on this dreaded day. The first time was in the playoffs on Friday, April 13th, 1984, which saw the Flames defeat the Oilers, in Edmonton, by a 6-5 score in overtime. It was the 2nd game of the 2nd round series, which the Flames would eventually lose in seven games. The team’s 2nd Friday the 13th tilt occurred three years later at the Saddledome, where the Flames took on the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, November 13th, 1987. Again the Flames came out with a victory, beating the Kings 10-7. The third game was against the Ducks in Calgary on Friday, February 13th, 2004, when the Flames won 2-1.

It would seem that the Flames aren’t affected by the superstitions of this day, and perhaps tonight’s game against Buffalo will have similar results as the previous two Friday the 13th games. But just in case, I have recommended to the team that nobody wear number 13 tonight, and that the players are sure not to walk under any ladders, spill any salt, or break any mirrors. Just in case.

-The Rev

There are 13 letters in Calgary Flames
This blog contains:
3510 characters, which is 13x270;
767 words, which is 13x59;
65 lines which is 13x5;
And 13 paragraphs.

Just in case you are superstitious.

Three Stars

Three Star Flames players authored very influential performances Tuesday night in the Bell Centre: Mikka Kiprusoff, Jarome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf.

For the fourth straight game the Flames received great, if not amazing, goaltending and subsequently extended their winning streak to four games. Kiprusoff was simply brilliant between the pipes on Tuesday night stopping everything he saw including a Scott Gomez breakaway and a couple of odd man rushes. He is seeing the puck very well and is clearly breathing confidence into the rest of the team. Kipper has stopped 87 of the last 89 shots fired at him, and the main reason for the Flames current situation; 3 points back of the division lead with 2 games in hand.

“The First star of the week in the NHL is awarded to Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames.” While on this current winning streak Jarome Iginla has been nothing short of Calgary’s best player not named Kiprusoff. Scoring five goals in the past four games, three of which have been game winners, Iggy has earned those First Star honours. Letting everyone quickly forget about the dreadful month of October, Iginla has made November his time to shine scoring in every game.

How does the old saying go, “A blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.” Well, Dion Phaneuf had a pretty solid game, as he punished numerous members of the Canadiens with his bone crunching hits. Laying out Pacioretty as he was trying to come out of his own zone and levelling Plekanec into the end boards were his highlights as Phaneuf was a man to be reckoned with on this night. The Canadiens tried to get him off his game, sending their goon, Michael Cammalleri, out onto the ice to rough up Dion; only to realize that Cammy is a foot shorter than Dion. The often ridiculed defensemen showed how he is capable of influencing a game not with his stick, but with his smart body checking. Good job Mr. Cuthbert, try and have more games like last night.

One glaring sore spot last night was the play of Cory Sarich, as he was made a fool on numerous occasions. Responsible for the Gomez breakaway, Sarich is showing that his foot injury might be affecting him more than he is letting on. Also Sarich missed the plane ride to Buffalo as he is still looking for his jock strap in the 4th row of the 3rd deck when Cammalleri undressed him late in the game. Sarich has never been the quickest defenseman in the world. Is it time to ship him off and let Aaron Johnson or Staffan Kronwall play a more prominent role on this team? There has been a trade rumour swirling around that would send Sarich to Carolina for Ray Whitney. Sarich’s play from last night might turn that so-called rumour into a reality.

The Flames have won four in a row and head into Buffalo to face a Sabre team that started very hot but has faltered of late losing 3 of its last 4 games. Receiving great goaltending and amazing play from Iginla, the Flames are quickly becoming the team to beat in the Northwest division.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

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A Dream Run Ends in Heartbreak

This is my submission into the Globe and Mail Journalism Dream Contest. Here is the link: http://journalismdream.theglobeandmail.com/entry_article.asp?id=826

Please vote as many time as it allows(I think once a day) and help me get to Vancouver!

The number 12 jersey slung on over his shoulder pads, the captains "C" prominently displayed over his heart.
All that embodies leadership, courage and the eternal drive to win is present in everything Jarome Iginla does.

“GO FLAMES GO! GO FLAMES GO! GO FLAMES GO!”
The roars from the Saddledome crowd drown out the thoughts of any of the players.

No one in the dressing room speaks. Looks are exchanged. The mission is simple: Win.

Up three games to two in the Stanley Cup Final, the Calgary Flames are on the verge of breaking a 15 year long championship drought, on the heels of one of the most unexpected playoff drives in recent memory.

It has all led to this moment - a chance to have a childhood dream come true as memories race by of skating in the backyard ponds scoring the winning goal for the Stanley Cup; memories that are mere seconds away from becoming a reality.

Iginla leads the team of wounded soldiers onto home ice for the final time this season. The opponents, the heavily favoured Tampa Bay Lightning, with their backs up against the wall, are willing to do anything to extend the series back home.

