Trade deadline 2015 has come and gone and the Calgary Flames were left with a few options and some surprises. Curtis Glencross was traded before the deadline for a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick in this year’s class. Schlemko was picked up off the waiver wire to dive depth on D (a place Calgary sorrily lacks). Sven Baertschi was traded to the Canucks for a 2nd round pick in this year’s draft. Finally, Mark Giordano, the reason behind this year’s season, will be out for 4-5 months with a torn bicep muscle. That’s the biggset blow to the Flames and one that will likely spell the end of their playoff chances. The fact management didn’t go out and get more help on D despite knowing the severity of the injury suggests they are holding true to the notion they will not look at the short term allure of playoffs in 2015 over the health of the organization for years to come. The future is bright for the Flames, but that’s probably not going to help us this year.

Here are some post-game thoughts from Philly tonight.


– Kari Ramo again with the start. He’s been solid away from home.

– Deryk Engelland played over 22 minutes which is a high for him in a Flames uniform. I tweeted about this 11 hours earlier:

– Philly clawed back in the third period but Calgary managed to turn their game around and stick around for OT where Jiri Hudler potted the eventual winner (Engelland on the ice for that doozy).

– Gaudreau was relegated to 4th line duty. You could hear audibly hundreds of fans in attendance watching just him. He did factor in the winning goal. Although this was an exciting trip for him, he hasn’t been playing up to expectations, likely due to the pressure of the late season push.

– Backlund finally back on the scoresheet, he needs to up his game if the Flames have a remote chance to squeak into the post-season.

– Drew Shore in the lineup with Granlund sent down. He looked pretty good, but it was Poirier with his first point as a Flame that seemed to be flying.

– All the Flames have to do is win, that’s all they can take care of, and with the ‘easiest’ schedule left among the battling teams they have to win at least 14 of their last 19 for around 95 points.

When I think of the Calgary Flames and their playoff chances, I look no further than the emergence of ace defender Deryk Engelland.

Next up Detroit Thursday.