Gameday - Wild

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

8:00 p.m. MST

Pengrowth Saddledome

Minnesota @ Calgary
TSN

• Minnesota comes into Calgary tonight for the third and final game of the Flames current homestand, as the two teams fight for sole possession of 2nd in the Northwest division...
• The Wild are currently 9-3 in their last 12 road games and goaltender Nicklas Backstrom went 3-0-0 last week with a 1.92 GAA on route to being named the first star of the week by the NHL...
• Calgary is coming off home wins against San Jose and Phoenix, and are hoping to continue the dominance that makes them the leagues best home team...
• Backstrom is expected to get the start tonight against Miikka Kiprusoff, who was given the last game off after having a little trouble as of late. Backstrom is still filling in for the injured Manny Fernandez, who has been out for the last month with a sprained knee...
• Brian Rolston leads the Wild with 26 goals and 52 points, while Pierre-Marc Bouchard tops the team with 29 assists. The other leaders are Keith Carney at +14 and Derek Boogard with 81 PIMs...
• You have to wonder if Eric Godard will get the start tonight to take on the Boogie Man again, or if Wayne Primeau will be given the task instead...

I'm expecting a close win over a good team here, with the hometown boys coming out on top, 3-2. Goals by Iginla, Moss, and Tanguay, with Demitra and Gaborik answering back for the road team...

Postgame - Coyotes

We won, yay!?!

The boys won this one 5-2, but I still don't feel overly excited about it, as they had to win this one and there really was no way I could see them losing it...


Wayne Primeau scored two goals tonight (I had a feeling he'd get at least one), and apparently he played so well that he was given the first and third stars. I've been liking what he brings to the team since we picked him up from Boston...


Andreas Zyuzin also scored for the hometown boys, which is nice to see. I think he's been getting moderately better every game since the skills competition and hopefully this goal helps him get the confidence up a little...


David Moss came back tonight and potted a goal as well (the other one went to Kristian Huselius). I still can't believe that Colin Campbell never suspended Ossi Vaananen for at least a game for that brutal hit (should have been gone for 2), but what can you do...


Jamie McLennan got the start and the win, which is nice to see. Miikka Kiprusoff needed a little break to regroup and I feel Noodles has been performing fairly well in the limited playing time he's seen recently. I actually liked what he did in that game against the Red Wings, when he came in late and still faced more than a game's worth of shots in just about 40 minutes. That isn't very much time to rest between shots and I think he showed in that game that he can be relied on to hold the fort for a short period if we really need him to...


Ed Jovanovski hid in the press box again. Injury schminjury...

Gameday - Coyotes

Monday, February 26, 2007
7:30 p.m. MST
Pengrowth Saddledome
Phoenix @ Calgary

Sportsnet West

• Coyotes come into town tonight to face the Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome, wear the local team still holds the biggest home-ice advantage in the league, despite their vomit-inducing record on the road...
• Calgary is coming off a big win at home over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night, where the big guns came out to play...
• Phoenix hasn't played since beating the Flames 3-2 on Thursday night in Arizona...
• Jamie McLennan will hopefully get the start tonight, in what should be an easy win, while Miikka Kiprusoff could really use a little rest to get his head sorted out. Lets just hope the defence tightens up a little for Noodles (assuming he gets the nod)...
• The Coyotes will probably go with the hot hand in net, in the form of Mikael Telqvist (as much as you can ever call his hand hot)...

I take the Flames in this one 5-1. Goals by Iginla (2), Langkow, Huselius, and Primeau. Doan answers back for the road team...

I'd write more, but I really don't have the time or energy for it...

Postgame - Sharks

Okay, this is coming a little late, but I still haven't actually had a chance to watch the game yet, so take it for what its worth... which is probably very little...

Nice to see that the boys won again, but I'm really getting concerned with the number of goals we've been giving up. The defence is looking fairly porous and Kipper is not being Kipper...

I don't think I need to cover the Rhett Warrener situation, as its been reported by pretty much everyone that the guy needs to take some time off...

Iggy apparently put in a nice effort with 2 goals and 2 assists, we just need him to find a way to do that on the road...

A 7-4 win looks good boys, but I'd much rather see a 3-1 win where we control the ice a little better...

Oh yes, and the PVR is 5 for 5...

Gameday - Sharks

Saturday, February 24, 2007
8:00p.m. MST
Pengrowth SaddleDome
San Jose @ Calgary

HNIC

• Flames are back home tonight to take on San Jose at the Saddledome...
• Calgary is coming off yet another unsuccesful road trip in which they only picked up one out of a possible four points...
• San Jose is finishing up an 8 game road trip in which they are 4-3-0...
• Evgeni Nabokov will likely be getting the start for San Jose, as Vesa Toskala is out with the flu/ a groin injury. Nabokov is coming off a 21 save shutout against Chicago on Thursday night...
• Miikka Kiprusoff has been having troubles lately and is looking to rebound with a big win at home...
• Patrick Marleau leads the Sharks in goals (29) and +/- (+8), while Joe Thornton leads in assists (61) and points (77). Mark Bell has 58 PIMs to pace the team...

The boys are back at home, so I have some faith that they will be able to pull this one out. I will also not be home for this one, and will once again be recording the game on my PVR, which is 4/4 so far on Saturday night games...

The boys come back to win this one 3-1 on goals by Iginla, Huselius, and Primeau. Cheechoo answers back for the 'boys' in the effeminate, teal jerseys...

