The Calgary Flames came into tonight’s game vs. their nemesis Tampa Bay Lightning (why does Florida have two teams? Anybody?) riding a six game winning streak. Two things were lost, the Flames winning streak, and their chances of every getting a day off in the future. With some breathing room in the schedule the team got a full extra day off, and rewarded home town faithful with a flat pathetic effort.

The Flames were coasting after the first five, got no help from the one-sided officials who took Ben BIshop’s song and dance hook, line, n sinker, and generated zero offence.

HEre’s the Ben Bishop sell job for those wondering.

The usual suspects were non-existent for most of the game–Mark Giordano, Troy Brouwer, and Sean Monahan. The latter leads the Flames’ in goals, but that doesn’t matter when half of them come in blowout games and he’s absent for most of the game. He doesn’t throw checks, doesn’t win board battles, and has trouble generating offence on his own. Really poor efforts from players who command top dollars. Monahan had maybe 4 shifts in the third period and wasn’t on the ice in the dying minutes or the PP.

Luckily, the team can right the ship in a hurry, but I bet this is the last time the Flames get a day off when they should be working.

Notes: I hate Telus. Their schedules are never right and I miss full periods. #firstworldproblems

p.s. this year is probably the quietest I’ve heard the ‘Dome in 12 years.