Same Same, But Different

The score in tonight’s Avs-Flames game was 3-2 for 5th time this season.

It’s as if no other outcome is possible.

However, this time, the Calgary Flames finally beat the Colorado Avalanche on the back of a stand out performance by Miikka...err Vesa Toskala?

Is Calgary the place to go when you are Finnish, a goalie, and not performing how you should? Is Darryl Sutter the goalie whisperer?

In two starts since coming over from the Anaheim Ducks, Vesa Toskala is 2-0 with a 2.00 GAA and a .937 SP%. He has been, in word, great. Something Flames fans are not used to seeing from back-up goaltenders. And something Leafs fans never had the pleasure of viewing.

There is no goalie controversy, of course, but it is nice to finally have a faint hope of winning when Kipper is given the odd night off.

On the other hand another former Leaf, Matt Stajan, had a brutal game. He had a team high three giveaways on the night and looked out of place on the ice.

You must be absolutely NUTS to sign this guy to $3.5 million a year for 4 years. He is soft, as he constantly gets muscled off the puck, and his scoring touch is mediocre at best.

Did Darryl want to justify the trade that bad? This guy is the Flames number one centre?

You have Stajan, Langkow, and Conroy up the middle. Trust me, no one is scared Darryl.

Another newcomer, Ales Kotalik, showed his softness in Denver tonight. One play in particular stands out, and Ray Ferraro did a good job pointing it out. The play happened down in the Flames offensive zone when Kyle Quincey just pushed Ales aside and took the puck from him. Kotalik showed no sign of desperation, no willingless to outwork his opponent. For a team that has to be play with a sense of urgency right now, you simply can not have half-hearted efforts like the one you saw from Ales tonight.

Sharks are next in another must win game for the Flames. Fans will remember the last time the Flames played the Sharks.

Does a 9-1 curb-stomping ring a bell?

The Flames should be pumped to get some redemption following one of the worst defeats that this franchise has ever seen.

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

P.S. Visit http://hitmenhockey.blogspot.com for all the latest on the Calgary Hitmen as they march towards the Memorial Cup. It will include live game blogging and post game comments. Get on the Playoff Train!