Postgame - Coyotes

I couldn't find an image to properly convey my feelings right now, so I had to create one...

I apologize if the profanity offends anyone, but I really don't care right now...

Ironically I titled the work 'Damnit', cause I figured one more f-bomb would be too much...

I'm getting tired of typing this, so I'm going to do the rest of the post in the form of newspaper headlines...

Flames burn another 3rd period lead

Calgary's big guns fail to hit target on scoresheet

Playfair defenceless on OT strategy

Ex-Flames come back to toast former team

Jovo-cop hides from Flames in pressbox claiming he is injured

I don't know, that's all I can think of right now, but if I think of more I'll add them (or if anyone else does, feel free to post them in the comments)...

I really, really shouldn't have brought up that whole phoenix mythology thing yesterday...

Gameday - Coyotes

Thursday, February 22, 2007

7:00 p.m. MST

Jobbing.com Arena

Calgary @ Phoenix
Sportsnet West

• The Flames head to Phoenix tonight to finish off their short two game roadtrip...
• Calgary is coming off another disappointing road loss in Colorado where the white Flames (aren't white flames supposed to be hotter than red flames?) reared their ulgy head again despite much speculation that the boys could finally solve their road woes...
• The desert dogs seem to be the perfect kind of opponent for a team that struggles away from home, but we've said that about Columbus and Colorado in the last month and look at what happened in those games...
• Phoenix is enduring a current six game losing streak in which it has been outscored 27-13, and has been beaten by Calgary in 10 of their last 12 meetings...
• So this really should be a good chance for Calgary to end their 6 game road losing streak...
• Somethings gotta give somewhere...
• I'm just glad I don't have to talk about the Avs anymore. Well, for a little while anyway...
• The only real player that the Coyotes have worth mentioning is Shane Doan. Beyond that they don't really have too much with the possible exception of a grossly underproducing Ed Jovanovski (who I have no problem seeing like this, as I can't really stand the guy after that playoff series against the Canucks a few years ago)...
• Kristian Huselius has been lighting it up again and I feel that there is an off chance that Noodles could get the start here, to give Miikka Kiprusoff a little much needed rest and a chance to clear his head. Of course, maybe all he needs is a game against a less than spectacular opponent...
• Of course, I've said all this before...

Flames win a big one here, 6-1. Goals by Jarome Iginla, Daymond Langkow, Huselius, Jeff Friesen, Brad Stuart, and Dion Phaneuf. Doan is the only player on the home team to rise from the ashes and score one for the Arizona faithful...

Of course, maybe I shouldn't use a phoenix analogy, as it did rise from the ashes. Maybe they will do that in their next game, as they do have to get burnt by flames first for that to happen, right...

Unless it means that the boys blow another late lead, but lets not talk about that...

Postgame - Avalanche

Pardon the French...

Back to the ridiculously bad penalty kill...

Sakic was the hero for the Avs in their win on Thursday, Paul Stastny did it for them tonight (setting a new franchise record for rookie points to join his father in the team's record books)...

Huselius played well again (1-1-2), picking up the 2nd star...

The boys seem to be going good game, bad game alternately right now, which means they should be able to pick up a win in Phoenix next game (hopefully)...

Even the oilogosphere wankers are laughing at our boys' road record, which just goes to show how sad it really is...

Everyone else in the division picked up points on us tonight (wins by Colorado, Minnesota, and Vancouver, shootout loss for Edmonton)...

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this point, but I think insanity is going to take over soon...

And yes, that time stamp is accurate, as that's when I started typing this out (11:45 hockey games are just brutal)...

Oh yeah, and for those wondering, I'm the second one in the back row, my sister is the last one in the back row and my twin brother, well, you can probably figure that one out on your own...

Gameday - Avalanche

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
7:00 p.m. MST
Pepsi Center
Calgary @ Colorado

Sportsnet West

• Okay, this is getting beyond redundant. The NHL should get rid of these just to save bloggers and the main stream media from having to do these kind of pregames back-to-back-to-back. Of course, I'm sure they don't care how much of a pain in the ass it is to the rest of us...


• This is the rubber match in the 3 game series, with the Avalanche taking the first of two at the Saddledome...


• Colorado is coming off a frustrating 5-4 loss to the Canucks after we tired them out on Saturday night...


• Seriously, I want to write about some other opponent already...


• Kristian Huselius had an excellent game on Saturday night, controlling the puck and potting a beauty in the third period off a feed from Jarome Iginla...


• I haven't seen any news on how David Moss is doing after getting his face rammed into the top of the boards on Saturday night by Ossi Vaananen, nor have I heard anything about supplemental discipline...

I see the boys getting one back for Thursday night's loss, Flames win 4-2. Goals by Huselius, Iginla, Daymond Langkow, and Wayne Primeau / Joe Sakic and Andrew Burnette...

Alright boys, lets start this 2 game road trip off right (of which we should be able to walk away with 4 points)...

Oh yeah, and my team won our tournament this weekend...

Postgame - Avalanche

St. Huselius!

Much better boys!

But remember that one good home win doesn't take you off the hook for the upcoming road trip...

A few things from the game stand out for me...

