Calgary Flames

Flames beat Stars on back of Kiprusoff

March 10, 2011

On the wings of Mikka Kiprusoff the Calgary Flames escape from Dallas with two points. In a game that shouldn’t have even made it to the shootout -- you could argue for both the Flames and Stars on this point – the Flames kept their improbable run towards the playoffs afloat with a breathtaking victory. For the Flames a shorthanded breakaway in the first period by Alex Tanguay, when already leading 3-0, could have put the game out of reach if Tanguay had been able to convert. Instead, the Stars scored one late in the 1st and tied the game up in the middle of the third. The Flames were mightily outplayed in the 2nd (outshot 15-4 in the period) and, if it hadn’t been for Kiprusoff...

Flames Win: Iginla and Special Teams Shining Bright

March 7, 2011

Derrick Newman

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How’s that for a weekend of hockey for your Calgary Flames? 3 for 9 on the PP. 6 for 6 on the PK. Jarome Iginla scores his 30thgoal of the season on, no less, a penalty shot. Kipper’s save percentage was 92.06% over those two games, including 37 stops Friday night against the Jackets. But more important than any of these stats is the fact that the Flames won both of these tightly contested games against both teams that are in the perennial dog fight for a spot in the Western elite eight. The win Sunday night means the Flames sweep the Predators in the season series, and improves their record against Central division teams to 12-5-2. The Flames are now 17-4-4 in their last 25 g...

Flames Hit Speed Bump in Chi-Town

March 3, 2011

Derrick Newman

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Losing on the back half of back-to-back games – it’s something that shouldn’t surprise most Flames fans. With a record of 4-6-1 when playing the night before, the Flames don’t thrive on playing on a near empty tank of gas. Then again, I would venture to guess most teams don’t beg to play two games in as many nights. The Flames, after giving the St. Louis Blues a thrashing of a lifetime, fell behind on Wednesday night to a much hungrier Chicago Blackhawks team. Unfortunately, the magic comeback attempt wasn’t in the cards this time as Chicago eventually squeezed out a 6-4 win on the shoulders of Jonathan Toews –the best player in the NHL right now. Despite a third per...

Flames Keep Rolling Along

February 10, 2011

Derrick Newman

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Friday January 14. Two meandering Canadian NHL teams face-off looking to jump start their season and climb back into the playoff race in their respective conferences. The Calgary Flames were victorious on that cold January night and have since gone on an unthinkable tear going 9-1-2 in their next 12 games. The Ottawa Senators, the Flames opponent that night, have gone in the opposite direction. The loss to the Flames began a string of 10 consecutive defeats and after tonight, 11 straight games without posting a W. Ottawa is doing exactly what (some) Flames fans hoped Calgary would do – tank to snag a good draft pick, whether intentionally or not. Ottawa is now without their Capta...

Flames finally win in ATL

February 4, 2011

Derrick Newman

1 Comment

Rack’em up. Wins, that is. It’s what the Calgary Flames continue to do. Despite never winning in Atlanta before tonight, the Flames pulled off their second straight comeback win and won their sixth in a row for the first time since 2008. They are currently (as I type this) tied for the final playoff spot. Depending on what plays out in the Colorado Minnesota game, they will either sit one point back of 8th or be tied for the spot. Tied for a playoff spot on February 3rd! You must be joking! Less than a month ago they were second last in the conference and left for dead by fans, media, and probably family alike. Battling for a draft pick, not a birth in the playoffs ...

A Year Ago Today Dion Was Dealt

January 31, 2011

Derrick Newman

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It was a year ago today that the Calgary Flames dealt Dion Phaneuf to the center of the universe. A year? Really? Has it been that long? The trade was this: Dion Phaneuf, Freddie Sjostrom, and Keith Aulie to Toronto for Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers, and Ian White. So who won this deal? Is it still too early to tell? Did nobody win this deal? What do the stats tell us? Well from a team standpoint, Toronto is languishing away in 12th spot in the East, six games under .500 and 14 points out of a playoff spot and destined to miss the playoffs for the 6th straight year. The Flames are also in 12th spot in their respective conference but are three games above .500 and ...

Flames Roll into Break

January 27, 2011

Derrick Newman

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What can I say? This team is playing great hockey. Led by superb goaltending from Miikka Kiprusoff, special teams prowess, and secondary scoring, the Calgary Flames find themselves two points out of a playoff spot heading into the All Star break. The power play has figured things out. They have potted six goals on their last 17 chances, which include four goals in their two games on the man-advantage. The power play is overshadowing the penalty kill in a big way though. They haven’t allowed a PP goal against in their last four contests going perfect on 14 opposition chances. They are consistently keeping the opposing shots to the perimeter and playing solid defence. The 6-0 ...

Wild times in Flameland

January 20, 2011

Derrick Newman

1 Comment

January 18th, 2010. The Flames lose 9-1 to the San Jose Sharks in the midst of a streak that would inevitably crush any playoff aspirations they had last season. January 19th, 2011. The Flames are embarrassed, 6-0, on home ice by the Minnesota Wild, crushing all hope that had been slowly building up over the past two weeks. Deja-vu? Hold the phone. The Wild did this to the Flames? The 3rd lowest scoring team in the Western Conference just gave Calgary the ol’ “how’s your father?” Yikes. It doesn’t get much worse. Surrendering 11 goals in two games is never a good thing either. Kipper can’t stop a beach ball, which is adds to growing list of problems this team h...

Flames show resiliency in comeback

January 18, 2011

Derrick Newman

1 Comment

Here I was all ready to write a blog about how the Flames were blown out in Montreal. How Kipper was pulled for the 2nd time in less than a week, and how despite hitting numerous posts, the Flames were still unable to find the back of the net. But wait...there’s more to this game than meets the eye – unfortunately it’s not a two tonne semi trailer that turns into an ass kicking robot. Tonight was not unlike a playoff game in 2004 when the Flames were down 4-0, at home, to the Vancouver Canucks and stormed back to send it to sudden death overtime. That was until Brendan Morrison crushed the hearts of Flames fans, temporarily, with a goal in triple overtime to send the series bac...

Dwindling Playoff Hopes for Flames

January 14, 2011

Derrick Newman

3 Comments

5.2%. That’s the percentage chance, according to sportsclubstats.com, that the Flames have of making the playoffs this year. It went up from 0.2% yesterday with losses to the Kings, Sharks, and Preds last night. One small step for man... The Flames also have played equal or less games to those teams they are chasing -- three less than the Ducks, two less than the Hawks and Sharks, and one less than the Avs and Yotes. Call them small consolations to the inevitable fact the Flames will miss the playoffs for the second straight year. The Flames still sit nine points back of 8th spot – like an elephant trying to catch a cheetah, it’s just not going to happen. But hold the ph...