The sea of red sends shivers down the spines of every player.

The anthems are sung and the curtains are raised on this all important game of hockey.

A tentative beginning to the game and the 1st period ends in a scoreless draw.

Fans discuss what needs to happen for the Flames to come out victorious.
“Pressure the defence.” One fan says.
“Shoot more.” Another cries.
“Get more traffic in front of Khabibulin.” Numerous fans lament.

The second period provides some goal scoring. Two goals from each team; the score is tied yet again.

The final period looms. Possibly twenty minutes away from re-writing the history books.

It happened in an instant, too fast for most people in attendance to see; a fantastic scoring opportunity for Martin Gelinas apparently thwarted by the Tampa goaltender. Or was it the other way around? Certain replays show that the puck could have crossed the line, yet the play was never reviewed, leaving Flames fans to wonder “What if?” for years to come.

The game goes into overtime where a former Flame, Martin St. Louis, destroys the hopes of Flames fans everywhere. No chance now of seeing the cup awarded to the Flames on Saddledome ice for the first time ever. So close, yet so far away.

Iginla and Flames would travel to Tampa for game 7. With little gas still left in the tank the Flames would fall 2-1.

A chance missed.
Hearts broken.
Dreams shattered.

Who knows when a chance like this will ever come around again?

Iginla can not describe the pain of this loss. A player who wears his heart on his sleeve every time he hits the ice, now is left to wonder if that was his only chance at hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Overtime Heroes!

Two nights, two cities, two goaltenders, two overtime wins. For the second straight night the Flames managed to win an overtime game on the road, due in part to the goaltending they received on both occasions.

Miikka Kiprusoff, who had been battling the flu for the past while, came into the net tonight and shut the door on the St. Louis Blues. Stopping 30 of all 31 shots, he made timely saves and gave the Flames a chance to win the game. Brent Sutter’s message must be seeping into the pours of all the players sitting in that dressing room.

The Captain Jarome Iginla led the way offensively again tonight scoring his 7th goal of the season and 3rd in two games.

The Flames allowed a power play goal for the first time in almost two weeks; almost 4 entire games without allowing a goal down a man, including more than a couple 5 on 3 chances by the opposing teams. Slowly becoming one of the better Penalty killing teams in the league, the Flames will have to continue this trend if they hope to keep winning. The addition of Freddy Sjostrom can not be overlooked when looking at this category as he has been a shining light for this team through its first 14 games, and has replaced the speed that was left vacant when Lombardi was shipped to the desert last winter.

Phaneuf seems to be hitting the net more often these days, and a large reason for that is he finally realized that he does not have to swing for the fences every time he fires the puck. Prime example tonight, as he took a well timed shot that found the back of the net; off a Blue player but in the net nonetheless. Normally, Dion would swing like Jason Zuback in a long drive competition and try to singe the mesh of the net. It seems now, and maybe Sutter influence had some effect on him, he is fashioning his shot more for accuracy, which is only a good sign for the Flames. What is more is that he is no longer a minus player, as his recent run of defensive play has vaulted him back into the positive side of the ledger. The Flames are one the highest scoring teams in the league, but Phaneuf, along with his defensive partner Robyn Regehr, have definitely played better of late, and they must be applauded.

A short and very successful road trip; something the Flames can build on as they come home to face a very talented Ranger squad on Saturday night.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Return of the Mac

Well maybe not the return, but possibly the “Coming out Party” of the Mac. Calgary’s back-up goaltender Curtis McElhinney started tonight’s game after Kiprusoff was sent back to the hotel with the evil flu bug. In a huge statement game for the Flames, after two disappointing home losses, the Flames squeaked out an overtime win over the Dallas Stars on the shoulders of a 38 save performance from the ‘Mac’, not to overlook an impressive performance by Jarome Iginla.

McElhinney turned away 30 Stars’ shots through two periods as the Flames net minder kept the visiting team in the game. Unfortunately all good things come to an end, and Dallas managed to get two behind Curtis in the first 10 minutes of the third period. Then with McElhinney on the bench Daymond Langkow slid the tying goal past Marty Turco with 49 ticks left, and sent it into overtime.

Then, a break for the Flames; a very questionable delay of game penalty call on Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman. Iginla subsequently rifles a shot through the glove of Marty Turco and the Flames come out with a much needed road win. There are many things about the delay of game penalty that are not right. The call should be similar to the icing rule, in that the team that throws the puck over the glass should not be able to change and the face-off gets put in their zone. Giving someone a 2 minute penalty for throwing the puck out of play, and the fact that probably 70% of the time it is accidental, is a little severe and should not cost a team a game. Something that the rules committee has been looking into, that is for sure.