• That brutal hit by Ossi Vaananen on little David Moss. I'm thinking that a one or two game suspension should probably be in order, at least to discourage people from doing ridiculous hits like that. Not to mention how badly he hurt his team by doing that...
• That phenomenal toe save by Brad Suart in the second period. If he can do little things like that every game (things most players probably wouldn't think of), then that trade will start looking better and better...
• Kristian Huselius being Huselius and just dangling that puck all over the place...
• Wayne Primeau crashing into Budaj in the third period after that excellent pass from Robyn Regehr...
• That sweet goal by Huselius in the third period. Talk about threading the needle...
• A lot of nice chances that didn't go in...
• I'm really not a big fan of Brad May right now. I think he just became my most hated Avalanche player...
• I don't really know much about most of the Colorado players. I found myself just sitting there thinking 'who the hell is that guy?' at least half a dozen times...
• How the hell did we lose to these guys on Thursday?

Overall, very impressed with the play of the boys last night. Lets just hope they can keep it up heading into Denver for Tuesday. I hope the team from last night's game starts showing up a lot more often...

Watching the game this morning gives me a little boost heading into the championship game in my hockey tournament this afternoon...

Gameday - Avalanche

Saturday, February 17, 2007

7:30 p.m. MST

Pengrowth SaddleDome

Colorado @ Calgary

HNIC

• This is the second of three games between the Flames and Avalanche in the next week. While the games are consecutive for Calgary (H-H-A), there is a game in Vancouver for the Avalanche tomorrow night. Which means that tonight is the second game in a three game road trip for Colorado before heading back to Denver to host the Flames. It also means that we'll be softening them up for what is probably our biggest rival in the Northwest right now...
• In the last game Calgary blew a late second period 4-2 lead in a 7-5 win for Colorado...
• Miikka Kiprusoff will likely be facing off against Budaj tonight, as Jose Theodore was in net for the game on Thursday...
• Joe Sakic is the leader for Colorado in regards to goals (26), assists (42) and points (68), while Ken Klee leads the team with a +15 and Ian Laperriere with a team high 102 PIMs...

My prediction is a romping by the home team 5-1. Goals by Iginla (2), Daymond Langkow, Kristian Huselius, and Jeff Friesen (!) for the boys in red, and Milan Hejduk for the visitors in white...

And yes, I did just update my preview from the last game...

Hey, if they aren't changing much for this one, then neither am I (besides, I'm playing in a hockey tournament this weekend and don't have a lot of free time)...

Postgame - Avalanche

Not quite a third period breakdown, but up 4-2 with 25 minutes to play...

How about a full 60 minutes boys?

At home no less...

Seriously, WTF?

I'm kinda feeling like Lombardi in this picture...

Except maybe not as cooled and refreshed...

Gameday - Avalanche

Thursday, February 15, 2007

7:30 p.m. MST

Pengrowth SaddleDome

Colorado @ Calgary

Sportsnet West

• This is the first of three games between the Flames and Avalanche in the next week. While the games are consecutive for Calgary (H-H-A), there is a game in Vancouver for the Avalanche. Which means that tonight is the first game in a three game road trip for Colorado before heading back to Denver to host the Flames. It also means that we'll be softening them up for what is probably our biggest rival in the Northwest right now...
• In their most recent game, in Denver, the Avalanche and Peter Budaj shut out the downward spiralling, once mighty Ducks 3-0. However, they are still only 4-5-1 in their last ten games...
• Calgary is coming off a big home win against the Atlanta Thrashers, where their big guns finally showed up again, 4-1. While still only 4-2-4 in their last ten games, they are still very much dominant at home, going 4-0-1 during that stretch (as well as winning the previous 5 at home)...
• Miikka Kiprusoff will likely be facing off against Budaj tonight, as Jose Theodore has been relegated to backup duty since he has yet to show the form that won him the Hart trophy over Jarome Iginla in 2002...
• Joe Sakic is the leader for Colorado in regards to goals (24), assists (39) and points (63), while Ken Klee leads the team with a +11 and Ian Laperriere with a team high 102 PIMs...

My prediction is a romping by the home team 5-1. Goals by Iginla (2), Daymond Langkow, Kristian Huselius, and Jeff Friesen (!) for the boys in red, and Milan Hejduk for the visitors in white...

Postgame - Thrashers

That's more like it!

Nice recovery boys, although I am tempted to say 'Way to not blow it in the third period again, boys!'... wait, I guess I just did...

The big guns finally showed up again after being overshadowed by the bottom of the depth chart for the previous week...

I guess HGs visit paid off, although we won't really know for sure until after the upcoming 3 game series against Colorado that starts tomorrow...

What kind of scheduling quirk is that? I know back-to-backs are good for rivalries, but back-to-back-to-back? Especially if one team (the Flames in this case) takes all 3 of them? That is a quick way to drop out of the playoffs equation, especially this late in the season...

Oh well, we can worry about that tomorrow...

Welcome back to Calgary boys!

And a big welcome to the new guys!

Oh yeah, and I'd like to think that Andrew Ference's input helped the Bruins beat the Oilers 3-0 last night, too...

