Calgary Flames

And now, the end is near

March 26, 2010

“You're not, you're not good, Al. You stink.” That was Ty Webb referring to Al Czervik’s golf game in Caddyshack. He might as well have been referring to the 2009-10 version of the Calgary Flames as they all but sealed there playoff fate Thursday night on the Island with a 3-2 loss to the third worst team in the league. With only eight games remaining and only one of those games coming against a non-playoff team, Flames fans might as well come to the realization that for the first time since 2003 their will not be a playoff game played in Calgary. Their powerplay once again failed them when they needed it most, going 0 for 5 on the night. This, against an Islander team w...

Hagman Lifts Flames to Victory

March 24, 2010

Derrick Newman

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The Flames did what they had to do tonight beating the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. In the process they once again pulled within two points of the Detroit Red Wings for 8th place in the West. Driving the Flames to victory was Niklas Hagman who had his coming out party wearing the red, yellow and black. Calgary also had two point nights from Iginla and Bouwmeester for the Flames who have now won three of four. For Hagman, it was his second goal as a Flame and his first in 13 games. However, it wasn’t just the goal that made Hagman stick out tonight. He was all over the ice outworking the Ducks players on every shift. There was one shift, late in the third, where he single-handedly created thr...

Fatal Error

March 22, 2010

Derrick Newman

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There are 11 games left in the season. The Flames are playing one of the four opponents that they definitely should beat. Miikka Kiprusoff is the Flames MVP and starting goalie. Vesa Toskala, the Flames back-up, starts in between the pipes. Can someone please explain this to me? I don’t care about Brent Sutter’s hunches that Miikka can’t play the Wild and that Toskala played well against them last week. Why would you even want to ‘rest’ Kipper during the stretch run if there isn’t anything to ‘stretch’ for? Did Sutter over think the decision on his starting netminder? Yes. Did he make a horrible gaffe and possibly, finally, cement the Flames in the 9th pos...

Same Same, But Different

March 18, 2010

Derrick Newman

2 Comments

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...

A Turning Point

March 16, 2010

Derrick Newman

5 Comments

One play can often be the turning point in a game, but rarely do you see one play possibly be the turning point in a season. That might have been the case this evening. Tonight, in front of a sold out crowd at the Pengrowth Saddledome, Curtis Glencross was awarded a penalty shot with 1:30 remaining in the 2nd period. He skated back towards Kiprusoff who was smiling and spouting advice on what Glencross should do. Known for a laser snap shot in the top right corner, the speedy left winger blazed up the ice picking up the puck at the centre dot. He came in with great pace and let go a snap shot as expected, but instead tried to pick the left corner of the net. Unfortunately, Red Wings ...

Flames Ride #34 to 4th Straight Win

March 12, 2010

Derrick Newman

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The Calgary Flames won their 4th game in a row tonight for the first time since early January when they strung together 5 straight victories. Mikka Kiprusoff blanked the Ottawa Senators 2-0, for his 4th shutout of the season and his first since November 30th; when he shutout the Nashville Predators 5-0. Kiprusoff was sharp all night long as he blocked all 33 shots the Sens through at him. Not to mention the 5 different power-plays that Kipper helped shoo away. It was vintage Kipper, and in a way, vintage (vintage being 2004) Flames hockey. The Flames were on the board early with Jamal Mayers’ first career goal as a Flame; a nice short-side-cheese snipe show. Due in part to a s...

Goals Lead to Wins

March 8, 2010

Derrick Newman

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Maybe they were listening when everyone in the hockey world was laying into them for the horrible moves they made at the trade deadline and the atrocious game they followed with that night. The Calgary Flames (32-24-9) were a team that could not score. They have suddenly turned on the afterburners with ten goals in 2 games. Leading the way is Jarome Iginla who recorded his tenth career hat trick in today’s game and added as assist. Rene Bourque is so far earning that giant contract extension recording 5 points in the last two games. Matt Stajan has 3 points in the last two as well. The newly formed top line of Bourque-Stajan-Iginla combined for 10 points in today’s afternoon tilt. H...

Laughing Stock

March 4, 2010

Derrick Newman

6 Comments

I can see the line-up at the hospital for broken ankles is getting pretty long, as people have been jumping off of the bandwagon at a tremendous pace. Fresh off one of the worst sets of trades I have ever witnessed, the Calgary Flames lay a massive egg on the ice tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Fortunately I did not have to bear witness to this game tonight so I really can not say a whole lot about it except for the fact that once again the Flames offence continues to fire on all cylinders (See: sarcasm). The Flames were shut out for the 4th time since mid-January. They had been shut out zero times before that. They are not good and have a tough Devils team coming into the Dome ...

Two for the Money

March 2, 2010

Derrick Newman

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The Calgary Flames signed Matt Stajan and Rene Bourque to long contract extensions. In my opinion, both do not make a lot of sense. As much as I like him as a player, Rene Bourque has been injury riddled since he started his NHL career. Only once has he played over 70 games in a season; his rookie campaign in Chicago when he played 77 games and recorded 34 points. The following seasons he has played 44, 62 and 58 respectively. He is on pace to play roughly 70 games this season, as he has already missed 9 contests earlier in the season. I understand the 6-year contract is front loaded, but it still doesn’t make sense. Why would you take such a risk on a guy who is prone to getting in...