One year from now, if every team’s record remained the same, the Flames would awake to find themselves 7th in the conference. Not too shabby. The problem? Their conference will now only consist of eight teams, and they’ll have to find themselves in the top four if they want to taste playoff hockey.
Yes, if the new NHL realignment goes through, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t, the Flames will find the quest for the post season just that much tougher. Calgary will be grouped with all other mountain and pacific time zone cities, preliminary dubbed Conference A. Unfortunately this includes perennial contender San Jose, recent President Cup winning and Stanley Cup Finalist Vancouver, and young, talented up-risers in Phoenix and Los Angelas. Edmonton looks like a powerhouse in the making, with two number-one draft picks just gaining their stride. Throw in two franchises that have won a Cup in the new millennium in Colorado and Anaheim and the name Conference A appears quite appropriate.
The Flames will have to either rediscover or remake themselves if they hope to avoid another playoff drought reminiscent of the late nineties. But the process is already underway under GM Jay Feaster, who has brought in some youth to replace aging veterans, while vouching for the coach and leadership core of the Flames. Will it be enough to compete in this new-aligned NHL? Only time will tell. But if there was any room for error in the playoff hunt before, it’s long gone.
On The Line
Two bottom feeders facing off. The Hurricanes are certainly drowning as of late, losers of six straight, including three under new bench boss Kirk Muller. This is a game the Flames have to have, especially at home.
The Flow
The Flames showed up ready to play. Three minutes in and the shot-clock read 10-0 for the homeside; the final shot finding it’s way past Cam Ward off the stick of Iginla. What’s becoming a bit of a pattern, the Flames eased up after grabbing the lead. It would be over 10 minutes before they registered another shot. Meanwhile Carolina enjoyed multiple 2 on 1 opportunities, four in total, but couldn’t coordinate a way to beat Kiprusoff. Late in the period, in a fashion identical to Iggy’s marker, Stempniak whacked in a loose puck past Ward, putting the Flames up by two before the break.
Another hot start to the period saw Morrison, making a triumphant return to the lineup, extend the lead to three. But a flubbed point shot by Piskula led to Brodie sweeping away the legs of Jiri Tlusty on a breakaway. The Czech made no mistake on the penalty shot, pulling a nice drag move to beat Kiprusoff. Tim Brent would follow it up with his third of the year, pulling the visitors within one. But the hot hand of Rene Bourque would restore the lead soon after, keeping the puck on a 2 on 1 rush and snapping it five-hole. 4-2.
Morrison resumed his unlikely role of goal-scorer extraordinaire early in the third, pin-balling a puck into the corner of the net. Carolina would respond off a broken play, Jamie McBain (or is it Wolfcastle… I’m never quite sure) wristing it home. The Flames would chase Cam Ward late when Backlund controlled a turnover and snapped a puck top shelf. Then a wild finish. Staal brought them back within two. Iginla would pot an empty netter to salt the game away. But back to back last-minute goals would pull the Canes within one and add a bit of drama to the final center-ice faceoff. Faceoff won, and the Flames win yet another exciting barn-burner against the Hurricanes. 7-6 final. Crazy finish to a crazy game.
Three Stars
- Brendan Morrison: Made his return to the lineup after missing five games count. Two goals, Two apples, and a +3.
- Eric Staal: Just because he needs it. It’s been a tough start to the season for the Carolina captain, a league leading (or is it trailing) – 17. Two goals, One assist on this night. And any game he finishes even is a big plus for him at this point.
- Jarome Iginla: Got the puck rolling tonight with his eight of the year, and added an assist and the empty-netter. He’s gelling well with Olli Jokinen at center. A combination that many Flames fans were adamant they never wanted to see again.
Big Save
Hard to find a big save in a game with 13 goals. But late in the second, with the game still in the balance, Kiprusoff shuffled across the crease to stymie his countryman Jussi Jokinen, and then benefited from a quick whistle. Finn on Finn rejection.
Big Hit
This game was all about the offense. So not a lot of defense or physicality to be found. The biggest collision may just have been T.J. Brodie tackling the legs of Jiri Tlusty, sending him sliding head first into Kiprusoff like the net was home plate. At the very least it was a Czech.
The Goat
The entire Flames team, for letting up every time the game seemed out of reach. You have to keep playing until the final buzzer and the Flames were guilty of watching the clock tick down as the visitor’s score ticked up in the final seconds. It’s great they’ve found a way to score in bunches, but they’ll have to learn to play the whole 60 if they want to beat the elite.
Mr. Clutch
Olli Jokinen. Looking more and more comfortable in his role as top-line pivot. He’s not showing a ton of emotion on or off the ice, but boy is he effective as of late.
Odds and Ends
Glencross must be feeling a little ill. Pulled out of the lineup with a bout of the flu, he watched as Morrison jumped into his spot on the top line and put up four points. May have just lost his spot alongside Iginla. Great return appearance for Morrison… Poor luck for coach Kirk. Winless in his first four games as a head coach. The ‘Canes have now lost seven in a row… Dad beats son. Must be a weird dynamic to beat your own son in an NHL contest, like Brett Sutter did tonight to his son Brandon… Rene Bourque remains hot, extending his point streak to four games, nice to see after the rough ride he’s been getting early this season. So excuse this little deviation, but with Christmas around the corner, freshly fallen snow blanketing the city, and the Flames on a bit of a tear, it’s a little bit festive around these parts, and I feel a little tune coming on…
You know Backlund and Babchuk
Brodie, Bouwmeester
Byron and Butler
Both picked up by Feaster
But can you recall
The greatest B player of all…
Rene the Calgary Flame
Was very good at scoring goals
And if you saw him shoot it
You would see the red light glow
All of the other Flames fans
Used to call him overpaid
You’d always see poor Rene
mentioned in potential trades
Then one Snowy Winters eve
Sutter came to say
Rene with your stride so light
Won’t you light that lamp tonight
Then all the Flame fans loved him
As they shouted out with glee
Rene the Calgary Flame
You’re the greatest Bourque in history!… (not including Raymond)
Bork Bork Bork
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good Borque!
Next Up
The Avalanche pull into town Thursday, trying to capture their first W against a Flames team that has manhandled them so far this season. 7 pm, SNET West.
Lines (To Start):
Morrison – Jokinen – Iginla
Tanguay – Stajan – Bourque
Comeau – Backlund- Stempniak
Kostopolous – Horak – Jackman
Bouwmeester – Butler
Hannan – Brodie
Piskula – Smith
Kiprusoff