Gameday - Thrashers

Tuesday, February 13, 2007
7:30 p.m. MST
Pengrowth Saddledome
Atlanta @ Calgary
Sportsnet West

• Atlanta comes into town tonight on a bit of a slide (2-5-0-1 in their last 7 games), and 1-2 on their current Northwest division road trip, with that win being a sound thrashing (pun intended) of the Avalanche in Denver 6-3.
• As you are all aware, the boys are coming home from a less than acceptable 3 game road trip, which saw them pick up one point after giving away two third period leads, as well as the departure of Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew in return for Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau.
• Miikka Kiprusoff will be looking to return to his Vezina form after a very un-Vezina outing on Sunday when he allowed 3 goals on only 11 shots in the first period against the Red Wings.
• The top players all seem to be in a bit of a daze right now, with Jeff Friesen having as many goals in his last 4 games (2) as Jarome Iginla, Craig Conroy, Daymond Langkow, Alex Tanguay, Dion Phaneuf, and Matthew Lombardi combined (and the same number as Kristian Huselius).
• You may want to read that last sentence again.
• The dangerous players for the Thrashers are obviously Marian Hossa, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Vyacheslav Kozlov, who should not be taken lightly by anyone, at any time. Hossa and Kozlov took down Colorado almost by themselves (both went 2-2-4).
• Seriously, Friesen has 2 goals in the last 4 games.
• Kari Lehtonen will most likely be in net for Atlanta and has quietly been having a good year down in Georgia.

My prediction for tonight is a solid game by the boys over a not so currently solid opponent, 5-2. Goals coming from Iginla (2), Langkow, David Moss, and Phaneuf for the good guys, and Hossa and Eric Belanger for the guys in the ugly jerseys...

Although it might actually be a safer prediction to have added a goal by Friesen. I mean seriously...

And here's to hoping that Andrew Ference can help the Oilers to another loss tonight...

I'll miss you Marty!

At the beginning of my blog, I warned you there'd be posts like this (cause sometimes I just need to get things out)...

In addition to being a Flames fan, I am also a long time fan of the San Diego Chargers, who fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer last night...

I'm a little split on this issue, as he did a lot to raise the team from the dredges of the NFL to get them to not only respectability, but the NFLs best record (14-2) this past season. However, he also occasionally has brain farts at the end of important games, as shown by his career 5-12 record in the playoffs. There were a couple of these questionable acts at the end of this past season's playoff loss to the Patriots (which would have been mute if Marlon McCree knew to bat down a ball on fourth down)...

I'm sure that if it wasn't for his consistent head-bashing with GM A.J. Smith, he would still be standing on the sidelines at Qualcomm next season. Or if he hadn't lost both coordinators and two of his assistant coaches in the past two weeks...

Now the question remains as to who is still available, as most quality coaching options have been nabbed, although I'm sure that with the strength of the team overall, San Diego doesn't have to hurry too much right now. The Chargers are perhaps the strongest team overall right now, and have no easily discernible weakness to turn away any potential coaching prospects...

I'm sure that every coach in search of a job was faxing his resume to Dean Spanos within minutes of hearing of the firing, but I honestly can't think of who I would want right now...

As much as I can't stand the guy, maybe Parcells changes his mind about retirement now...

Postgame - Red Wings

Wow...

Didn't quite see that coming...

If that isn't a kick in the ass for the boys, I don't know what else can be done...

• Outshot 50-18, by at least 10 in each frame...

• Huselius' streak is ended (10-11-21 in 15 games)...

• Kipper got chased from the net after allowing 3 goals on 14 shots, then Noodles came in and faced another 36 shots, stopping 32 of them...

• Friesen scores another goal (WTF?), so maybe he finally figured out how to find the net again...

• We get one point on a 3 game road trip where we probably should have had four...

• Stuart and Primeau didn't do a hell of a lot, but I think it will take them a few games to get into the system...

Back home against Atlanta for tomorrow night, so hopefully the boys get a solid practice in and get accustomed to the two new guys...

Gameday - Red Wings

Again I'm running short on time, as I have to leave for my hockey game shortly and the game actually starts in an hour, so this will also be brief, only to be updated later. Most likely after the game is actually over...

Final game of the road trip in Hockeytown (although apparently it is having trouble living up to that moniker lately, according to the latest issue of The Hockey News)...

There are rumours that Hasek may be injured, which is a little encouraging...

Huselius is looking to extend his point streak another game, hopefully in a winning effort this time...

With the Datsyuk and Zetterburg pairing heating things up again, they are obviously the line to watch (along with Tomas Holmstrom)...

I actually have a good feeling about this one. Its an important game from a standings point of view, so I think the boys will step it up and actually take a game at Joe Louis...

Flames win 4-2 to head home to face Atlanta on a bit of a high. Goals from Iginla, Moss, Primeau, and Giordano. Zetterburg pots a couple for the other guys...

Postgame - Sabres

Oh, that was another ugly finish. I actually got to a television just in time to catch the last 5 minutes of the third period, plus extra time, so this one may be my fault...

Another blown third period lead, another loss in a shootout...

On the plus side, and this is getting to be redundant, we may have blown the game, but at least we got a point and Huselius kept his streak going with a goal...

Of course I'm sure that Huselius would have gladly ended his streak three games ago if it meant the boys won those games...

Just another late loss... to a good team, but still...

Gameday - Sabres

Okay, my weekends are pretty busy, so I don't have time for a real gameday right now. What I might do is sneak back in later and do one up right, and then pretend that it was here all along...

Sabres are the number one team in the East... blah, blah, blah...

Huselius is still on a streak... Yahoo! Blah, blah, blah...

Flames have trouble on the road... blah, blah, blah...

Kipper vs Miller... blah, blah, blah...

My optimistic prediction is 3-2 Flames with goals from Iginla, Tanguay, and Moss for the good guys, Drury and Briere for the bad guys...

Realistically though, I'm thinking 3-1 for the home team...

Go Flames!

Postgame - Blue Jackets

Okay, so I slept on this one first...