That being said, the Flames took advantage of the fortuitous break and won a game they probably should not have. McElhinney did his best to shut up his critics, and for now he has. He did what he had to do; he stopped all the pucks he was supposed to. His rebound control was not great, but the defence did an adequate job of helping him out, something they need to do in order to win games. He is not Kipper, but he possibly has the ability to spell number 34 when called upon, and he came a long way tonight in proving that.

Jarome Iginla was the other reason for the Flames 8th win of the season. A factor on all three goals for the Flames, the Captain was 100% for shooting tonight; 2 shots, 2 goals. Both shots just happened to be laser beams that Turco had little hope on, although he managed to snag a bit of the overtime winner as it whizzed by his arm. Iginla also set up the tying goal with hard work down low. Sutter wanted for the “Compete” level to be higher, and Iginla delivered what Sutter demanded.

Into St Louis tomorrow night for a match up with the Blues, who are 2-5 at home this season, while the Flames are now 3-1-1 on the road. The back half of back-to-back games has never been kind to Calgary in recent years, but maybe the emergence of a solid #2 keeper can help turn that around.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

Saddledome 2.0

The Saddledome is my favourite arena to watch a hockey game. I’m biased of course, as it is the arena with the most Flames fans, and the arena I have watched the most hockey in. But besides that, the Saddledome has many other charms. The reverse hyperbolic paraboloid roof makes the seating bowl seem smaller that in actually is; cozy one could even say. In other arenas with a standard flat roof, the seating bowl seems cavernous and empty. It’s weird to be sitting in the 300 level of the Staples Center and being able to see everybody else in the 300 level. In addition to the ‘intimate’ feeling of the seating bowl, the Saddledome has good access to public transit compared to many arenas, and its’ location is very central, with quick access to 17th Avenue and Downtown. Of course the Dome has its’ share of flaws as well.

The problems with the Dome include narrow and congested concourses, poorly designed washroom facilities and a lack of elevators and escalators, leading to accessibility issues. For the average fan, these problems translate into some decisions to be made at events. Most people know of the intermission dilemma at the Dome; does one go to the bathroom or get another beer, as it is very difficult to do both without missing any hockey. Washroom lines at the Dome are ridiculously long and can make for some very anxious queues. Built in 1983, the Saddledome will be the fifth oldest arena in the NHL; after Pittsburgh moves into its’ new digs next year. Sooner or later it will need to be replaced.

The question that now arises is whether or not there should be any public funding. Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has said the province will not contribute any funds to a new arena in either Edmonton or Calgary. This is often a heated debate as to whether or not a government should be funding an arena. Those against public funding wonder why the taxpayers would pay for an arena for ‘millionaire athletes’ when the majority of people either won’t use the facility or aren’t interested in the product. After all, Calgary has almost 1.1 million people, but the Dome’s capacity is a mere 20,000.

The benefits of having a modern arena in a city are many. While there may be little financial benefit for the taxpayers, the benefits to the community are too many to list. Having teams like the Flames, Hitmen and Roughnecks, concerts, and shows, provides the people of Calgary with a gathering place to share in cultural activities. Yes, the Saddledome is a cultural institution, not unlike the Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Zoo, or the Jubilee Auditorium, all of which were built with public funds. In fact, the Jubilee’s most recent renovation cost $91 million, a large part of which was paid for by the taxpayers. Money going to the Saddledome or a new arena is no different than money going to the Jubilee. In fact, it may be more fitting, as the Saddledome is used by far more Calgarians than the Jubilee. But like these ‘artistic’ institutions, the Saddledome also needs to be upgraded to ensure that Calgarians have a first class facility for watching music concerts and sporting events.

The role of the taxpayer in a city like Calgary is vital to the construction of such a facility. With only 1.1 million people, Calgary simply isn’t large enough to make it viable for a private, for-profit company to build an arena for 20,000. They would be unable to make their money back, or at the very least it would take far too long to make it worthwhile. The current facilities the city has have all been built with public funds. This includes the Saddledome, the Corral, McMahon Stadium, and Canada Olympic Park. Without financing from the taxpayers, none of these facilities would exist and I think Calgary would be the worse for it.

Now that the Saddledome is ageing, the time has come, or will come very shortly, for the city to invest in a new arena. The Flames are interested in a new facility, and I don’t feel it is unreasonable to expect the taxpayer to help out. It does not need to be an entirely public funded arena, but all three levels of government, Municipal, Provincial and Federal, can chip in for some of the costs.

- TheRev

Quick Start; Poor Finish

The month of October played out like a typical Flames game. Out of the gate with a bang; 4 straight wins, 3 in the division, and a power play running just under a 50% clip. But, just like they did so many times this month, the Flames wandered off the winning path, and gave some points back to the field. Slowly becoming the team that gives up leads, the Flames gave up numerous multi goal cushions throughout the month.

Draw the curtains open.

