The team is in trouble. The Calgary Flames dropped their fourth division rivalry game and sit in the basement of the NW division. Sure the Flames have had slow october starts, Jarome doesn’t get going until mid-Nov, Kipper wakes up in early December. However, this was supposed to be the year when these players would turn it around earlier.
Largely, the new additions for Calgary have lived up to their calling (Bourque is NOT a second line LW though.) Who would have thought Bertuzzi would be leading in goals? That Phaneuf and Giordano, along with Sarich now, would be huge defensive liabilities? That Kipper would be terrible in goal, but at the same time he’d be faced with the same POOR defence he saw last season.
All in all, scoring 4-5 goals a game SHOULD give you two points. But the defensive regime in Flames camp is SO bad that they have trouble putting a 60 minute effort tonight that comes complete with capable defensive play. Let’s not blame just the D, but poor penalties, poor D, poor goalies, and poor forward coverage has left this team at the bottom of the NHL barrel.
Team improve in the off-season, Calgary did on paper, but in reality they are right now much much worse. That was shown yet again last night as they dropped the second installment of the Battle of Alberta despite an early 2 goal lead.
MacIntyre’s Pride Bursts with Hit on Tiny Boyd
According to all Oiler media outlets the game took a turn for the Oilers when MacIntyre charged Dustin Boyd. Well, ‘charged’ is really in the eye of the beholder. You be the judge if the hit is legal.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHI3HbabAo8]
Certainly not if it’s Bertuzzi on Johnson. But the entire Oilers organization was giving MacIntyre props for charging and leveling the smallest player on the ice. Look for Calgary to respond by a) sending Roy against MacIntyre since the guy hasn’t fought heavyweights, b) responding in kind by demolishing smaller players for Oilers. It goes without saying, Calgary must respond and respond hard with punishing.
Only question is will Calgary even bother? Can they work up enough enthusiasm on ice to even stay alert for three periods? So far this season the answer is no, the Calgary Flames don’t have what it takes to win this year.
Yes that’s right. The hit on Boyd changed the momemtum for the Oilers and their fans. I guess the battle of Alberta has really become alive as it had once been when Gretzky reigned the Oiler team – it seems that this is what they really thrive on. However, the victory was mostly due to Garon’s performance. He stood tall and helped his team mates remain unbeaten despite giving up two power play goals. The Flames, nevertheless, played well outshooting 17-3 in the first period.
Your assessment is well accounted for, but the Flames are not in a bad shape as people envision. They need time. It took the Edmonton a lot of time to regroup – I believe almost 10 winless streak last season. The regular season has just started and the Flames have played approximately 5 games so far. When they rise to their potential, there will be no stopping. The chemistry has to work soon – and it will. It is not the end of the season yet. The excitement is yet to come.
Hate to say it, but Bertuzzi is bringing down the Flames in a hurry.
Hey Matthew. what do you about about Bertuzzi? What has he done?
Hey again, Matthew. Sorry about this. I would really like to know what Bertuzzi has done? Why is he bringing the Flames down in a hurry?
Bertuzzi has had a dark cloud over him since he left Vancouver. He is a great hockey player, but I don’t know how great of a team member he is. This is just IMO though.
hard to bash bertuzzi at this point considering he’s the highest scorer on the team.
Forget the past, Matthew. We don’t know the facts yet. Even eye witnesses have known be wrong… and this is in terms of a psychological perspective. Besides, as Darryl says, he has been the one who has been scoring for the Flames… Bless Bertuzzi.