Doesn't make a difference...

How can we be so good at home and yet sooooo bad on the road. It doesn't make sense, as there aren't enough differences between playing a game in the Saddledome and playing in another teams barn, to justify the whole Jekyll and Hyde thing the boys have going on...

To have another lead and then be down a goal so quickly...

I think Noodles may have been a little rattled by the first one going off his helmet, but the boys should have been able to do something in their own zone to help him out...

At least Huselius' streak continues, but he will be in tough to get another point tomorrow night...

I don't know if I'll even be able to watch...

Oh crap, I think I'm starting to talk like an Oiler fan...

Go Flames! You can do it boys! Beat those Buffaslugs!

Gameday - Blue Jackets

Thursday, February 08, 2007

5:00 p.m. MST

Nationwide Arena

Calgary @ Columbus

Sportsnet West

• The Flames are in Columbus tonight in the first of a 3 game roadtrip, during which they will also face Buffalo and Detroit.
• In the matchup in Calgary on the 2nd of this month, Calgary seemed to dominate the Blue Jackets for most of the game, which saw the return of captain Jarome Iginla from a sprained knee.
• In the three games played so far in this series, the home team has won, with Columbus winning the first in a shootout (5-4), and Calgary winning the last two (2-1, 6-2). The Flames are 3-7-1 alltime at Nationwide Arena.
• Frederik Norenna will most likely get the start against Miikka Kiprusoff after returning recently from a pulled groin.
• Everyone knows that Calgary has been brutal on the road this season and they are currently tied with the Kings for the fewest road wins in the Western Conference, so this first game against a less than stellar opponent will be vital for them to get a good jump before going up against two of the strongest teams in the league in their own barns.
• In an effort to get to know the other teams better, the leading pointgetter for Columbus is David Vyborny (11-33-44, -2), both Rick Nash and Sergie Federov hold the lead for goals with 14, Dan Fritsche has 4 game winners, and Alexander Svitov has 90 PIMs. Jason Chimera and Anders Eriksson lead the team with a +3.
• The major note for Calgary is obviously Kristian Huselius' 13 game point streak (9-10-19, +9), which he has kept up despite a drop in minutes since the re-acquisition of Craig Conroy and the return of Iginla. A point tonight would give him the outright lead for longest the longest such streak this season, for which his is currently tied with Alex Ovechkin.

I'm thinking the boys come out hard tonight, a little embarrassed by their much less than lacklustre finish to Tuesday's game. I say 3-1 Flames (since it is a road game I don't expect oo much more than that) with goals coming from Alex Tanguay, Daymond Langkow and Jeff Friesen for our boys and Nash answering back for the union.


Yes, I did just pick Friesen to score his second goal in as many games. Hey, I never get these things right anyway, so why not be as off base as possible on this one... Open the floodgates!

Postgame - Blackhawks

WHAT THE F*** WAS THAT?!?

• The boys are up 2-0 with only 3 minutes left and they lose in another shootout! Friesen even scored a goal for christ's sake! (I apologize if I offend anybody, but holy crap!)...

• 3 penalties within a minute and a half at the end of the game (including the aforementioned Friesen)? Seriously boys, where is the discipline?

• They better get a good skate in tomorrow, as this is absolutely no way to go into a road trip...

• This is sooo frustrating and the point we get out of it isn't really much of a consolation, considering we had the game (mind you, we had the last game against them too)...

• Actually, its kinda funny (but in more of a 'huh' way, as opposed to a 'ha' way), because my dad is a Chicago fan and I always remember them as having Calgary's number for years, even when both teams weren't very good...

• This sucks...

• And to make it even worse, the greasers couldn't even beat those ocean going spawns of satan...

Gameday - Blackhawks

Friday, February 02, 2007

7:00 p.m. MST
Pengrowth SaddleDome

Chicago @ Calgary
Flames PPV

• Chicago is back in town tonight for the first time since the Flames beat the 4-1 on November 22nd, followed by Chicago beating the Flames in 4-3 in overtime in Illinois.


• The big news for tonights game is obviously the retiring of Mike Vernon's number 30. I used to have a Mike Vernon t-shirt that I wore all the time back in the early 90's and have always thought he was a solid goaltender, but not necessarily a great one. Of course, when you throw in the fact that he is only 5'9" and he did as well as he did, that really has to count for something. As Matt over at the BofA notes, he may not have the wins record of some goalies such as Fuhr (who was noticeably helped by the Oiler offence), but he did win two cups with two different teams. I'm sure that this is just the first in a series of Flames number retirements over the next few years, including MacInnis and Fleury.


• I don't have too much else for this game, beyond noting that Huselius is still on his point scoring streak, the longest one in the NHL at this point.

Prediction: 4-1 for the Flames. Goals by Huselius, Iginla (2), and Moss for the Flames, Bondra for the Blackhawks...

The Ocean Going Spawns of Satan

I know that as a longtime Flames fan I should naturally hate the Greasers more than any other team in the league (and that definitely used to be the case), but the last few years I've grown to hate the Canucks even more. This was all brought back to me by a post by Matt over at BofA, in which he stated pretty much the same thing.

I had originally thought that it was something that only affected me because I was not born or raised in Calgary, nor have I ever lived there for any prolonged period of time. I'm assuming that the hate between the two largest cities in the province of Alberta goes well beyond sports, as I have often lived in areas that had regional rivalries that went well beyond athletics.

