One day after a franchise debacle where the Flames dropped a 5-0 lead to loose 6-5 against the Blackhawks, Calgary pulled into Columbus looking for answers. Would they emerge from their monster fail? Or would they continue their downwards spiral landing in the dump of overpaid NHL stars?
The same lineup hit the ice for a hard hitting first period. The lively boards accented the big hits; Brandon Prust provided a win in a fight against Boll. Calgary’s relentless forecheck paid off when Curtis Glencross tipped in a Bourque shot for the 1-0 lead.
Inconsistent Flames On the Downs
The play slowed considerably in the second period as the teams exchanged neutral zone play. Calgary kept on shuffling the lines trying to find some kind of spark but the usual suspects were coasting their way up and down the ice. Very few chances for Calgary but plenty for the Jackets.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqaFrUNCUqQ]
Things went Columbus’ way when the weak hooking calls started to emerge. The hard hitting is great! Cool hockey. The bloody hooking calls are a cancer to the game and makes the game a joke. Dangerous hits from behind aren’t called but dainty pulls are. A 5 v 3 PP advantage gave Columbus all the help they needed scoring on both to give them the lead.
Big hooks against Calgary late in the game, not even a bat of the eye. Call the penalties but call them both ways. Not that Calgary would have done anything with them but at least it would have been consistent!
Calgary essentially shut down again. Despite the public outcry from the coaching staff a 60 minute game is far far far away for this team. This is a matter of no heart. It’s been rare, but the lazy Calgary Flames are starting to show when it comes time for the game. Absent are Jarome Iginla, Oli Jokinen, Daymond Lagnkow. Gone is the defensive play of pretty much everyone…… High shots against once again tonight with hardly a chance on the other end. The game could have been 4-1 if it weren’t for two quick whistles in Calgary’s favour.
What’s even worse is Columbus takes liberties in the crease against Kipper and Calgary doesn’t have a response. Just once I want to see someone crash the net then get a stiff knock out punch to the jaw. Maybe that’s too far but you get the point.
Calgary had nothing in the tank, in fact, they didn’t have much after the first period in Chicago. Shots on goal again were less than 25 for Calgary and over 30 for Columbus. Either the Sutters think we’re idiots and don’t really want to lower shots as the a primary goal for the club, or, the players do’nt really care to follow the ‘system’.
Notes: You know your team is screwed when the leader for hits is Fredrick Sjostrom. Yay.
Once again Barry Flames hit the nail right on the head. This team doesn’t show any heart, get’s beat in almost every one on one battle, seems to get out skated constantly, etc… I don’t know what the answer is for this team, picking up Bouwmeester seems to have done nothing. They better smarten up because they are becoming the laughing stock of the league. We have one of the highest payrolls, but ice one of the most heartless teams money can buy. I will always remain a Flame fan but at the moment, I’m at my wits end.
It’s funny that we think the wheels have fallen off seven games nito the season. Fact is if they start getting together with the new system then we’ll improve…… right now though we have zero scoring to complement our terrible D. I don’t really have any idea what the start of some answers could be, all I know there’s a lack of heart and that bothers me.
I have watched every game this year and believe that these changes are necessary for success this year. 1. It’s time to depart with Daymond Langkow & Craig Conroy Too slow defensive liability. 2. Cory Sarich cannot be counted on any longer. They need faster and stronger defencemen. The team needs to put fear in the opponents like Chicago has. I love their fire and aggressiveness! We can learn alot from them.. Mikka cannot continue to handle 30 -40 shots against every night.. Please have better puck control and set up more shots in the offensive zone. This team is going back to last year’s form with a lot of chasing the other teams around..Go Flames
Okay if I may have the final say, the two men disadvantage was something that did the damage and I am not praising the Flames…. What I am saying is that the the goal tender intereferece penalty had not been called, but duirng the final minutes of the play, an offsetting penalty was called….. I mean, give me a break. Everyone seems to be finding faults with the Flames, but in actual fact games are being predicted by the number of calls made for and against…. Don’t tell me that CBJ played clean..Okay they played a good game, and even outsmarted the Flames. But can they do all the pushing and shoving? – Darn the Zebras!!!
Conspicuously, all the players on ice need to perform and this is technically missing. We have had good initial games, but strong offense from Iginla, Jokinen.. etc.is required to perk the team up.. Regehr, Phaneuf, Bouwmeester need to hang their opponents by the throats. Don’t give your opponents a chance to outplay you, boys. Go Flames Go!!
It’s not time to panic, but it’s certainly a time to groan outloud about why the seemingly talented team can’t pay attention to details. I think Conroy is great on the third line and Langkow need sto find his game.
Langkow and Iginla in particular can’t seem to maintain control of the puck for any decent time. I wonder if Brent has told Iginla that he should only be the shooter for passes from Jokenin and not the puck handler, cause right now he sucks at both.
C’mon Del. Cheer up. As Barry says, it not the time to panic. The guys have to adjust themselves. Whatever the decision, I am sure the players are intelligent enough to get through this slump.
Have mercy on them.
We shall see come Friday. All I’m saying is if they get blown away by the Canucks on Friday I will be calling for all of their heads! Lol, Go Flames Go!!!
Hey Flaming Moe,
All the best to the Flames tonight. Stay optimistic, it really works and our instructor proved this. Wishful thinking? May be, but we all need to be in this together to make it work.
I like the line-up proposed for tonight. Lankgow, Iginla, Bourque.
I don’t mind seeing Macrimmon and Prust on the same line either. That oughta make a few ‘nuks think twice about playing too rough.
Whoops, I meant Conroy, Iginla Bourque