Pathetic Showing from Referees Marginally Worse Than Flames Effort
Minnesota going into the game were four points out of playoff spot, not exactly the NW division powerhouse they’ve been in the past. Perfect set up for Calgary to get rolled (that’s bad). Now it’s Calgary at the top, but with the Flames collectively filling their hockey pants with crap two points are never a gimmie.
Compound their problems with cap issues and injuries, and you have the the near perfect storm. Aucoin, Sarich, and Regher were out with injuries. That meant moves needed to be made. Pelech and John Negrin (fresh from the WHL) came up while Peters and surprisingly Dustin Boyd, were sent down.
That meant only 10 forwards and six D men, certainly a reason to pack up and leave. With first place on the line that wasn’t an option, to make matters worse the referees were bent doing their part to make the perfect crap storm sweeping Calgary’s way.
The debacle began almost at the beginning when Calgary appeared to score but the referee quickly blew the whistle before the puck crossed the line.
Penalties were a problem too, the difference why Calgary was called for two was because Minnesota has as serious case of the dives and Calgary didn’t. I guess one should know who’s reffing so they can adjust their European moves before gametime.
Scoring chances were about equal in the first and second periods with the only difference Calgary didn’t bother to put their chances in the net. Top line produced nothing and Jarome Iginla played the first two periods on the perimeter seemingly a step behind the play.
Champion Teams Don’t Have Disgustingly Bad Powerplays
Although the refs changed the complexion of the game in the first, Calgary had their chances on the powerplay too. But fans know how horrific special teams are so there’s not point stating the obviously downfall that looms on the horizon for this playoff bound team.
The third period saw much of the same as the first two. Calgary struggling, not scoring, squandering chances. Calgary literally missed open net after open net. On the other end, Miikka Kiprusoff let in soft goal after soft goal. McelHinney came into the game for 18 seconds after Kipper let in 2 goals in 20 seconds but came out….another case where the goalie is overplayed? Yes.
Notes: No word on when the defence will be back intact. Changes to over half the team in the last month and a half since the recent losses.
Someone explain how potential home ice and hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Flames owners is worse than fielding a full team. This is the NHL, pay the money to put out a FULL TEAM for pete sake.
If the score changed then so be it, I posted this after the fourth goal. Calgary is a screwed up team right now and I don’t have time to waste watching this train wreck so post an update if something changes! Like another Wild goal.
Iginla another MAJOR non factor tonight.
Let’s be smart here for a second.
The Calgary Flames have now honestly had the worst string of injuries of almost any other team in the NHL and for certain in the NW division. Vancouver’s loss of Luongo and others don’t come anywhere near the injuries now.
So with that in mind, the question is why aren’t the star players playing like stars? Time to ask Jarome Iginla why he’s not leading this team anymore on or off the ice (guess we can’t say much about off, but on he’s dead cold).
This team will loose in seven games because a) They’ll loose home advantage, b) they can’t win on the road.
Overall it’s the coaching that’s the problem.
Powerplay and PK? Powerplay has looked the same all year and it’s pathetic. Look at the talent we have, it’s a joke the Flames can’t score. SHOOT IT, get it to the middle with QUICK passes and SHOOT. and by thew ay, WORK HARD Calgary. You just coast out there. makes me sick to be a fan of these losers.
This is why Vancouver will be division champs. We’re ten times better on all fronts. Our g oalie is better, we actually have a back up by the way, and our defence is better. Sure yours are paid more but ours actually perform.
We have hard hitting forwards, you have none. We have in your face forwards,you have none. We have GOAL SCORERS! You supposedly have s ome, but in reality Iginla is past his prime and jokinen has done nothing in three weeks.
Way to go Shames! Thanks for giving us a trip to the Finals! GO NUCKS!
Wow Flames Suck, you must be really worried about your own team to be coming in here bashing the Flames. We will get it together come playoffs, Van with the Sedin sisters will go out in round 1. Go Flames Go!!!
The jury-rigged Flames could expect nothing better tonight. This however should be no excuse. The break down of the Flames started many months back when they conceived that it was a brilliant defensive philosopy to employ a five man collapse to the puck, which routinely left both opposing points open with many devastating results for Mikka. The offensive strategy was not to be outdone however. Many opposing teams watch bemused in their own end, as the Flames power play rather blatantly, cycles up high and down low, always maintaining good position along the boards in the same monotonous and predictable effort, and with little or no puck movement towards the opposition net. This team is vulnerable and fragile, and could easily lose their last four games.
I give up
always next year !!