In my small home town of Haliburton we were raised to despise those from the neighbouring village of Minden. Each town had its own elementary schools, and then the kids from Minden got bussed to Haliburton for high school. There were definitely divided social groups, as you tended to stick with the kids you grew up with, even though you were now playing on sports teams together.

The divide between the two towns actually goes back further in history, as Haliburton got the railway, while Minden was given the county seat. Of course, now that the railway is no longer in use, we have only the beauty of the town of Haliburton to hold over those from Minden.

At which point you are probably wondering why I would bother to mention this (other than to bring up my hometown yet again, and to possibly show how far away from Toronto I actually grew up).

Although I have never really lived in Alberta, I can grasp the feelings of the inhabitants in regards to those of the two major cities. From my example, the town of Haliburton more closely reflects that of Calgary and Minden is, in turn, Edmonton. In Haliburton County the major industry is tourism instead of oil (and to an extent, farming) in Alberta.

The point of all of this is that I don't have that regional competition with Edmonton in my background, merely the sports related hatred from the Flames and Stampeders teams that I follow. When the Oilers were only marginally better than the Flames in the late 90's, my hatred born of the 80's started to lessen and I actually cheered for the Oilers in the playoffs every once in a while (wait, don't throw things at me yet...).

When Calgary made the run at the cup in 2004, I had no reason to be concerned with the Oilers, as the Flames wouldn't have to face them. However, they would have to face the Canucks. Following that series against Vancouver, I could honestly say that I hated them much more than the greasers, especially Ed Jovanovski and Matt Cooke.

Last season was more of the same, as I still regarded that Oilers as an underdog team in the Western Conference, where Vancouver was considered a favourite. It wasn't until Edmonton won their opening matchup in the playoffs last year, when a battle of Alberta in the playoffs was a distinct possibility, that the old feelings started to rush back to me. When Calgary was put out by the Mighty Ducks, I was no longer feeling any sense of hope for the Oilers, but I also didn't really have a whole lot of disdain for them at that moment either. It has been a while since a Canadian club has won the Stanley Cup, so at that point I was starting to think 'hey, it wouldn't be that bad...'. (I said to hold off on the throwing things at me, I'm coming around to my point... I think)...

Of course, as the playoffs wound down to the finals, my old feelings re-emerged with a vengeance. There was no way I wanted the Greasers to win the cup, especially with all of the Oil fans talking about how they would do the job that the Flames couldn't finish off (although Marty goal was in the net...). It was one of those bittersweet Stanley Cup finishes, where your team didn't win it, but at least THEIR TEAM didn't win it either...

Then we had to listen to it all summer, and into the beginning of the season. Until the Oilers 'vaunt' seemed to disappear. They have now fallen back down to where they belong and the Canucks have once again returned as our nemesis. I still hate the Oil, but I also despise the Canucks, too. With the recent Greaser tailspin putting them back down near 'pity' territory, I once more feel obliged to cheer for them against the Canucks tonight. Well, maybe not cheer, but pull for them anyway.

Of course, I could always think of something I'd like even better...

Postgame - Canucks

Okay, I just got home and started watching the game from last night now (11:45 am), so not much of a postgame today...

Already saw that the Flames won 4-3 (Wooooohooooo!), so that's awesome...

I actually watched the first two periods at the bar (that I remember, I may have watched more). But of course, I was at a bar so I didn't catch a whole lot...

So yeah, this is your postgame...

Flames take over first in th eNorthwest by themselves!

I need a nap before the Superbowl...

Oh, and Indy over the Bears 24-20...

Starting on Left Wing...

Would it sound kinda sad if I stated that one of the reasons I just started a blog was to play along in games like this? It would? Oh... then that is definitely NOT a reason then...

And thanks to Kyle for the tag (which I essentially begged for)...

Team: The Calgary Flames!!!

Uniform number: Much like Jes Golbez, I also wear number 75 (I have no idea why, but for some reason its my favourite number)...

Position: Left Wing (obviously, from the title...). I actually play pretty much every position, but if I'm playing for the Flames I want Kipper in net and Iggy on my right wing. I lack the size for NHL defence, and the faceoff abilities for center...

Nickname: Uh, stonehands? Mr. Butterfingers? Of course, in typical NHL fashion, it would probably be Smitty...

Dream linemates: Iggy, obviously, and Joey Nieuwendyk.

Rounding out the PP: Theoren Fleury and Dion Phaneuf. I realize that having Theo out there would probably cut the PP short, but he is one of my all-time favourite players. Mind you, between the two of us, we would really bring down the average height of the line. And Iggy would be dropping back to the point with Dion...

Job: Aggravating the other team, drawing penalties...


Signature move: Speeding up the outside before crossing into the middle and forcing the opposing defenceman to wrap me up before I get by him. Thus causing a penalty, or if I get past him, a breakaway or penalty shot...

Strengths: My mind-blowing speed, using my small size to evade defenders, my passing abilities...

Weaknesses: My ridiculously bad aim and my lack of a slapshot...

Injury problems: Potential for concussions from getting banged around so much...

Equipment: Whatever the highest bidder wants to suit me up in (its all about the Benjamins... err... Sir Robert Bordens...)...





Nemesis: The Oilers, obviously... playerwise, Ed Jovanovski from his Canuck days... or Mattias Ohlund... I can't stand those guys...

