Calgary visits Dallas and then Phoenix in a brief two game road-trip. THe Flames need something to happen to help turn the tide and prevent their 11th loss in 12 games and 8th straight. IN a move of desperation the club called C Mikael Backlund from the AHL Heat. I doubt he'll be the saviour, but I also know playing Iginla with third line checkers won't help either, so either way, I'm right. Kinda sad.
Calgary looks for their fourth win in 10 games against the bottom dwelling Edmonton Oilers. IT's a quick turnaround for a team that got thumped by division rivals Vancouver last night. The previous division leaders have slipped to the middle of the pack and are on pace to loose a playoff spot entirely.
likely to start in goal will be Kiprusoff who gave up four goals in the first period last night. His performance was shaky, but then again, so was everyone else. You have to believe the Flames will respond tonight after their thumping last night. But then again, yesterday's game against the Nucks couldn't have been any more important and that was a flop. The only good thing will be the fact the Flames are on the road for this one.
The Calgary Flames will spend the next seven of eight games on the road, and not making the trip is team point getter Rene Borque. He was placed on the injured reserve and Jamie Lundmark was recalled from the AHL. No word on the injury before today's 2PM game against LA, but we can pretty much assume after he took a huge elbow to the face (clear hit to the head), he's probably groggy.
This may continue the debate on hits to the head as the NHL continues its downward spiral into goondom. Every single professional sport takes steps to protect the head, and severely penalizes players who do, the NHL on the other hand will not take a stand further solidifying its spot as a joke league in America.
What are you thoughts on hits to the head?
You have to pick ONE at a time though 
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Remember the Wild game when Calgary had two goals disallowed in 36 seconds? You know the one, where Glencross was the culprit twice? The league had this to say about Glencross standing just OUTSIDE of the crease.
"Even though at the time of the goal he's not bumping him, if the goalie can't do his job, it's no goal. There was incidental contact and the goalie was distracted and unable to get set for the shot. You can't visually interfere while the goalie is doing his job in the blue paint."
Fast forward to the overtime tilt in Game 1 between Calgary and Chicago. Andrew ladd comes barreling down, gets touched by Leopold, and winds up in Kiprusoff's lap. Result? Goal. Not even an explanation was given for the blown call.
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The Flames traveled to Edmonton for the next installment of the Battle of Alberta. Starting at 8PM on national television to boot, the depleted Flames will line with some new faces.
Jamie Lundmark was called up for the injured Rene Bourque who is out for an extended period after getting slew-footed.
kyle Greentree is also coming up to take the place of Andre Roy. Mark Giordano is out with an upper body injury so Vandermeer will drop back to D.
Post-Game Recap
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Bertuzzi is out with a back injury and since Backlund is in Calgary it seems the Flames will play him somewhere in limited action tonight against the Islanders.....
What a great finish to a terrific start! The Flames not only out shot the Sharks (16-4) but also outperformed them by a score of 3-0 (in the first period) to finish the 60 minutes of play with a 5-2 victory. With a characteristic offensive presentation, Daymond Langkow, Rene Bourque, and Curtis Glencross collected two points each while Mark Giordano and David Moss also chipped in with a goal each to help their team conquer their division rivals. Certainly, this team effort was fully justified last night as the Calgary Flames now host one more game in their first meeting against the New York Islanders on Thursday.
In an intensive and high spirited game at the United Center, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Calgary Flames 4-2, which unfortunately ended the latter’s five game win streak and ten game point streak. It was atypical of the Flames to play this type of game because notwithstanding the 36 shots on goal, there were nine unnecessary penalties called; the Flames gave up a power play, a short handed and an empty netter. Undoubtedly, they made a tremendous offensive effort and even tallied a power play goal, but Khabibulin robbed them of all (but two goals) with his solid net minding while time was not in their favour either. Subsequently, the disappointed Flames return home to host the San Jose Sharks.
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In the first game of 2009, Todd Bertuzzi scored the game winning goal (courtesy of David Moss and Craig Conroy) as the Flames defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2. Curtis Glencross and Daymond Langkow also chipped in with goals to tie the game at two. Consequently, the Flames have now won 5 games in a row and have accumulated points in 10 straight games. Although they lacked intensity on man advantages, their penalty killing was perfect especially as they killed the 4 minute double minor. Their next battle on the road? The Chicago Blackhawks - a challenge yet to be met.