Calgary Flames at Chicago Blackhawks

 

Marc Ciampa

October 23, 2001

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Calgary Flames (7-1-0-1) are off to their best start in franchise history. Hard to believe that in 22 years, no Calgary Flames team has done as well as this club. They currently have 15 out of a possible 18 points and are first overall in the entire NHL. They are currently seven points up on the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, which is a good cushion to have at this time of year.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Flames lead the league with 36 man games lost to injury. … How good has Roman Turek been this year for the Flames? Well, he leads the NHL in goals-against-average (1.36), save percentage (.947) and wins (7). … Jarome Iginla is tied for sixth in the NHL in scoring while Craig Conroy is tied for 17th. Cory Stillman? Tied for 195th. … Since his season-opening two-goal outburst, Phil Housley has only managed a single point (a goal) in the eight games since then.

WHO TO WATCH: Calgary: Tonight is only Mike Vernon's second game of the season. It will be interesting to see how he does with the limited action. His previous game was Calgary's only regulation loss of the season, but it was through no fault of his own as they dropped a 1-0 decision to Nashville. … Chicago: The Blackhawks have been scoring by committee all season long. They have six players with seven points or more so far this season—Zhamnov, Sullivan, Daze, Calder, Amonte and Nylander.

Additional Stories: Flames 3 Blues 2 \ Charlton: Red October

ROSTER UPDATES: Calgary: Oleg Saprykin (neck), Brad Werenka (concussion), Jeff Shantz (knee) and Marc Savard (MCL) are out. Rob Niedermayer (hip) is questionable. … Chicago: The Blackhawks are healthy.

QUOTABLE: "We visited with a scout the other night that has seen all this before. The scout said he has learned, over time, to disregard the first 10 games of the season. He has seen too many fast starters fade and too many slow starters come on.

"A team like the Flames—having lost top center Marc Savard to injury and ditched established talents like Cory Stillman, Valeri Bure and Housley in budgetary moves—will have a tougher time winning on grit two, three and four weeks from now."—St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Jeff Gordon on the Flames' quick start to the season.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Last season, the Flames had the Blackhawks number, winning three of the four meetings.