Scandal involvement: Taking off my skate and trying to stab a guy with it... oh wait, that's Happy Gilmore... Uhm, getting extremely drunk with Eddy Belfour and throwing up all over the night club and the bouncers when they tried to throw us out... And fighting with them... And then throwing up in the police car on the way to the police station... Before being forced to go into rehab by the league and my team... But all in the off-season, as I wouldn't drink nearly as much during the season and would probably be nearly dry during the playoffs...

Who I'd face in the Stanley Cup Finals: The Montreal Canadiens, so we could win it in their house again!

What I'd do with the Stanley Cup after our victory: Gee, I'm sure you probably all saw this coming, but filling it with alcohol and getting drunk in the dressing room... And then when I have my two days I'd take it back home to Haliburton and take it to the bar (yes, there is only one real bar)... Spending the daytime at my huge cottage with all my friends getting drunk around it... Yes, it would appear that I may have a problem...

Would the media love me or hate me: I'm pretty sure that the media outside of Calgary and Haliburton would hate me... I'd pretty much be like Theoren Fleury reborn, without all the demons and the fact that I'm a pleasant drunk...


I'll tag Sean over at Sea of Red, as I don't know who else hasn't been tagged yet...

Gameday - Canucks

Saturday, February 03, 2007

8:00 p.m. MST
Pengrowth SaddleDome

Canucks @ Calgary

HNIC

• The Flames play host to the Vancouver Canucks tonight, the only team to have beaten them at the Saddledome in the last 21 home games...
• Vancouver is coming off a 5-3 home victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night and came into town early on Friday, so they should be well rested...
• The Flames are coming off a 6-2 home victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets last night, in a game that saw the return of Jarome Iginla and a fantastic special teams performance, which has been sorely lacking thus far this season...
• The two teams are tied for first in the tight Northwest division, but Vancouver leads the season series 4-2 (with one of those wins in overtime). Calgary also holds a game in hand over Vancouver, but that will not come into play tonight, as a loss by either team gives up valuable ground in the division...
• Both teams have all-star goaltenders in net, with Vancouver's Roberto Luongo coming off a 3 Stars selection for January, and Calgary obviously having defending Vezina and Jennings trophy winner Miikka Kiprusoff...
• The lineup for the Flames is expected to be the same from the game last night, although I'm still curious as to why Kiprusoff is getting starts in back-to-back games...
• The hot hands for the Canucks right now are Marcus Naslund (1-4-5 +2 in the last 3 games) and Brendan Morrison (1-5-6 -2 in the last 5 games)...
• For the Flames, Kristian Huselius is currently on an 11 game point streak (7-10-17 +9 over that stretch) and Alex Tanguay has also been on fire lately (1-5-6 +3 in the last 3 games)...

Obviously this is a huge game for both teams, so expect them to both come out swinging. Given the quality of the goaltending, I'm expecting a one goal game (hopefully in regulation), and a win for the Flames. I think with the return of both Iginla and Craig Conroy to the Calgary lineup, the have a little more jump right now. My prediction is a 3-2 win for the Flames, with goals by Iginla, Dion Phaneuf, and Daymond Langkow for the home squad, Daniel Sedin and Naslund for the ocean going spawns of satan...

Unfortunately, I will be out on the town tonight, so I won't actually be able to watch the game live, but I will record it on my PVR (the better to not have to sit through commercials with), and watch it either when I get home or early tomorrow...

Oh, and I'm also expecting tonight's game to be especially chippy (as most intense games are), so I think Mick McGeough will keep up his 'stellar' reputation of a steady parade to the penalty box in an effort to keep himself in the spotlight. I actually tried to link to McGeough's profile on the NHL Officials site, but apparently its copyrighted and it won't let me...

I would also expect a fight in the game tonight, but I don't know who would be the fighter for the Canucks... Kevin Bieksa? Alex Burrows?

Postgame - Blue Jackets

Wooooooo! Ric Flair!

Iggy's back!

I wasn't able to catch the game tonight, but I've seen the highlights and it looks like they are primed for the rest of the season. The boys came alive on the power play (4/10) and kept Columbus off the scoresheet on the PK (0/6). Iginla, Huselius and Regehr (!) each had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win. Robyn now has as many goals for the Flames this season as Friesen does (who actually got another assist tonight) and one more than Lundmark had in a Calgary jersey...

Still not sure why Kiprusoff got the start, as I'm sure he would have been better served to get a game off and Noodles probably would have been sufficient to hold the fort for the night...

And here is a shot just for HG

(don't worry, its Hainsey, not Nash)

Phaneuf and Regehr both got a little shaken up last night and were held out of the third period, but it apparently isn't anything serious. I don't think they really needed them at that point anyway, so I'm all for saving them against the friggin' Canucks...

Who is this guy? A questionnaire for... myself...

Real Name?

Randy Smith

Nickname?

Well, I have a bunch. Stealing Thunder I got during university from my fraternity (yes they do have fraternities in some Canadian universities). Apparently I had a tendency to let the cat out of the bag whenever one of the guys had a big announcement for the rest of the chapter (like if he was getting engaged or he got a new job). Other nicknames I have or have had include 'Sparkplug', 'GI Joe', 'Harry's Clothes', 'Opie 1', 'Randu', 'Randy Pants', 'Stud', and a bunch of others that I can't think of right now. But my fraternity nickname when I graduated was 'Elaine Benis', cause apparently I'm not the most graceful dancer...

Height/ weight?