The Flames start 4-0, getting 2 dramatic wins in the City of Champions, beating the Canucks in the opener and downing the Mini Mites from le Belle Province.

Enter Curtis McElhinney and chalk up the Flames first loss, a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Stars. The questions about backup goaltending persist as the Flames have yet to receive quality goaltending from their local backup tender.

Fly to Chicago, score 5, yes 5, goals in the first 11 minutes of the game. Chalk up another win, move to 5-1…errrrr hold up! The Flames manage to hold on and push the game into overtime and lose 6-5 in the extra frame; Flames tie record for biggest lead blown in a game and fail to gain an ounce of revenge on the team that bounced them from the playoffs a year prior. A possible turning point early in the season? Definitely a lesson learned in how to NOT maintain a lead in hockey.

New term in the dictionary created: “5 goal lead”- worst lead in hockey.

Flames play in Ohio the next night and are outplayed by a Blue Jacket team that has 2 goals disallowed that should have counted. End result, the Flames lose their third straight and that amazing start is a thing of the past. Kiprusoff continues to be solid to start the season, shedding the label of slow starter that has haunted him for the past 4 years.

Another home date with the Canucks and the Flames manage to get out to the “Worst Lead in Hockey”, yet this time manage to hold on for a 5-3 victory. Brian McGrattan gets the Gordie Howe Hat Trick in his home debut and knocks Darcy Hordichuk out with one swift punch to the melon; in the process becoming an instant fan favourite.

The Flames score 11 goals in their next two games and establish themselves as the highest scoring team in the league. Pundits everywhere are perplexed as to where the scoring could be coming from as Cammalleri no longer plays on the team. They finally realize that the depth the Flames acquired once Cammy left, makes the team more dangerous then in years past. Newcomers Sjostrom, Dawes and McGrattan continue to impress. Sjostrom showing his speed for the nail in the coffin against Columbus, while Dawes tallies 2 in the third straight victory over the Oilers. Mcgrattan fights MacIntyre in what should be lauded as the best fight of the year, so far, and gains even more fans in the process. Rene Bourque is the teams leading scorer and continues to rack up points on the teams second line with Langkow and Dawes; part of that depth that was mentioned earlier.

The Colorado Avalanche are leading the division? Is this 2001? A team thought to be battling the Leafs for 30th overall, is running through the league at an incredible pace. The Flames score 2 goals in the first 70 seconds of the game, only to slowly give up the lead and eventually lose to a team that should have been tired from playing the night before. The Flames lose their first divisional battle and 2nd home game of the season. Defensive miscues and timely giveaways starting to become habitual for Calgary as Brent Sutter’s system still has kinks left to be worked out.

This brings us to the Halloween game against the Red Wings and the only thing scary about this game was the lack of finish and the lack drive the Flames had. Not to mention the horrendous giveaway by Regehr to Maltby for the empty net goal to finish off the game. Kiprusoff makes a few awe inspiring saves, but lets 2 quick ones by him in the second, and the Flames lose their second straight and finish the month with a record of 7-4-1. 15 points through 12 games; not amazing, but not horrible. On par with the last two seasons starts of 6-3-1 and 6-3-3. The good news lies in the fact that the Flames have not pieced together too many complete games of hockey. The back to back wins over the Jackets and the Oilers stand as their best hockey to date, but there is undeniably more work to be done.

Kiprusoff is the MVP of the month, as he played outstanding in the majority of the time that he stepped on the ice. A drastic improvement from the October Kipper of old, and a welcoming sign that the goalie of 2004 is no longer hiding under a mound of grass anymore.

Rene Bourque, Eric Nystrom, Freddy Sjostrom, Brandon Prust, Mark Giordano and Brian McGrattan are all very close runners up to Kiprusoff in October. The depth players on the Flames all outperformed the stars of the team on numerous occasions.

“Olli Jokinen, please report ice level to pick up your prize as worst Flame of the month.” Scoring just two goals in the month and seemingly invisible for a majority of the games, Olli continues to not do himself any favours. The forced chemistry with Iginla failed as many predicted it would, and now Jokinen is meandering in the depths of the unknown as he continues to fail to find his spot on this team. $5.5 million for what exactly? If this continues, Jokinen might be on a direct flight out of Cowtown come July 1st of 2010.

Iginla will soon need to snap out of the funk he finds himself in, as when the scoring dries up, as it has the last couple of games, Iginla needs to be around to carry this team out of the fire. He has been anything but spectacular over the first month, scoring a paltry 9 points over the first 12 games; a far cry from the 19 he had 2 seasons ago.

With some work to be done in order to achieve elite status in the NHL, the Flames travel to Dallas on Wednesday to start a very busy November in which they play 14 games in 26 days. There is a lot of hockey to be played, and the Flames look as if they are a couple steps away from being the team to beat in the NHL.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames