The Flames resurgence into the midst of the Western conference battleground was

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brought about by their dominance during the month of November with ten of thirteen games played on home ice (NOTE: HOME ICE). 

Performing well on home ice is a key requirement for a team hoping to make the playoffs, but you can’t play 82 in the Dome.

The Nashville Predators have always found a way to win against the Flames having never lost a season series in their time in the NHL and hoped to continue that trend tonight.

A familiar result to Flames fans who were subjected to a low scoring affair with the Flames falling to the Predators yet again, having failed to record a win in the home of twang since 2002.

On The Line

A chance at the outright lead in the North West Division and the chance to stave off the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers, who at puck drop were only two points behind the Flames and where only four points separates leading the division from being on the outside looking in at a playoff position.

The Flow

When you’re showing a pay per view you might as well have it in your mind that you’re playing a home game. You’ve got fans in their seats, at home, paying to watch the game and you hope that you get your moneys worth. Sure seeing 31 shots to the mid section of Tomas Vokoun may sound like exciting, but when all those shots are from the edges and the famous forecheck ‘em till they submit to your will, fails to show up, you’re wishing you paid $4.95 instead of $11.

Three Stars

1 – Tomas Vokoun. Vo-goon faced a lot of shots.. to the chest. Full marks for recording his first shutout of the season, but it’s not as hard when they all hit the logo.
2 – Dan Hamhuis. Lead all players in ice time and played the shut down role on Jarome Iginla to a tee. 
3 – Vernon Fiddler. Scored the game winner and finished with two points on the night plus likes to block shots.

Big Hit

You’ve got a choice between Chris Simon and Dan Hamhuis.. on Dan Hamhuis or Chris Simon. Simon throttled the Predators rearguard midway through the third and received a boarding call for his trouble. Hamhuis returned the favour only a few minutes later. We’ll give this one to Hamhuis since his was “clean.”

Big Save

You would think that in 31 saves something might have stood out as a great stop by the Predators netminder, but you’d be wrong. This one I’ll give to Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff who, midway through the second period slid across to block a shot courtesy a Nashville two on one maintaining a 1-0 deficit and keeping the Flames embers glowing until late into the third period.

The Goat

How about the Flames powerplay? Going 0 for 6 tonight and 0 for 14 in their last 3 games is the key stat to remember here. Thought we probably shouldn’t have expected Calgary to score on the powerplay versus the Predators considering the Flames failed to score a single powerplay goal against Nashville during the entire 2003-2004 campaign.  

Mr. Clutch

Tomas Vokoun, it may not have been spectacular but when you’re a goaltender it doesn’t matter how they come as long as you stop them all.

Odds and Ends

Quick note to the producers of the Flames pay-per-view about showing the out of town scores, do you really need to show a huge scoreboard while panning out to show more of the audience than the actual ice? It was hard enough to see the game from across the room in the Boston Pizza off Memorial, but then this happens and you can’t even tell there’s a hockey game going on.. Once again the Flames fail to take the lead in the North West division. At what point does this team finally take advantage of the Vancouver Canucks mistakes? Sharing the division lead in points doesn’t mean too much when the Canucks have games in hand but with the Canucks losing two straight the chance has never been as ripe for the Flames to take advantage. Instead we see the Calgary still sitting one point back of the Canucks with the Canucks holding games in hand. Luckily for the Flames the surging Oilers couldn’t make up the two point difference that separates the two teams.. unfortunately the opponent was the Colorado Avalanche who stopped Oilers goaltender Mike Morrison’s winning streak at 3 games defeating the Oilers 3-2 and moving into a tie with the Flames at 31 points.

Next up – Detroit rock city as the Flames take on the Red Wings Thursday.

Lines –
Take your best guess with Sutter playing duck duck goose with the lines

Kobasew- Reinprecht- Iginla
McCarty- Langkow- Amonte
Simon- Yelle- Donovan
Nilson - Ritchie - MacDonald  

Hamrlik-Phaneuf
Leopold-Regehr
Ference-Warrener