Maybe they took advantage of a tired team playing their second game is as many nights. Maybe they have just the right mix to start winning games. Whatever the cause, Calgary appears to be an improved team with the meagre tinkering that’s gone on in the past few days.
Added to the mix, Miikka Kiprusoff’s return to the lineup after missing a month of hockey. He looked sharp and no worse for wear. Next up Mikael Backlund will return to the fold.
Can the Flames piece together a final run to the playoffs (only to face the so far unbeaten Blackhawks?) Anything is possible, but they need to string together more than two wins in a row before fans will be convinced this isn’t another one of their ‘two steps forward, three steps back’…..
The two spectacular wins were consequential of the Flames new game strategy. They excelled in performance for the full sixty minutes of play, they were better at winning face-offs, and their forechecking/defensive abilities were discernable. Despite a few inadvertent misses, the entire team had been alert, motivated and determined. Yes, there are still many challenges awaiting for the Flames and it is still a long way to go, but anything is possible. For starters, a home victory is just as critical as a road one to earn the points…..but from a fan’s perspective, with an inspirational coach and his colleagues, the Flames seem to have what it takes to play good hockey. Go Flames Go… All the best henceforth….