Is there currently a better captain in the league? I mean, this guy can do it all - Scoring, passing, grinding, hitting, fighting and most importantly, he does all this while being a great leader and teacher to the rest of the team. He’s also regarded by his peers in the NHL (not just his teammates) as one of the classiest guys in the league.
Last night he treated the 19,000+ fans in the Saddledome to an outstanding show - demonstrating how skilled of a player he is by scoring a natural hat trick against the Minnesota Wild. With only 8 games remaining in the season (all against Northwest division rivals), Jarome Iginla knew how important this game was and he brought his “A” game. Everyone else on the team seemed to follow suit as the effort displayed was fantastic. This is what a great leader does… Lead by example.
With only 2 weeks left in the regular season, Jarome Iginla has my vote for the league’s MVP.
In a very physical affair, punctuated by some fireworks of the fisticuffs variety, Calgary picked up an important 2 points in their quest to finish first in their division. This was a very tough game tonight and may have given us a sneak preview of a possible playoff matchup. As we all knew, Calgary needs their top players to pick up their game if we have any hope of winning. Check. Calgary needs their physical players to set the tone and give their opponents a rough ride all night long. Check. Calgary’s goaltending needs to come up with the big saves when it has too. Check. This was a determined hockey club that fought off an equally determined Minnesota club. With the exception of the Vandermeer / Simon scrap, Calgary was the better team tonight. As with the Colorado game, Calgary was initiating the play and not following - as they have done so many times in the past. Iggy’s 3 goal performance was the icing on the cake. Lombardi’s game winning breakaway goal was ever so timely. All this and a shorthanded goal by Phaneuf to boot made for one rockin’ dome.
This was a gritty and gutsy performance by a playoff bound hockey team. Game on.
So that’s what a physical presence can do for a hockey club. Last night’s victory against the Avalanche was in large part due to the early scrap between Vandermeer and Laperriere. For a complete break down of the fight, click here.
There is no question that the Flames are one of the toughest teams in the NHL - providing they play that physical style of hockey. Normally I’m the guy who preaches finesse over fisticuffs…style over knuckle sandwiches…heck I even take fighting off completely when I play NHL 08 (best hockey game ever btw). But it would appear that the Flames depend upon that physical style to bring that energy and tempo to the game.
Do the Flames have to play a nasty style of hockey to get ahead? If so, how do we stay out of a man or 2 man disadvantage to accomplish that?
The Flames powerplay received a much needed boost after going 29 games without scoring more than 1 powerplay goal at home….uuggh. Special teams has been a very important component in the NHL but as we get ready for the proverbial second season of this NHL campaign, the Flames need to ensure that their powerplay and penalty-kill are much improved.
So the question remains, can the Flames retain their physical edge without impairing their special teams play?
If anyone would have suggested to me 1 month ago that the Flames would be fighting for the 8th spot in the Western Conference at this time of the year I would have laughed hysterically. However, after a horrendous road trip, this is the situation they currently find themselves in. Picking up a measly 2 out of a possible 8 points on a trip where they played 4 teams who are out of the playoff picture has really put this team behind the 8 ball.
With only 9 games left in the regular season, the Flames desperately need to pick up their game. They need to abandon their lazy habits that have been slowly forming like a malignant tumor. The team seems to become less inspired with each game. In recent matches they have been badly out-shot, out-played, out-chanced, and out-worked. Down the stretch they will ultimately control their own destiny as their final 9 games are ALL against division rivals - 2 vs. the Avalanche, 2 vs. the Wild, 2 vs. the Oilers, and 3 vs. the Canucks.
Thursday’s game is critical. Historically the Flames have had problems against the Aves (last years playoff race instantly comes to mind). Let’s hope they can come out strong and get a big home win. That would be a giant step in the right direction for the team. The key to winning this game will be intensity. If the the entire team “shows up” and can put in 60 full minutes of intense hockey, and battle for every puck, they should be able to put this game in the win column. However, if they come out and play another lethargic game, and let the Ave’s control the play, then I fear it could get ugly. There is so much talent in the Colorado lineup that you can’t take your mind of the game for a minute or the puck will be in the back of your net.
