Iginla doesn’t score and Kiprusoff saves the day…

Sounds like we were transported back to the days of Darryl Sutter’s coaching… It literally was on many occasions with the relentless checking by everyone and commitment to good ‘ol fashoined elbow grease.  Knowing that Minnesota just played the night before and got creamed by an up and contending Blackhawk team, Calgary took to the body and didn’t let up except for the occasional break here and there.  Phaneuf started the hit parade dishing out a vintage check early in the 1st period and the Flames didn’t get lulled into Minnesota’s neutral zone trap (Agh! Lemaire!) but kept on getting the puck deep into Wild territory and won in typical Darryl Sutter fashion… a throw-the-puck-to-the-net goal that went off Langkow’s skate and a hustle play by Nystrom that lead to a SHG!  All the meanwhile, Mikka looking calm and collected while standing his ground against a late onslaught by the Wild.  It’s not that Iginla was struggling, far from it but it wasn’t on him to carry the team to a victory… I’m sure if we ask him, a hat-trick with a loss vs. no points and a win, he’d take the latter.  Being in Calgary since the summer of 2004, I’ve seen this team with three different coaches and I can honestly say that this years squad is the one that resembles the Cup-run team of 2003-2004, only this year, there is more talent and more strength.

When you replace Donovan, Leopold, McAmmond, Gelinas, Clark and Saprykin with Phaneuf, Moss, Cammalleri, Glencross, Bourque and Bertuzzi, you’ll see that you haven’t lost grit but you’ve simply added talent and consistency to Iginla, Regehr, Conroy and Kipper!  I can say this much after watching tonight’s game at the Dome, many fans weren’t that worried with a 2-1 score because the tenacity and grit and a solid Kipper held the crowd together.  Although there was much outrage when the ref’s called a delay of game penalty to Mark Giordano, after the tying goal was scored… (the Ref’s blew it and knew it! and hoped it wouldn’t affect the game in anyway… this according to the Hot Stove Lounge on the FAN 960 post game show)

Good to see that we don’t need to rely on Iginla to bail us out when we have 3 solid lines that can contribute consistently with a fourth line that keeps opponents on their toes.  Looking forward to watching my first Battle of Alberta at the Dome on Wednesday!

In closing, I’d hate to be a season ticket holder for the Minnesota Wild… that neutral zone trap tempts you to slip into a coma… It almost happened tonight ’til Langkow ignited the crowd!

Watching the game tonight, there was 1 player who stood out above the others for me. No, it wasn’t Nystrom (although his short handed goal was a beauty) or Phaneuf (who did  several great defensive plays) - it was Kiprusoff. He didn’t have to make a lot of saves tonight, but he did have to make some spectacular (and timely) ones. It seems that he has found his groove again. The way he is moving around the crease, and his positioning lately reminds me of his performances back in 2004. The way he is playing of late gives the Flames a chance to win every night.

Here’s hoping he can bring his “A” game to the Dome on Friday versus the Oilers.

There was a moment from last night, sitting in the Dome having just watched Jason Spezza score a nifty goal to put the Sens up 2-0, where I was thinking (and the gentleman next to me was vocalizing) how wimpy the Flames were playing.  A team as frail as Ottawa (Little Alfie fell like a tonne of bricks just skating into Robyn Regehr, on which Regehr was penalized…), should not have been winning the battles on the boards and pushing our D-men around… Then something changed… maybe it was the 2-0 score but the spark was lit and out came the line of Rene Bourque, with Iginla and Langkow battling hard pushing around the all-of-a-sudden helpless Sens and Langkow fed a pass to Bourque who finished the wrap around to get the Home squad on the board.  This sparked turned a low fire into an inferno as Calgary scored twice in the next 3 minutes to take the lead.   Each time, they had out muscled Ottawa on the boards and in the corners.  To overpower and win battles is what Calgary needs to KNOW if they are to take on the Wings, Sharks and Blackhawks for the Western crown and a chance for the Cup!  There was a time when a one goal lead was never feared by fans because Darryl Sutter had instilled this knowledge that they WERE stronger and just as quick as any team in the league… Last night, I got that shiver back when Adrian Aucoin from one knee one-timed the go-ahead goal!

