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

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

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