Watching tonight’s game I’m reminded of the old Don Henley song “How Bad Do You Want It?” The song answers that question with “not bad enough.” Outshot 38-18 by a team that’s nine points back of a playoff spot? The Flames aren’t looking like a hungry team lately, and it’s got me a little scared.
The Flames’ inability to keep star players off of the score sheet is more than a little disconcerting. Ovechkin, Kovalchuck, and Nash have all burned Calgary recently. The formula seems pretty simple: have a look at the opposing team’s stats before the game and pay a little more attention to shutting down the key players. Obviously you can’t shut guys like these down 100%, but right now we’re at the opposite end of the spectrum, and that needs to improve.
That doesn’t begin to address the paltry 18 shots on goal, but I think a stronger commitment to defense would be a welcome starting point.
Some other thoughts that came to mind during the game:
Ken Hitchcock is sure looking old without that mustache
The SportsNet announcers called the Blue Jackets “Nashville” when they were talking about Rick Nash. I wonder how often that happens.
Iginla was anything but clutch today. He was absolutely invisible in the final ten minutes.
The NHL crime and punishment division is a joke. The recent ’slap on the wrist’ to Chris Pronger illustrates why the NHL is far behind other professional sports organization for managing player behavior and following its own clearly defined rules. Well obviously there are no clearly defined rules. We see it on the ice when officials put away the whistle during the last few minutes of the game - we are not sure what is going to get called and what will not. Clearly this approach is adopted by the NHL’s high court when dealing with suspensions for its star athletes. Chris Pronger is a 7 time offender. He committed the same foul that Chris Simon did - I wasn’t aware that boot stomping was the in thing with the NHL crowd these days - but receives a considerably lesser punishment. I suppose one could argue that Simon’s reputation preceded him however, if a 7 time offender is considered to be of lesser significance or of better character then I think there is a serious attitude problem in the NHL. Even the whole ‘there is inconclusive evidence’ shenanigans on behalf of the NHL’s lost and found video department reeks of incompetence. So 4 sets of eyes on the ice, plus the war room in T.O. misses what a camera crew in the rink picked up? Let’s not forget our goal that won us the Cup in 04′…….. Go Flames.
So, does Chris Simon have a point when he complains about being unfairly treated by the NHL’s disciplinarian? Is there indeed a double standard applied to star players?
Chris Pronger Suspensions
1995 - 4 games for slashing Pat Peake in the throat
1998 - 4 games for slashing Jeremy Roenick in the head
*** 2000 Hart Trophy Winner (League MVP) ***
2001 - 1 game for leaving the bench to fight Kelly Buchberger
2002 - 2 games for cross-checking Brenden Morrow in the head
2004 - 1 game for kicking Ville Nieminen
2007 - 1 game for driving Tomas Holmstrom into the glass
2007 - 1 game for a headshot on Dean McCammond
2008 - 8 games for stomping on Ryan Kesler
Chris Simon Suspensions
1997 - 3 games for alleged racial slur towards Mike Grier
2000 - 1 game for cross-checking Peter Popovic in the throat
2001 - 2 games for elbowing Anders Eriksson
2004 - 2 games for cross checking and punching Ruslan Fedontenko
2004 - 2 games for kneeing Sergei Zubov
2007 - 25 games for a stick attack on Ryan Hollweg
2007 - 30 games for stomping Jarko Ruutu
I find it interesting that the five suspensions immediately following Pronger’s Hart Trophy win totaled six games missed, including a mere two games for a cross-check to the head, and a single game for kicking an opponent.The argument from the Colin Campbell has been that the context influences the punishment. Simon’s stomp on Ruutu happened after the play and away from the puck, while Pronger’s stomp on Kesler took place during a hockey play. Does that make Pronger’s act less severe than Simon’s? Not if you ask the NHL’s head office. My opinion, though, is that in the case of severe offenses like these, handing one repeat-offender a suspension more than three times longer than another repeat-offender does reek of double standard; 20-25 games would’ve been a more suitable punishment for Pronger.
But then again, Pronger’s a former Oiler, and Simon’s a former Flame, so maybe I’m just biased.
