I declared the flames dead after the game in Boston. A 5-0 lost that showed the players without a sense of urgency or any sign of desperation. Then they won in Washington Sunday. And the desire to make the playoffs that hasn’t been seen since the Olympics break seemed to appear, finally.

Now let’s be honest, the flames have nobody to blame but themselves, they’ve been not playing well throughout March with a record of .500. But, thanks to the Hockey Gods, the Avs are 1-6 since they played the flames in mid-march. And because of that, here’s where we stand for Friday’s game IN Colorado.

8 COL 76 41 28 7 89
9 CGY 77 39 29 9 87

The flames are going to Colorado strong after winning two in a row (Washington, Phoenix). The Avs on the other end have lost their last three games (Phoenix, San Jose and Anaheim). Should the flames win, they’d still be in ninth spot because the Avalanches have a game in hand. But it would give a boost of morale for the flames as the opposite is also true for the Avs.

• I know I’m criticized for my view on the points system in the NHL, but the flames are supposed to be 4pts behind not just 2…..just saying!
• The Remaining games for the flames are: In Colorado: Chicago and Vancouver. At Calgary: San Jose and Minnesota
• Remaining games for the Avs: In Colorado: Calgary, Chicago, San Jose and LA. Their playing only two games far from Denver: Vancouver and Edmonton
• The “strength of schedule” is clearly in favor of the avalanche.
• My prediction: Flames 3 out of 5, Avalanche 3 out of six, flames will just miss the playoffs. I hope I’m wrong!
• I’d love to have Mike Keenan’s opinion on the flames’ season….
• I still can’t believe they traded to get Toskala…
• Mathematically Calgary could still finish fifth in front of Nashville…..
• AVS VS FLAMES Friday night at 7:30pm MT (sportsnet West and Altitude)
• GO FLAMES GO

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“”I settled my family over here. I was hoping I could stay here the rest of my career. That’s the way it goes. It goes with the salary. You make $5 million, 11 goals is not going to cut it. It’s definitely a slap in the face to get traded. But this is what we do for a living.”

This move like the other with Toronto seems to be about Cap space and pro scouting.Trying to get an offensive player in the ruff, versus a gem that don’t produce. Living in Quebec I saw Higgins in Montreal and know he could be a good player. Why stick with Jokinen that you have to pay a lot when Higgins could give you exactly the same for half the price?

Bottom line is, the flames lost yesterday, even thought the ex-leafs players were there, and when Higgins and Kotalik put on the red jersey, almost a third of the team will be different that the team on the ice Saturday… Hope the results will differ!!!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: In the flames I trust!

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The Flames traded: Phaneuf, RW Fredrik Sjostrom and prospect Keith Aulie to Toronto for Toronto’s forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers and the D-man Ian White.

Coldly, right now, I’d say that the leafs (that also acquired J-S Giguere later today) are a better team. I’d say right now, Hagman, Stajan and Mayers I don’t really know. White is a good D-man and has 26pts already in 56 games this year. He had the same total in 71 last year, so the 25 years old is on a good road for the future.

He’s a Defenseman, and as Phaneuf is the Big name we lost, let’s compare.

Dion Phaneuf
2008-2009
-11
2009-2010
+3

Ian White
2008-2009
+6
2009-2010
+1

We all know the the +/- is not a perfect science, but it’s a good one, if not the only one that makes sense to me. Time will tell wich team “won” the trade.

The fact the Sutter and the scouts team of the flames found Ignla in a trade that was weird too makes me say that: In The Flames I TRUST

Now back to the rink I still have 2 games to officiate….

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Wednesday night, the flames will play in Dallas, a team that only won four of their last ten, but they won against Minnesota and Detroit just last week. Plus they’re three points behind Calgary and the 9th seed in the west, they will be hungry! After the game, the team will leave the Lone Star state for the desert and cactus of Phoenix. The coyotes play well this season and as of now sit in the 9th place Overall. They won 5 of their last 10, with a shootout lost. I give them the edge for the reason that they won the last (and only) time the Flames traveled to Glendale this season.

I really hope I’m wrong thought, because the battle of Alberta might be the only thing motivating the Oilers that are dead last in the league. If the flames come home Saturday with a nine straight losing streak, the crowd might be in a really bad mood and if the Oilers so much as score first…..

