As a Calgary Flames fan, I have had to endure numerous seasons of missing the playoffs, followed by a winning goal that never was (in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003-04), to mediocre play in the regular season leading up to a first-round exit.
This season, however, there is optimism the team has not had since that fabulous run of 2004. Yes, it is still exhibition—and I know I shouldn't jump the gun, because even the no-name Canucks hold a 3-0 preseason record.
That being said it is hard not to get just a little excited after watching this new Flames team pick apart the Florida Panthers 8-2 on Friday night, all the while without their captain Jarome Iginla in the lineup.
- B/R Ticket Guide
If Todd Bertuzzi and Mike Cammalleri stay on either side of speedster Matthew Lombardi, than the Flames may just have a genuine second-line threat—which is something the team has lacked in numerous years. If Friday night's game is any indication, Keenan would be smart to keep that line intact.
That would leave Iginla and Daymond Langkow to play with either Rene Bourque, Curtis Glencross, or David Moss, whom all scored in the whitewash of the Panthers as well.
I didn't agree with Sutter trading Tanguay for basically peanuts, but the moves he made this summer was nothing short of brilliant.
If anything, this year's installment of the Calgary Flames is deeper than any they have iced in the last 13 years.
With eight more-than-capable defencemen in Adrian Aucoin, Anders Eriksson, Mark Giordano, Dion Phaneuf, Robin Regehr, Cory Sarich, James Vandermeer, and Rhett Warrener, this team is not done making trades to improve just yet.
If Mikka Kiprusoff can rebound from a mediocre year, the defense-rich Flames play to their capabilities, and the roster stays healthy, there is no reason why this season's installment will not make a run in the playoffs.
We may just hear Johnny Cash "Ring of Fire" blaring come June, and Jarome Iginla hoisting the Stanley Cup he has longed for—and deserves.
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about 1 month ago
Thanks for the nice review...good job! It's been nice to be able to cheer a win so early on in the season this year as a Flames fan.
Things have been looking a lot better for Calgary this year than in the recent past, at least in the way the team is working on the ice. There have been some good performances by those of whom it's expected, and even better, some strong showings from the "supporting cast". It's this well-rounded effort that is the factor which could re-solidify this team.
I've been trying to do short updates after each preseason game on my profile page via the Community Leader Updates, because I haven't had time to write long articles, (I'm compiling recaps for after the preseason instead). I said it there and I'll say it again: this is the fun, hard-driven, experimentally successful hockey the Flames have needed to show early on in recent years. The slow starts have set the Flames behind the 8-ball from the pre- into the regular season. Let's hope this re-energized and consistent trend continues.
about 1 month ago
doubt it....flames barley beat the oilers and canucks last year...i remember that the canucks were leading the division for most of the year even with a depleted blue line but had a meltdown at the end
but expect the nucks to win most of the games against the flames......as for the oilers, there looking pretty dangerous this season also expect there offense to shred the flames defense on a nightly basis
because lets face it the flames offense is subpar beyond ignila and maybe cammallari.....bertuzzi? please this guys going nowere fast. expect 25 goals maybe and thats a big maybe..as for there defense? its looks like dion is the only bright spot.........prediction 3rd or 2nd in the division 8th or 6th in the playoffs...........first round exit AGAIN!!!
about 1 month ago
Didn't look so good last night :P
about 1 month ago
Kipper didn't look good, the Flames outshot the Nucks 36-23 but like the past 13 years no offensive punch some games, I still don't believe Vancouver is a 5-0 team and Edmonton is like 1-3 I think the Oil will be good, the Nucks got no chance, and Calgary will have a better season than last
from about 1 month ago
In all fairness Kipper wasn't alone in his lackluster play.
That said the Canucks have been out shot in most if not all preseason games thus far (largely due to them icing 1/2 NHL team to the oppositions 2/3+ NHL teams) but that doesn't mean they were quality chances. We also have good D to limit the good chances and excellent goalies to stop the few that do get through.
Think what you will the Canucks are nowhere near as bad as all the so called "experts" have been predicting. They'll be fighting for top 3 in the division with Cal/Edm IMO.
from about 1 month ago
Still think "the Nucks got no chance" after last night?
about 1 month ago
i gotta gve it to you Jason they look good, they whethered a storm in the 1st and picked the Flames d apart along with KipruSOFT...heck the Leafs even looked good last night. I was really impressed with the young players speed on Toronto and Vancouver, they exposed the veterans who look like they aren't in mid-season form quite yet.
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