What’s with the Flames and crappy NHL teams? They can beat Vancouver, Detroit, and Minnesota in a week, but then struggle against the haphazard Jackets. TOnight was no different. Columbus has 22 points on the season (worst in the NHL) and have already beaten the Flames twice this season. It looked like three until the third period when Jarome Iginla took matters into his own hands.


Calgary looked flat, slowed down by the mounds of turkey they ate through the brief Christmas holiday break. They found their legs in spurts through two periods of play. It didn’t help matters that they were penalised four times in the second period, twice on what appeared to be very legal hits. A phantom ‘elbow’ against Sarich and an ‘interference’ against Bourque. I guess you can’t hit in the NHL anymore.

Down 1-0 going into the third Calgary took advantage of their powerplay to even things up when Jarome Iginla potted his 498th as a Flame. That tie took the team all the way to a shootout when Iginla once again took matters into his own hands scoring the only goal in the shoot-out. It’s rare to see Iginla on the shootout, but without an available Tanguay he factored in and didn’t disappoint.

That makes it four in a row for the Flames and a continuation of their slow crawl up the standings. Up next is NYI Thursday. Let’s make it five!

Notes: Tanguay not on this extended road trip. Babchuk and Carson are. Stajan is, well, nobody really asks so we don’t know.