At this point of the year every game is crucial because if you’re out of a playoff spot before the Olympics, you probably aren’t going to the post-season this year. Turns out the Calgary Flames players haven’t got that message yet.
Even following Calgary’s monster trades have really fixed NOTHING. In fact, tonight, the only person who scored was a Dallas player in his own net.
Morrow potted the puck, or rather wired a shot, into his own goal to give the Flames the lead. Jarome Iginla should take note, he spends the entire second half of the season up to this point floating around the edges, and when he drives to the net he gets rewarded. Huh, what a concept, fight harder for the middle of the ice!
Although Calgary had some early pressure their powerplay looked atrocious, which in a sense makes sense since they’ve changed up half of each PP unit. But with six chances after two periods, you have to have more than one goal (which was scored by Dallas). Whenever the Flames had a chance Marty Turco came up with the easy saves.
Think of it like this, 1/3 of the Flames were changed mid season (or just a bit more). So every game, AT LEAST a 1/3 of the game will be nonsense with players trying to figure out where each other is and how complete passes. Compound that with the Flames’ existing ineptitude to move their feet and create scoring chances and you’re pretty much guaranteed that every game will consist of 40-50% minimum of ‘Flames ineptitude’. Tonight was no different.
The teams traded penalties all night but Dallas was the one who eventually stole the momentum after scoring on their PP chance (ringing off Kipper’s face…ouch.) Calgary took two too many men penalties–a clear indicator that the team has no clue what they’re doing and communication is brutal. But what do you expect after tons of last season trades?
With PLAYOFFS on the line and heck, even pride, the Flames came out in the third period FLYING. No wait–that was Dallas.
The Stars came out hard and Calgary had no answer. Always one step behind and incapable of generating worthy scoring chances. Yes they had 30 shots on goal, but 25 of them were from the outside. Calgary showed little grit or heart in the second last game before the Olympic break. Not a good sign if anybody wants to play in the post-season.
Calgary thought they’d tied the game with 11 seconds left, even though the ref signaled a goal and video was inconclusive, the replay officials called NO GOAL. But who are we kidding. The hapless Flames had no business winning things game, they should have been booed and laughed out of the building in yet another home game loss. Pathetic. These idiots better come up with something solid during the Olympic break or the Sutter’s can go back to their farm after systematically wrecking this franchise from top to bottom (foreshadowing here).
Notes: At least Edmonton is still worse, but who would’ve though Calgary could potentially be contemplating a race for top pick in this year’s draft?! Oh wait, we don’t even have a first rounder…. not even a second rounder…. why does this franchise even bother?!
Another pathetic effort by our Flames. I have no idea what it is going to take to get this team playing up to expectations. Huge trade and still playing the same uninspiring hockey. Can’t score to save their lives, and even our D looks bad most nights. Man is it ever tough being a Flames fan this year….
I am 53 years old and loved the game of hockey for at least 45 of them. I have never called in or written in before but I am going to say what everyone is thinking. A carpenter can blame his tools for a crooked house but when he changes a lot of these tools out and still has a crooked house at what point do we blame the carpenter? Sutters have done a lot for hockey but his and Darrel’s style and demand of our players to play his style is what is to blame here for quite a few minutes in the second period we had end to end action and every one including our players felt what the game of hockey is supposed to be…and when it is played like that, it has an enthusiastic way of infecting all who play and watch…..why can’t we play that way, we have a great goal tender maybe the best. Instead we have a race horse come out in the 3rd period who has been demoralized and put back in his traces pulling a buggy.
I used to tell my managers that there greatest ability was to arouse enthusiasm amongst our people ….. and that is the greatest asset any manager/coach possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement. People achieve what they believe they can and Mr. Sutter has sold them his style of hockey and now we have a group of player that used to score quite a bit being snake bit at every turn……they are so afraid of offending him that they have lost the ability to take risks….. I no of no successes without risks…( how high would you climb up a ladder if you were constantly being reminded about falling)and every time you do something you really don’t believe in your heart you loose confidence in your own abilities and our last 10 games show us how much confidence our once scoring team feels.
We need a new carpenter and he needs to understand most of these flames are not rookies they know how to play the game. In fact most of them are better than Mr. Sutter on his best day….your just the coach put the right players together to enhance each of their skills ….like taking baking soda and vinegar then watch the reaction…… Let the game be played the way it was meant to be played not pulled down to the lower players abilities but raised to the best players abilities. It is exciting to watch, and a 7 to 5 game is far more exciting than 3 to 1 or a 2 to 1.
Management made a big mistake with the new coach now lets see what happens to the carpenter……I hope they don’t just trade for new tools again.
I started writing this at 4:30 this morning……so not only are the players frustrated.
Eric Gould FAN of good hockey
Great post Eric, what your saying sure makes sense. I agree with you as a fellow Flames fan that frustration is at a season high. Sutter was brought in as a savior but sadly has been anything but.
It is obvious that the Flames’ performance is no better than what it was prior to the blockbuster trade…If the new-look of Calgary Flames has not made any difference to the team’s performance, then the fault lies somewhere else. We have to find the missing piece of the puzzle.
It is sometimes devastating to see Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks sky rocketting… and if only we could see our players perform!! What is wrong??
I agree with Flaming Moe, Eric and Anar. Why can’t the coach see what the fans do? I think Brent Sutter started out the year Ok but Darryl has to go!! Before this franchise is destroyed! If we as fans aren’t looking forward to the next game what are the players thinking!!! Just as a rabbit trail I wonder what Jim Playfair is thinking!
Dear Flames Owners: Wake up a smell the coffee it’s BURNING!!!!