The Calgary Flames entered their first home game after a eastern road-swing hoping to prevent a three game lose streak. Unfortunately, in order to win, Calgary needs to have their stars show up. That means Dion Phaneuf, a defenceman, plays defence, and Jarome Iginla, 7 million dollar point man, scores goals. Neither happened, again, and to ad misery to pain, Conroy was the center all game for Iginla. We have always maintained the third line C should do just that, stay on the first line. As a result Calgary’s top two lines produced nothing but minuses.
All attention has been on Bertuzzi, no goals since the beginning of November. I think the attention is undue, because it’s Dion Phanuef taking two minute shifts and Jarome Iginla who haven’t been scoring. Phaneuf has 3 goals all year, Iginla hasn’t dominated a game since the Nashville comeback. Yes, there are problems in the Flames camp from the dead powerplay to the lack of lines 1-2 scoring.
The game opened with promise with Calgary dominating. Florida struck first, even though they have zero big name players. Calgary answer back, twice, and Rene Bourque scored. Secondary scoring exists for Calgary this year, that’s great, what doesn’t exist is first line scoring, the stars are still MIA and Calgary could easily be an elite team with some decent first line production that’s consistent.
Regular time solved nothing, nor did OT, so for the first time this season the Flames faced the shoot-out. Kiprusoff stood tall on shots 1-2, Calgary missed their chances (Cammalleri off the post). Jarome Iginla, predictable and boring a la Sean Avery, shot as usual and missed. Stephen Weiss on the other hand scored as the last shooter and gave Florida the win.
Another disappointing loss for a team that’s at the cap limit and could be doing much much more.
Notes: Flames on a limp include Prust, Glencross, and Vandermeer. Glencross came out with a limp after this game. Pardy continues to improve and Phaneuf and Giordano are taking steps back in terms of defensive effectiveness. A change in pairings may be in order.
I think your comments are just about bang on, but where is the Bertuzzi we are used to seeing in front of the oppostions net? In my opinion he is great at protecting the puck but I think his talents could be better served causing havoc in the blue space…
I have to agree with you almost entirely. This team has really good secondary scoring and nothing from the first line. Iginla, despite the points, hasnt been his best this year that is pretty evident. I find it weird who ppl choose to focus on within the media. Bertuzzi is taking flack for not scoring, yet hes putting up points (a lot of Moss’s recent success is likely bertuzzi feeding him passes). You wanna rag on Bert look at the +/-. Phaneuf has to be better. He is simply trying to do too much. Way too much and he needs to understand hes a defenseman first and foremost, the points with come.
I like that you said they could truly be a great team because if you look at the greats it consists of good to great goal tending, secondary scoring, strong defensively (great PK) and stars putting up points and being game breakers. In comparison to last year they have gained a lot of those elements (particularily better defensively and secondary scoring) but now Iggy isnt acting the same way. There is no reason in my mind this team couldnt reasonably compete with SJS or Detroit on any given night and be considered a contender if the stars would start acting as such. Kipper has been great and he is traditionally been the one to ruin it; where the rest?
Maybe Langkow should be back on the first line and the other lines will likely still be just as productive really. I liked the idea of Boyd too but understand thats a lot of pressure for a sophomore center; i still think hes shown enough consistnecy to at least try it!
I think the team is ok, they are, but they can take it the next level and that’s the ‘elite’ level. For that, we need a #1 C to emerge in a hurry. Iginla is silent, and Phanuef needs to take a couple of seconds and rethink all of his offensive business. The team is close, but complete games are what’s lacking.
That’s true. The Flames are an okay team but need to be much better in order to be in the “play off standards”. We actually need the shooting gallery to be more prominent and more productive.
THe shootout effort from the Flames has been nothing short of terrible. These “extra points” that the Flames are losing in the shootout could be costly down the road
http://calgaryflames.net/2008/12/13/burned-by-the-shootout-again