Apparently the Flames just wanted a nice vacation. Right when the weather got tough the Flames went soft and hid in California. How else can you describe their weekend work? They didn’t win, so they have nothing to show but a nice tan. It’s also apparent that the Flames wanted to take two nights off, sleeping through games hardly mustering sustained offense. If this is really Jim Playfair’s new offense let’s see some change from the dump and chase that’s barely working as is.
It’s also apparent the coaching staff has little idea how to run a PP or PK. It’s surprising since the PK was a strong suit last year with Playfair around. With ‘Mumbles’ Preston still around (we didn’t have a bad PP last yaer) why aren’t things working? Well for starters the effort is non-existent. For millions of dollars it’s too much for smart and hard working hockey. Too often the Flames found themselves out worked on the man advantage. They managed a garbage goal with 40 seconds left on the PP, but that’s too little too late.
What’s even sadder is the defensive play that was supposedly turning around. For some reason it’s a good idea to play shotty defence taking two steps backwards instead one forward. All night the Flames were outworked in their own zone, giving up over 6 breakaways, 4 to Selanne, two of which he scored. Yes Mclennan could have done something better than stupid poke checks but hey, somebody adjust to the Ducks offence….Oh right, the Flames can’t do that these days.
Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf scored on power plays and Samuel Pahlsson also scored for the Ducks, who are off to the best start in franchise history at 17-2-6 and are tied with Buffalo for the most points in the league. Pronger and Francois Beauchemin each had two assists and Todd Marchant scored an empty-net goal.
Kristian Huselius had two goals and Daymond Langkow scored on a power play in the final minute for the Flames, whose 3-0 win over the Ducks on Nov. 10 in Calgary was Anaheim’s first loss in regulation after an NHL-record 12-0-4 start.
Jamie McLennan made 34 saves for Calgary. But the Flames had another tough night on the power play, and have only two goals in 21 chances over the last four games.
BTW, check out the forum we’re we’ll put up a ‘bash Selanne’ thread up. That guy shows how to play the game folks. You dive when you have the chance, whine to the refs, play hard, whine to the refs, make some good deaks, cheap shot, complaining to the media about players cheap shoting you, dive, whine to the refs, score some goals. It’s the way the game should be played, Ducks hockey.