Why so pessimist you ask? First of all when the curtains closed on 2009, the flames were fighting for the lead in the division, with an ambition for the conference. Now here we are almost a month later, Calgary now is fighting for a playoff spot. 10 points separate the 7th seed from the 14th, the flames are one point behind Detroit in 9th. Don’t even talk to me about the division. The flames now are third, eight points behind Colorado (THE surprise of the year I think) and Vancouver. Calgary now doesn’t have any games in hand on those two teams.

How do we get there? I don’t know if the rumors of trade, the non selection of Phaneuf, Regehr and Bouwmester for the Canadian team had anything to do with it. The team is struggling and can’t buy a goal. The month of January looks like this: 3-8-1. During witch sequence they lost 9-1 in San Jose, and been shutout or score only one goal in 6 of those games.

I’m too depressed to continue right now, but you know how it is, they’ll eventually win three in a row, and I’ll be the happiest man of the world.

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When the flames get on the ice in LA tonight, it will be their last game (6th) of their longest road trip of the year. They are 4-1 until now on this road trip and 6-3-1 in their 10 last games.

A quick recap of the trip so far, Victory 3-0 against Detroit, 4-3 in shootout against Columbus, 5-0 against Nashville (a birthday present for me) and a defeat against the hot Coyotes 2-1. But the Coyotes have won their last 4, Calgary being their 3rd victim. More on Phoenix run here:

http://penaltykill.net/blogs/who-says-third-times-the-charm-phoenix-coyotes-win-4-in-a-row/

Saturday night, the flames stopped at the HP Pavilion at San Jose. They were 1 point behind the Avalanche and 6 points behind the Sharks. The best game I saw this year and maybe a playoff match-up too come. The shots were 36-36 and SJ hit 2 posts, 1 for CGY, but as the commentators said during the game, any goalie will say that luck had nothing to do with that, but that the post was all the shooter was given.

The 2-1 victory by the flames, thanks to the extraordinary performance of kipper, with a heel save in particular that will be shown for years as one of the best saves of the decade I’m sure. For my fellow Québécois that think Price is the greatest invention ever, you have seen nothing.

This victory forces me to add the standings for the President’s trophy with the other at the end of this blog, and it will be so as long as the flames are within 5 points of first place.

On the player’s side, René Bourque came back after having missed 6 games. Jarome Ignla and olli Jokinen seems to be more and more on their “A” game. Ignla has 7 points in the last 5 games while Jokinen got 6 in the same sequence. Everything is good so far, what can I ask for 2010??? The cup!!! But there’s still a lot of hockey to cover until June…

Note:

Look how the flames have 3 to 4 games more to play than SJ and COL

The flames go at least one point in 13 of their 15 road games.

Kipper shutout the opposing team during 161:13 minutes. However it’s all unofficial because the NHL only consider consecutive starts. He didn’t start the Colombus game.

There is 11 games left in December, 7 of which will be played at the Saddledome in Calgary.

My predictions for the next 5 games: Victory against LA, ATL,MIN and STL, the only lost going in Denver against the Avalanche.

Les flammes se font menaçantes!!!!

Les flames vont terminer leur plus long voyage de la saison ce soir contre Los Angeles. Ils vont commencer la rencontre avec une fiche de 4-1 lors de leurs 5 derniers matchs. 6-3-1 lors de leurs 10 derniers matchs.

Un petit résumé rapide du voyage, victoire de 3-0 contre détroit, 4-3 en fusillade à Colombus, victoire de 5-0 (un petit cadeau de fête) contre Nashville et une défaite de 2-1 contre Phoenix. Cependant les coyotes sont au beau milieu d’une séquence de 4 victoires de suite, Calgary étant la 3e victoire de cette séquence. Pour en savoir plus je vous suggère le blog :

http://penaltykill.net/blogs/who-says-third-times-the-charm-phoenix-coyotes-win-4-in-a-row/

Samedi les flames se mesuraient au Sharks de San Jose. Calgary se pointait au Hp Pavillon At San Jose 1 point derrière l’avalanche et 6 points derrière les Sharks. Un match serré qui nous à démontré la puissance des 2 équipes. En tout 3 poteaux ont été atteint (2 SJ et 1 CGY), mais comme dirais les commentateurs de CBC, les gardiens vont tous vous dire que c’est tout ce qu’il donnait, et que la chance n’a pas sa place la dedans.

