 On
The Farm 11/16/01
Flames
winless in three fall to
last place
Aaron
McCracken
November
16, 2001
After
coming off a strong
performance last
weekend, the Saint John
Flames continued their
inconsistent performance
as they went winless in
three games this week. Â
Despite outstanding
efforts from Kay
Whitmore on Wednesday
and Friday night, the
Flames were unable to
generate enough offense
to win, settling for a
2-2 tie and a 2-1 loss
respectively.Â
Saturday night was more
of the same – save for
two surprising goals in
seven seconds from
defenseman Steve
Montador – as the
Flames lost 5-3 to the
expansion Bridgeport
Sound Tigers. Â
While the Flames have
been getting the puck on
net (average of 35 shots
per game), they have
been unable to generate
many quality scoring
chances. Forwards
Jason Botterill, Daniel
Marois, and Oleg Saprykin were kept off
the scoreboard during
the week, and the Flames
power play scored just
once in 12 chances.
Coach
Jim Playfair was
reportedly displeased
with the team effort and
will certainly address
that issue this week in
practice.Â
Playfair's system
requires hard skating
and relentless checking,
something to which the
several newcomers on the
squad are evidently
still adapting.Â
Playfair has been
willing to be patient in
the past with younger
players, and that will
likely be his approach
this season. Â
While
this year's Flames
squad has been
disappointing, it is
important to remember
that last year's team
had a losing record in
late November before
going on a tear that
would end up seeing them
win the Calder Cup.Â
Saint John fans are
hoping that Playfair can
once again perform his
magic on team that is
void of any superstar
prospects.
Who's
Hot…
-
Blair
Betts has continues
to be Saint John's
most consistent
player at both ends
of the ice. He leads
the team with 15
points and is a +3.
-
Journeyman
winger Jeff Mitchell
recorded his first
two goals of the
season this week and
was one of the few
bright spots on the
team.
  Â
-
Sophomore
Steve Montador had 2
goals on 15 shots
and was +3 during
the week.Â
While his two goals
came on former #1
pick Rick DiPietro,
they weren't very
pretty.Â
Who's
Not…
-
Oleg Saprykin was a
healthy scratch on
Saturday and is
officially in coach
Jim Playfair's
doghouse after three
sub-par games.Â
Saprykin was ejected
from Wednesday's
game after a vicious
slash on
Portland's J-F
Fortin.
-
Daniel
Marois has been
unimpressive after
his two-goal Flames
debut in
mid-October. Â
Despite playing on
the first line, he
has been unable to
record a point in
the last seven
games.
-
Levente
Szuper remains
winless in his last
four outings after a
5-3 loss on Saturday
night. Szuper
has been officially
relegated to the
back-up role as
veteran Kay Whitmore
has been very strong
all season.
By
the Numbers…
-
The
Flames are 2nd in
the league with 35.4
shots per game but
are 23rd (out of 27
teams) with only 2.5
goals per game.
-
Kay
Whitmore is 5th in
the league with a
1.96 GAA.
-
Rick
Mrozik leads the
team at +7.
News
and Notes…
-
Burke
Henry made his Saint
John debut on
Wednesday and
recorded a pair of
assists.
-
Mike
Martin missed the
weekend action with
an undisclosed
injury. Word
is that he could
miss several weeks.
-
Micki
Dupont will return
to the team this
week after playing
with the National
Team at the Sweden
games.
Alumni
Watch…
-
Rico
Fata made a
memorable debut with
the Hartford Wolf
Pack on Wednesday
with a 2-goal, 1st
star performance.
  Â
-
Derrick
Walser leads the
Crunch with 12
points (4G, 8A), but
is an ugly –13
(2nd worst in the
AHL)
-
Other
Flames alumni
leading their teams
in scoring include
Dave Roche, Jarrod
Skalde, and Mark
Greig.
Aaron
covers the Saint John
Flames for Calgary Puck
/ Fire on Ice. He can be
reached at aaron@canoemail.com.
Â
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