Another dress rehearsal, and another standing ovation and curtain call for the Calgary Flames, as they notched their fourth straight win in the preseason disemboweling a veteran Oilers club by a 4-0 margin and continuing their solid silly season play.
It doesn’t count in the standings, nor do the team’s individual statistics carry over into the regular season. The slate will be blanked clean after two more starts.
But you can’t down play the momentum the Flames are playing by fusing acquired players with suddenly emerging players into what appears to be an angry red wall of fury night in and night out – pressing opposing defenseman in their zone and throwing everything at the net.
There will be ups and down in any season and for all teams, but if momentum can from the preseason can be sustained the Flames are in really good shape heading into October.
Making the Grade
Curtis McElhinney – Had a half game shutout coming in and added to it again tonight making numerous difficult saves (especially in the first, on a Hemsky break in the second, and in sustaining his shut out in the third) and looking very good in doing so. The shaky, quirky netminder from last season seems to have found his game. Send the kid from the “Hat” down, backup role is in good hands.
Adam Pardy – Big, strong and with poise … all night and every shift. No glaring errors, and some solid play behind his own net or ragging the puck to center. I wouldn’t risk this guy going down.
Work in Progress
Michael Backlund – A gifted kid that just hasn’t shown his gifts. He looks to be over his head a the NHL level in part because of nerves, and in part because of physical strength. In a game that featured 18 very good performances, Backlund was the sole passenger on the red machine. Send him home.
Line Combinations – The Bertuzzi, Langkow, Iginla line held territorial advantage all night and certainly put in their best collective effort in three starts. The boost most likely comes from the captain finding his game for the first time in the preseason and playing catch with Bertuzzi much more effectively. They owned the puck, but really didn’t generate a whole lot towards the net.
Meanwhile the Boyd, Moss, Glencross line looked excellent and could be a great line for the Flames, freeing up Lombardi, Bourque and Cammalleri for a potential second line, and sending Craig Conroy down the roster?
Given the performance of the Bertuzzi, Cammalleri, Lombardi mix the other night and coach Keenan has ample combinations and choices at his disposal.
New Kids on the Block
Todd Bertuzzi – Not as good as the last Florida game, but better than his first two starts? That would be my assessment. Good on the puck, some great dangle but he and his first linemates didn’t get a whole lot done.
Mike Cammalleri – So strong on the puck for a guy of such limited size. Never gives up on a play and was robbed of what looked like a first period tip in goal.
Curtis Glencross – A charged up ex-Oiler looking to make a point in this one, one of the best players on the ice. Great set up for David Moss’s second goal, and a great push off on Gene Principe in a second period interview when the table was being set for the “don’t you wish you were still here” line.
Mark Giordano – great on the blue poise in the offensive zone and less of a standout in his own zone (a good thing) than his previous incarnation in Calgary. Seems to have some chemistry with Phaneuf.
Andre Roy – another fight that left something to be desired (lost decision, but an early lead), but once again a great puck presence on the fourth line providing support for his fellow energy linemates and not scaring me at all his the Calgary end.
Jamie Lundmark – protected from the “least effective” award by Backlund. Pretty much on the perimeter in this one.
Home Grown Assertion
David Moss – More chemistry with Dustin Boyd as he scores two more (four goals and six points in his last two games) for the forgotten option for a top six spot in Calgary. Looks solid for a third line contributing role this season.
Dustin Boyd – More of the same. Another assist to run his preseason to seven points. Solid killing penalties, strong on the puck, and a little dirty late with a boarding penalty.
Eric Nystrom – a great game for Nystrom, a pain in the ass killing penalties with active sticks and tenacious hustle, scores in the second on a great feed from Andre Roy.
Ponder Points
Calgary guys can be guilty of it too, but have to love the Eric Cole pick for the third star … uh huh … Some solid veteran performances in this one including Cory Sarich and Wayne Primeau the latter of which has been solid all preseason. … the Flames powerplay still lacks despite more options and more effort in the early going. Not enough going on with players filling holes on the ice and not moving around. They need Cammalleri on that top unit to mix it up on the creativity scale. … The Oilers key players missing from their likely opening night roster would include Penner, Garon and perhaps Smid. The Flames took to the ice without Kiprusoff, Regehr, Lombardi, Conroy and Bourque.