Une victoire de 2-1 des flames, grâce à une performance extraordinaire de Kipper, dont un arrêt avec le talon va être dans les jeux de la décennie. Pour mes amis Québécois qui croient que Price est un bon Gardien vous n’avez rien vu.

Cette Victoire me force à rajouté le tableau pour le trophée du Président et je le laisserai aussi longtemps que les flames seront à 5 points de la première place.

Du côté des joueurs, René Bourque est revenu après avoir manqué 6 matches. Jarome Ignla et olli Jokinen semble reprendre du poil de la bête, Ignla a 7 points lors des 5 derniers matchs et Jokinen 6 points lors de la même séquence. Donc tout semble allé pour le mieux pour les flames, quoi demandé de mieux???? La coupe pour 2010! Mais il reste beaucoup de hockey à jouer d’ici juin….

Note :

Remarqué Comment les flames ont 3 ou 4 matchs en main contre COL et SJ

Les flames ont gagné un point dans au moins 13 de leurs 15 matchs sur la route.

Kipper n’a pas accordé de but pendant 161:13 mais cela n’est pas officiel car la LNH ne compile que les blanchissages lors de départ consécutif (kipper n’as pas joué à Colombus)

Il reste 11 matchs au mois de décembre dont 7 à CGY

Mes prédictions pour les 5 prochains matchs : Victoire conte LA, ATL, MIN,STL et la seul défaite contre l’avalanche au Colorado.

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The last time, I couldn’t wait to watch the game against Colorado, talked about the first 10 games of the season, the fact that Jokinen and Iginla didn’t produce as they should.In the last 5 games, the flames are 3-2, 2 of those wins were acquired in overtime.

The first game against Colorado, which resulted in a 3-2 defeat, gave the teams the chance to meet with Graig Anderson. The Avalanche goalie, after giving two goals in the first 1:10, got himself together and stopped the 30 next pucks he faced. Even though the avalanche shot only 14 times, they got themselves back in the game with a 2-2 score after the first period. Wojteck Wolski scored a highlight goal with 15 min to go in the third to give the victory to the ex-nordiques, as well as the first rank in the Northwest.

The 3-1 lost against Detroit won’t be the stuff of legends; the flames weren’t there, period. Brent Sutter was so pissed with the performance that the players had to endure a punitive practice at the saddledome, the Monday morning before going to Dallas and St-Louis.

The afternoon of the Dallas game, Mikka Kiprussoff felt sick, so McElhinney had to start his second game this year, the 21st of his career. He gave an amazing performance, stopping 38 shots, a penalty shots in the second period, to get his first win of the season. Being asked to elevate his game by the coach, Iginla scored 2 goals and played his best game of the season that night.

The day after, Calgary played against the St-Louis Blues, a game I didn’t get to watch, and won 2-1 in overtime. Mikka Kiprussoff was back in the net. Iginla and Phaneuf scored the two goals.
Yesterday’s game against the Rangers, an eastern team, was physical, with a lot of good bodycheks and a win for the flames 3-1. Again it was the “other” players that scored the points for Calgary.
Even if the season is good so far, 10-4-1, the flames and my fantasy draft… will need Jokinen to wake up and start playing like we all know he can.

Standing after 15 games:

Player’s Stats :

Fun Fact:
In Dallas the flames tied the game in the last minute, with the goalie not in net for a 6th player for the second time this year. The first time was against the Oilers earlier this season

The next 5 games :
On the road against the canadiens, the sabres, the leafs
In Calgary: The Avalanche and the Blackhawks

My prediction…
Wins against MTL,TOR,COL and CHI
The loss against the sabres

FRENCH

Lors du dernier blogue, j’avais hâte au match contre le colorado, j’ai parlé des 10 premières parties et du fait que Jarome et Joli Jokinen ne produisait pas comme ils devraient. Lors des 5 derniers matchs les flames sont 3-2, dont 2 victoires en prolongation.

Le premier match contre Colorado, une défaite de 3-2, a permis à Calgary de faire connaissance avec Graig Anderson. Le gardien de l’Avlanche, après avoir donné 2 buts a 1 :10 de la première période, s’est repris arrêtant 30 rondelles. L’Avalanche malgré seulement 14 tirs sont revenu dans le match et Wojtek Wolski a marqué un but magnifique avec 15min a faire en troisième pour donner la victoire au anciens Nordiques, et le premier rang de la division Nord-Ouest.

