Rather than post a glowing entry lauding the Flames recent victory in the continuing Battle of Alberta, I think I'd rather address some of the whining and accusations I continually hear coarsely and bitterly muttered by some opposing fans this year...
As a Flame fan, you've probably heard it too:
1.) Flames are nothing without Kiprusoff.
2.) The Flames are a talentless collection of plumbers and 3rd liners.
3.) The Flames play boring, trap-style hockey that is designed to stifle talent (since they have none).
- Etc.
Frankly, I am entriely weary of these epithets and half truths thrown out by whiners and sore losers. So let's look at each of these accusations in turn:
1.) Yes, Kipper is a big reason for Calgary's success. He leads the league in shut-outs and wins and is a front runner for the Vezina trophy. He has the ability to shut the door and steal games.
Of course, most hockey fans know that good goaltending is simply not enough to carry a team long term. Not GREAT goaltending even. Just ask Luongo in Florida. Or look to Brodeur's struggles after the departure of Stevens and Niedermeyer. The Bulin Wall discovered just how important his T-bay teammates were to his success once he landed in Chicago. The point is, there are plenty of highly skilled #1 goalies in the league who are not enjoying any real measure of success thanks to the marginal team standing in front of them each night. A goalie's success and a team's success are inextricably intermingled - a good team makes a goalie better and vice versa. While a certain, and perhaps sizeable, degree of Calgary's current fortunes can be credited to Kipper's stellar play, it's a fallacy to claim he is the ONLY instrument behind the Flames success...
2.) I think the near decade of hapless Flames teams headed by the likes of Valeri Bure while trading away Fleury, St. Louis and JS Giguere has conditioned Calgary's opponents and their fans to think that the Flames are doomed to forever remaining a shallow talent pool. Not so...
Besides the aforementioned Kiprusoff, Calgary also boasts, of course, Jarome Iginla. Two time Rocket Richard winner, Hart finalist, All-star and Olympic gold medalist, Iginla is considered one of the best forwards and leaders in the world.
Need more proof?
Calgary's #1 defensive pairing, Jordan Leopold and Robyn Regehr are both Olympians and are just starting to enter the prime of their career. Leopold was a Hobey Baker award winner and Regehr a top 20 draft pick. Also, Roman Hamrlik is a former #1 overall draft pick and all-star. He would be a top 2 d-man on most NHL clubs. Dion Phaneuf won the CHL defensemen of the year twice and is currently considered one of the top 3 rookies, despite being part of perhaps the thickest crop of NHL rookie talent in 20 years. He is currently tied for first in PP goals by defensemen with 10.
What else?
The Flames have 2 more proven 20 goal scorers in Amonte and Langkow. Amonte is a former 30/40 goal scorer and all-star...he's no spring chicken at 34, but is hardly washed up or over the hill. Consider that Sundin, for instance, is 35. Langkow was a 5th overall pick in '95 and has scored 20 goals in 3 straight seasons, despite being part of a losing Coyotes squad.
Plus, the Flames have the up and coming Matthew Lombardi, who scored 16 goals in his rookie year and looks to be continuing his maturation this season. Both he and Kobasew, who was one of the top point getters in the AHL and a top 20 draft pick, are under 25 and have the potential to become decent offensive threats at the NHL level. With the addition of Kristian Huslelius, a calder trophy finalist and top European scorer, the Flames have a decent crop of talent. "Beetlejuice", as he's called, has averaged more than point per game since coming over from Florida and is proving to be a steal.
To say nothing of Stephane Yelle, an excellent face-off man and premier penalty killer. Or Steven Reinprecht, currently a +12 and on course for 50 point season (and skilled enough to be reportedly covetted by the Ottawa Senators).
Overall, it's folly to consider the Flame's "unskilled". Certainly, the Flames don't have a Senator's-type lineup - but neither does anyone else (except the Senators). Do detractors mean that the Flames are "offensively challeneged" when they say "unskilled"? Do they base this on the Flames admittedly uninspired Goals For stats, because it certainly can't be based on the team's standings...
3.) Finally, I come to the accusation of "boring" hockey. The last-ditch insult attempt. Now, for the record, every NHL team uses the trap. Some more than others and some better than others. The Flames, like many other teams, tend to clog up the neutral zone when they're leading, especially by several goals. However, Calgary's primary strategy is based on a high-pressure forecheck system designed to wear down opposing defenseman over the course of a game and to generate turnovers. Notice that the Flames scored 16 seconds after the Oilers tied it up last night? That was accomplished thanks to a speedy and tenacious forecheck.
Further, anyone who witnessed Calgary's games (both victories and defeats) against Edmonton and Vancouver over the last 5 weeks and STILL calls Calgary boring is either blind or totally dishonest. In fact, I've heard many a hockey pundit and fan claim that the Flames/Canucks Christmas matches were some of the best games played this year...
Anyways, that's my ranting rebuttle to those whiners and Flames detractors. I don't expect opposing fans to love or even like the Flames...but, at this point, I'd think Calgary has earned some respect by now.
Anyhoo, maybe I'll squeeze in some positives and negatives anyways:
Positives:
- Jarome Iginla. Scored 2, but could have had 4. Finally rounding into the dominating presence we expect.
- Kipper. Incredibly cool and solid, continues his Vezina bid.
- Huselius. Ho-hum, another 2 point night, including the game-winner.
- Lombardi. Another 2 assists. I like the Lombo-Iggy duo.
- Penalty Kill comes through and shuts down the Oilers.
- Shean Donovan. No points, but is simply flying.
-Extend the winning streak to 4.
- Take sole possession of first in the NW and move 7 points up on the Oil.
Negatives:
- Officiating. Inconsistent and often baffling. Missed obvious calls and called phantom hooks.
- Chuck Kobasew. Isn't playing badly, but still can't seem to finish on his chances.
Next up - Colorado!