Tomorrow, they’re playing a Wild team that is playing the Hawks tonight so if they KNOW they’re stronger and just as quick, tomorrow will be a walk in the park… if they choose to mull things over and THINK they might be a strong team, it’s going to be a long night.

Just a question for Flame fans to ponder… is Dion Phaneuf playing too much to the point of ineffectiveness?  Last night, he looked sluggish, couldn’t get any Dijon (mustard, Anchorman Ron Burgandy would pronounce it as Dion…) on his shots to finish one-timers or quick passes and is currently sporting a very UN-Norris like -10… what’s going on?

After watching another painful shootout loss for the Calgary Flames, I decided to do a bit of shootout research. Anyone who follows this team closely knows that their success in the shootout is abysmal at best. They don’t seem to have the right skill set in this particular facet of the game. But, how do they compare to the rest of the teams in the NHL?  Since the shootout came into effect in 2005, there have been some astoundingly poor statistics for the Flames. As of tonight’s game, here are some facts:

Total Number of Shootouts: 24
This is the second worst (or best - depending on your view) in the NHL. The only team in the league with less shootouts is the Carolina Hurricanes (currently sitting at 23). Based on their shootout success, the Flames should be doing everything to keep this number as low as possible. On the flipside, the New York Rangers have participated in an incredible 50 shootouts since 2005!

Shootout Winning Percentage: 0.333
That’s good for 28th in the league, only to be outdone by Ottawa (0.286) and Philadelphia (0.31).  It’s difficult to believe that the Flames can win only 1/3 of the shootouts in which they are involved. Compare that to teams like the Dallas Stars (0.73) or the New York Islanders (0.667) and it’s easy to become a frustrated Flames fan.

Shooting Percentage: 27.85%
79 attempts, only 22 goals. This percentage gets the Flames into 25th place in the league (starting to notice a trend?). Essentially only 1/4 of the shootout shots are going in the net. If you watched tonight’s game, you can see why - all three shooters simply tried to fire the puck as hard as they could through the goaltender.  No dekes, no moves.  After losing Huselius and Tanguay in the off-season, the Flames have been left without any real “finesse” players. The top 3 teams in the league are the Dallas Stars (42.11%), the San Jose Sharks (40.91%) and the Los Angeles Kings (40.19%).

Shootout Save Percentage: 0.589
I suppose this stat can only be blamed on one person… Kipper. This is the 27 worst save percentage in the league and is unacceptable from the highest paid goalie in the NHL.  During the game, Kiprusoff has an extremely fast reaction time. He has the reflexes of a cat. However, I believe this to be his down fall as a shootout goalie. It is simple for a player to get him to commit - one quick deke later, and the puck is behind him in the back of the net.

Each time a Flames game goes to a shootout, my first thought is to turn off the TV and accept the loss. The bonus point awarded to the winning team could sure be useful down the stretch when teams are fighting for their playoff lives. A few extra points could mean the difference between 3rd place and 8th place in a competitive Western Conference. If I were Keenan, I would be spending a few practices trying to improve in this important component of the game.

We all know the Flames have the best uniforms in the NHL, and obviously have no need of a third jersey. What would a third jersey do that the beautiful red home uniform doesn’t already do? Not every NHL fan is as lucky as we are, and that marketing machine that is professional sport has devised the concept of more and more jerseys that can be hocked to the fans. That’s great if your team did a good job of designing their alternate uniform, but as we will see here, this is not always the case. Here is my ranking, from worst to best, of the alternate jerseys being sported in the NHL this season.