La defaite contre Détroit 3-1, ne passera pas a l’histoire, alors que les flames ne se sont pas présenté, période. L’entraîneur Brent Sutter étais hors de lui, les joueurs ont donc du se soumettre à un entraînement punitif le lundi matin au saddledome avant de partir pour Dallas et St-Louis.

L’après-midi du match contre Dallas, Mikka kiprusoff ne se sentais pas bien, McElhinney commença sont 2e match de l’année le 21e de sa carrière. Il donna une bonne performance arrêtant 38 rondelles, dont un tir de pénalité en 2e période, pour obtenir sa première victoire de l’année. Iginla ayant été montré du doigt par l’entraineur, il compta 2 buts et joua le meilleur match de la saison.

Le match du lendemain contre les Blues de St-louis, que je n’ai pus regardé, c’est terminé 2-1 en prolongation pour les flames, avec Mikka Kiprussoff devant le filet. Iginla et Phaneuf ont été les marqueurs.

Le match d’hier contre les Rangers, une équipe de l’est a donnée lieu a du jeu physique, de bonnes mises en échec et une autre victoire des flames par la marque de 3-1. Encore une fois ce sont les joueurs de soutien qui ont fourni l’offensive et bien que la saison se déroule assez bien, les flames et mon pool vont avoir besoin du réveille de Joli Jokinen en cours de saison.

-Le classement après 15 matchs de joués

Le classement des marqueurs :

Fun Fact :
Les flames ont réussis a créé l’égalité dans la dernière minute avec le gardien retiré pour un attaquant pour la deuxième fois contre Dallas. La première fois étais contre les oilers plus tôt cette année.

Les 5 prochains matches :
Sur la route, Canadiens, Sabres, Toronto,
À Calgary, le colorado et les blackhawks.

Je me risque une prédiction :
Victoires contre Mtl, Tor, Col, Chi et une seule défaite contre les sabres qui sont en feu…

Technorati Tags: Calgary Flames, hockey, nhl

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First a little about me, I’m from Quebec City, and when the Nordiques left town in 1995, I had to choose another team to cheer for. I had two conditions, it had to be a Canadian team, and it wasn’t going to be Montreal. My little league team, L’express, wore the flames jersey, so the flames became my team. Cheesy I know…

Since then we flames fans, have had a lot of good seasons, one Stanley cup finals appearance, and a lot of expectations, But enough about me. This is 2009 and after a couple of move, the flames should be a force to reckon with this year.

First let’s recap the off season moves:

The thing to notice is the age of the players, with an average of 25 years old. Bouwmeester was signed after the flames acquired the rights to negotiate with him after sending Jordan Leopold 28 to the Florida Panthers. The others are good prospect/in development players to replace the like of Bertuzzi, Camallerri, Warrener, Vandermeer, and Aucoin.I have to add Oli Jokinen to the mix, even thought he got traded at the limit last season.

We’re now at the ten games played mark. The flames started the season in lions with a 4-0 record, before losing to the Dallas stars 5-2. It was the first game of Curtis McElhinney, but he had nothing to do with the lost as the flames played like everyone were tired. After the Dallas game, the team traveled to Chicago, they took a 5-0 lead early in the game only to lose 6-5 in OT. The day after, even though they played a great game against Columbus, they still lose 2-1. Calgary won 4 straight since then to show a record of 7-2-1 after ten games.

It’s still early to talk about the change that Head Coach Brent Sutter had on the team. Jarome Iginla talked about trying to get to know the system, and the coach learning to know the players. One thing is sure, the flames got a lot of help from the 3rd and 4th line, and as a result, Jarome Ignla and Oli Jokinen saw their ice time cut until they see their stats to the level they’re expected to be. Just look at the first five pointers and you’ll notice that the names that appears are not those expected.

-Here are the stats for the first 5 players after 10 games:

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-The next game is vs the Colorado avalanche, and surprisingly an already important match-up against the division rival that are 3 points in front of the flames as the northwest leaders.

-The flames are 5-0 against the division, including 3-0 against their Albertan rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.

- I have to mention the awesome fight that occurs Saturday between Steve MacIntyre and Brian McGrattan. I’m not one for violence but what a fight… found it on youtube:

That conclude my first blog, I’d like to thank Dean and James for the opportunity. I’d also like to hear from you guys as English is not my first language, what do you think???? The next blog entry will be in French and English.

GO FLAMES GO

Technorati Tags: Calgary Flames, hockey, nhl

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