Flames Split Back-to-Back

Courtesy: Calgary Herald

By Derrick Newman

First the Calgary Flames can’t score a goal to save their own lives in Chicago and make NHL cast-off Ray Emery look like the next coming of Jacques Plante. Then they look like the Edmonton Oilers of the high flyin’ 80s putting up four goals in a period and half in Colorado tonight. And in the end of this mini two game road trip the Flames looked like the Flames – white-knuckling the steering wheel and hovering the brake trying to desperately hold onto a four goal lead.

It has been said it’s the worst lead in hockey.

To give them credit, they registered the ‘W’ on the back half of back-to-back games – now 1-1 in that situation this season – and maintained their dominance over their division rivals with their 8^th straight win over the Avs.

None of this could have been possible without the stunning brilliance of Miikka Kiprusoff. He was outstanding in every facet of goaltending. He made save after save and enabled the Flames to inch closer to the .500 mark after dropping two straight and three of their previous four games.

Flames Bury Avalanche

By Derrick Newman

Dominate for two periods and then white knuckle the steering wheel and hold on for dear life.

That was the story of the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night in a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, who suffered their first defeat away from home after starting the season with six straight wins in opposing barns.

The Flames were led by rookie Roman Horak, who scored his first as a Flame tonight while adding one assist, and Rene Bourque, who potted his team leading fourth and fifth goals of the season.

Despite outshooting the Avs 12-1 in the first 10 minutes of the game, it was Colorado who struck first on the power play putting the Flames behind the 8-ball early.

But, the Flames didn’t panic, which is a good sign, and stuck to their game answering right back less than three minutes later when Horak took a pass from Tanguay, moved it to his backhand and put it upstairs all while falling to the ground.

One he’ll remember for a while I’m guessing.

Roman Empire: Horak looks to stick with the Flames

By Derrick Newman

Roman Horak is quickly allowing Calgary Flames fans to forget about Tim Erixon.

Horak, who came over from the New York Rangers for the highly touted Erixon, has been 2011’s version of TJ Brodie – in other words a rookie who has surprised everyone by sticking around in the big city.

With today’s demotions of both Paul Byron and Lance Bouma, it seems almost a given that Horak will make his NHL debut next Saturday against the Crosby-less Pittsburgh Penguins.