5' 8", 165 lbs. Yes, I'm not exactly tall. However, somehow I am the tallest person in my family. When I made a reference to being 'hammered' on the ice, I am the one that usually gets hammered. I'm small and quick, so there are only a limited number of ways for big, slow defencemen to take me out of a play...

Age?

Okay, I'm 30. But one of the guys on my floor hockey team the other night thought I was 20 or 21, so apparently I don't look my age...

Hometown?

Haliburton, Ontario (home of Bernie Nichols and Ron Stackhouse - bonus points if you know what his claim to fame in the NHL was). I did my university at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, my post grad at Sir Sandford Fleming in Lindsay, and now I work in Toronto. Despite my allegiances to Calgary teams, I have never lived in Alberta...

Favourite teams?

I like the Flames, obviously. I started following the Flames in the early 80's when the Oilers won their first cup. The Flames weren't bad at the time and I wouldn't cheer for the best team at the time. I was around 8 at the time, which is about the age range when most serious sports fans choose their favourite teams. It turned out well for me later when my twin brother turned into a Habs fan and I've been bugging him ever since about who the only visiting team to win the Stanley Cup in the Montreal Forum is...

I've liked the San Diego Chargers since the late 80's, when I started to get into the NFL. Between the Flames and the Chargers, the late 90's and early 2000's were some rough years for me, but everything has been turning around lately...

I started following the Calgary Stampeders when I started following the Flames and was a huge Doug Flutie fan. I was especially excited when he went to the Chargers and I still cheer for Garcia (the only time I have ever cheered for the Eagles)...

My brother-in-law went to Texas Tech university for law school, so I started cheering for the Red Raiders way back then. They have one of the most proficient football offences in NCAA football and I actually like Bobby Knight...

I cheer for the Blue Jays, Raptors and Rock here in Toronto, as I wasn't put off by any of their fans when I first moved here, because there really weren't that many of them...

Uhm, anything else?

Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments section, as I will try to answer...

Gameday - Blue Jackets

Friday, February 02, 2007
7:00 p.m. MST

Pengrowth SaddleDome
Columbus @ Calgary

Sportsnet West

• Columbus comes into town after having lost to the Oilers 5-2 on Wednesday night, in their second road game in as many nights. Previous to that game they had been on a four game winning streak (including a win in Vancouver on Tuesday)...
• The Flames are 4-0-0-1 in their last five home games against the Blue Jackets and lead the NHL in home wins this season (20)...
• Perhaps the most important point about tonights game is the probable return of Jarome Iginla. The team did fairly well while he was out with a sprained knee, going 7-2-2 over that 11 game stretch (5-0 at home, 2 wins over the Greasers), but I'm sure that they will be fired up to have their leader back. Especially with the re-acquisition of fan favourite Craig Conroy earlier this week. It remains to be seen, but there is much speculation that these two will be reunited on a line with Alex Tanguay...
• Daymond Langkow is expected to play after being banged up in their last game against the LA Kings. He is expected to centre the second line with Kristian Huselius and David Moss...
• Miikka Kiprusoff is coming of a fantastic game on Tuesday night and has a 7-2-1-1 record against Columbus in 11 career games (and a 1.72 GAA). Ty Conklin is expected to get the start for Columbus (his third in a row since both Fredrik Noronen and Pascal Leclaire are out), and we all know all about Conklin from the Greaser Fans...
• The current hot hands on the Blue Jackets are Dan Fritsche (4-1-5 +3 in last 5 games) and Anson Carter (2-1-3 +1 in last 3 games)...

I predict a 4-0 shutout for the Flames, with goals coming from Iginla(2), Conroy and Moss...

*** Update: MG reminded me that Kipper will most likely be saved for the Canucks tomorrow night, so expect to see Jamie 'Noodles' McLennan in net for the Flames tonight. In 5 games (4 starts) he is 2-1-0-1 against the Blue Jackets with a 3.06 GAA and 1 shutout. The most recent game was November 3rd of this season (5-4 shootout loss to Pascal Leclaire)...

My revised prediction is 4-2 Flames with the two Columbus goals coming from Rick Nash and David Vyborny...

Why am I doing this again?

Alright, so I was sitting at my computer at work today, browsing through some Flames blogs, when I thought to myself 'Hey, why don't I make one?'...

So I just did... what, you were expecting something more profound?

The next thing that came to me was 'Well, what are you going to write about?'

That is a better question. I'll probably try to make it primarily about the Calgary Flames (to join the fight against the evil oilogosphere), but every once in a while I'm sure something else will sneak in there (like the San Diego Chargers and other sports teams I follow, as well as the odd photo essay or commentary)...

Then I noted to myself 'Hey, wait a minute! You don't even get every Flames game! How are you going to write about them?'

Which is actually a very good question. I do get to watch them on the odd occasion that they are on CBC or TSN, but I don't get Sportsnet West. I moved into my house after the season had started, so I didn't see the point in getting Centre Ice at the time, but I do plan on getting it for next year. And I'll get to see them plenty in the playoffs...

But I will try to do as much as I can to follow my boys from here in Toronto as possible for now...
I'll try to be insightful, or at the very least I'll try to do as much as I can to get my own feelings and opinions across...

But if you somehow stumbled across this site, feel free to tell me when I'm wrong or on the odd occasion when I'm right...

And I'll also try to inject some humour in my posts as much as possible as well...

I think I'm starting to ramble... which will probably happen a lot...

Oh, and I don't usually talk to myself... well, not in public anyway...