19		Atlanta Thrashers Are these guys actually wearing hockey jerseys? They look like motocross jerseys to me. You can’t see it well in this photo, but the swooping bird heads on the shoulders make these look like the NFL Rams’ uniforms. These things are an abomination, but in the big picture they aren’t that much worse than the powder blue home jerseys these guys are burdened with. If you are a Thrasher fan, you have my sympathies, as your team is my winner for the worst of the third jerseys.
18		Phoenix Coyotes The worst part of this is that when the Coyotes rolled out their maroon rebranding, it took them from one of the worst looking teams in the NHL to one of the best. Granted, these ones aren’t as bad as the original Phoenix alternate; however, the lame logo on the front of these jerseys is the killer on these ones. If it were up to me, Wayne’s boys would stick with their everyday uniforms.
17		Dallas Stars Another case of not as bad as their old third jersey, but oh-so-lame because it’s only a colour reversal of their less than spectacular home jersey. They would’ve looked better in the old star pattern jersey.
16		Ottawa Senators I thought this one was a joke when I first saw it. “What? Really?” Who thought the giant nickname wordmark was a good idea on these? I don’t mind the pattern on these ones, and the stripes on the arms work for me by making me think of the Ottawa 67’s uniforms, but that “logo” is just laughable.
15		Boston Bruins I’m pretty sure I saw leaks of this one last spring. I wasn’t impressed with it then, and it hasn’t really grown on me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not terrible, but it’s not overly creative or unique. The black third jersey is uninspired, and when you’ve got Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic on your roster, do you really need to look more intimidating? Maybe I’m just the crazy one for liking their old yellow thirds.
14		Chicago Blackhawks Yes, we’re solidly in the it doesn’t suck, but it’s not really turning my crank category. I don’t mind the Hawks’ new get up, but swapping white for black just seems kind of boring. It is a classic look that’s worked for decades and still works; it’s just not as exciting as the kids who are wearing it.
13		San Jose Sharks Overall, I thought their RBK redesign was a moderate step backward from their previous look. The third jerseys pretty much continue that with another mundane black entry. Do guys really get excited to wear these?
12		Carolina Hurricanes When the ‘Canes first joined the NHL I despised the square blocks along the waistline, but after learning the significance of said blocks I gave it a pass, and I’m glad they kept that element here. I kind of like the crest on these ones, too. It’s good to see a modern club who isn’t having a visual identity crisis.
11		Los Angeles Kings The Kings have a terrible track record on third jerseys, so the fact that this one isn’t ranked #19 is almost a miracle. I like the black/white/gray that harkens back to the Gretzky era in LA, so the Kings get a pass on the black shirts. Extra points for incorporating modern and classic design elements into the same jersey.
10		Toronto Maple Leafs Considering they’ve barely changed their look in their entire history, it’s tough to stray far from the classic look. This design is expected, but timeless.
9		New York Islanders Glory day throwbacks are all the rage, right? If you’re ever presented with the choice of (a) Captain Highliner, (b) 70’s Championship throwback; choose B every time!
8		Edmonton Oilers I know the City of Chumps loved the McFarlane third jersey, but I thought it was too far of a departure from the identity of the club. When I see this jersey it reminds me of the classic Battle of Alberta, complete with Lanny McDonald and 1989. Go Flames!
7		Tampa Bay Lightning This was a tough one for me, because the “Bolts” crest is downright stupid. I love the colour and pattern of the jersey, though, so despite the awful crest, it’s starting to grow on me. I’d love to see it with the proper logo crest on there.
6		Philadelphia Flyers Bold move to bring back the Broadstreet Bullies look, but for another club who has never deviated far from their original look, I think this works well.
5		Vancouver Canucks I think I’ve made my feelings on the everyday Canuck sweaters pretty well known. In short, I think they look like a peewee team who is trying too hard. The orca crest sucks, and the arching “Vancouver” crest is a visual mismatch to the crest. This alternate may be the biggest improvement over the everyday sweater on any team in the league. The classic look with some contemporary style tweaks wins with me, even if the Canucks don’t.
4		Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins overshot the glory day throwback a little bit, but sometimes vintage wins for its visual impact. Having seen the league’s poster boy posing in this jersey since last year’s Winter Classic, this one has had plenty of time to grow on me. As a Lemieux fan, I’d prefer a 1991 throwback, but this one’s pretty cool too.
3		Buffalo Sabres The modern life of the Sabres has been one ongoing identity crisis. I like to think that this throwback is an admission of wrongdoing on so many of the jerseys since.
2		St. Louis Blues Personal sentiment aside, this is probably the winner of the best jersey. It’s clean, it has a classic look, and it integrates the arch into the crest design. The Blues at one time nearly had a pretty loud alternate (pardon the pun, and thanks to Mike Keenan for withholding that monstrosity), so the discretion shown in this design is refreshing. If I was a Blues fan, one of these would already be hanging in my closet.
1		Montréal Canadiens Habs win. This may be my bias, but the modern-looking throwback is the best looking jersey on NHL ice. Except for the Flames’ jersey, of course.

I’m sure you think you know better than me. Leave your thoughts in the comments!