Will Feaster Blow it Up?
The worst lead in hockey is any lead the Flames have. After the GM went public with his displeasure with the non-existent intensity in Calgary’s game the team responded with much of the same, if not worse. Threatening whole sale changes in the midst of playoff run, Jay Feaster seemed ready to pull the trigger if Calgary didn’t fix their game. They haven’t. Will he stay true to his word?
Offensively, Matt Stajan is the #1 threat. But before he got going the Flames were gift wrapped 3 goals. That’s a 3-0 lead squandered. Worse than Pheonix two nights ago. MIA was the top line yet again. Curtis Glencross is not the answer coming back from injury. Things are so bad (getting worse) Calgary couldn’t even muster 22 shts on goal thru 3 periods. Philly shot 45.
Blowing leads, getting worse on D, and finally crapping the bed in a shootout, all recipes for disaster.
Sure, it didn’t help that the refs inexplicably gift wrapped the tying Flyer goal late in the third period, but let’s be honest, Calgary was terrible yet again. The top line usually scores, when they don’t, we lose. Iginla is nowhere to be seen. But not only that, the line is a defensive liability (and usually pitted against opposition top lines themselves).
Now, the Flames are still in the hunt, but all the other teams are hot or have improved dramatically. Calgary, well the past 5 games going into the stretch run have been their worse.
The next two days will be VERY interesting indeed.
Are the Flames playing their worst hockey of the season? Have your say.
It certainly seems like the Flames like settling for one point instead of the two despite the fact that they commenced the game with intensity last night – they tackled the puck well and stuck with their opponents; they got the three goal lead early; a powerplay as well as a short handed goal. The only thing they lacked was generating the offence in terms of shots on goal. Yes, they definitely made some mistakes and their inability to control the Flyer’s aggressiveness even after an insurance penalty shot goal was one of them. Nevertheless, conspicuous penalty calls would make fans wonder whether the reffing requires magnifiying glasses to make accurate judgement calls!!
– Glencross passing the stick to his linemate was considered as “throwing the stick penaltyâ€
– Matt Stajan’s boarding penalty (was that actually boarding?)
– Jokinen’s touch on his opponent was judged as aslashing penalty, which resulted in the two men disadvantage against the Flames…
What about the opponent’s behaviour? Speaking of inaccuracies, the Flames didn’t try harder either to sustain their three and one goal lead while the major setback was consequential to the shoot out performance again! With the exception of Mike Cammmalleri, no one scored in the shootout and even Mikka with his 41 saves last night could not help his team get the two points….
In closing, a trade or a threat to the Flames will not make any difference to the team’s performance because the ultimate message that comes in mind is “we can but we will strive not to…”
What are Calgary’s chances of getting into the playoffs this year now? Win every game here on?
The Flames can get into the playoff race if they choose to do so i.e. win everygame henceforth. However, verbal inspiration from both the players and their fans will not suffice – performance and the intent to do so will – the intensity and determination to outplay their opponents without taking unnecessary penalties; defensive ability to remain steadfast in their role; the netminding aptitude to help the team get the two points instead of settling for one point only. In sum, the combination of all these strategies will help the Calgary Flames accomplish their goals in becoming playoff contenders.. But is there a chance? Only the Calgary Flames and the outcome of each game can determine the answer.
I’d say they can afford to lose 5 of the last 17