Well, since the last post (ironically demanding respect for the Flames), Calgary's dropped another 2 on the road. The Colorado game had it's excuse - weariness thanks to a merciluess travel schedule - but the loss against Chicago is just, well, strange.
The game was, in a word, boring. Chicago used a tight-checking, conservative type game-plan that the Flames couldn't seem to override. Granted, Calgary had multiple chances in the first period to score - Donovan, Huselius and Kobasew were all sniffing around the net... but the team seemed infected by the offensive ineptitude that cursed them back in late October and early December. Pucks shot into the chest or off the post. passes into the feet or bouncing over the stick. In fact, no play exemplifies last nights contest more than the Amonte 2on1 later in the third period - Amonte gathers in the puck deep in the Chicago zone and realizes it's a two-on-one opportunity. In an effort to creat a play, he stops short, briefly loses the puck in his feet, then falls down. On the ensuing break-out by the 'Hawks, Amonte gets a hooking penalty. Yes, it was THAT kind of night.
With the loss, the Flames drop below the 0.500 mark on the road for the year. I, along with Sutter no doubt, am rather puzzled as to why the Flames can't seem to bring their "A" game on the road with the same consistency they do at home. On this trip, and like many before it, the Flames seem unable to fight through checks and finish off chances like they do when they are in the Saddledome. If Calgary wants to stay in possession of the NW Division lead and remain an elite club, they're going to have to figure out their road woes - sooner rather than later.
As for game last night, I should give some credit to Chicago, however. They managed to execute their gameplan perfectly, and their young (3rd string goalie) Munro made the stops when he had to. For whatever reason, the Blackhawks have the Flames number this year (akin to the Blues/Canucks situation). They stopped Calgary's 8 game winning streak in it's tracks and nearly stole one from us a few weeks ago (the game was won by Kipper and McCarty, basically). To be honest, I dont relish the idea of playing them again on Sunday, despite the fact that Calgary has 23 more points in the current standings. Ugh...
...here's hoping the Flames manage to actually score on their chances on Sunday.
Positives:
- Krisitan Hueslius. Looked dangerous all night and made some great offensive plays. If only he'd buried a few of them...
- Chuck Kobasew. Was one of the fastest and hardest-working Flames all night long.
- Robyn Regehr. Handed out some punishing bodychecks.
- Vancouver loses again.
Negatives:
- Horrible special teams. 0-8 on the PP, while allowing the 2nd short-handed goal in as many games. Chicago scored the GWG on the powerplay as well.
- No finish. Multiple scoring chances wasted thanks to a team-wide inability to bear down.
- Jarome Iginla. After coming alive for awhile, Iggy has disappeared the last 2 games again. In a contest where Calgary needed an offensive burst to break them out of the doldrums, Jarome was nowhere to be seen. Managed all of 2 shots on the night.
- Roman Hamrlik. Returns to the line-up and promptly assists on Chicago's short-handed goal with a brutal give-away.
- Rhett Warenner. He's been simply terrible the last 2 games. Seems dazed in his own end.
- More horrible officiating. Lots of phantom calls...but when Langkow is hit from behind into the boards in the offensive zone (in front of the ref, no less)...no call. Frustrating as hell.
- Edmonton wins again.
On an unrelated note, the Oil managed to dump some garbage on the Penguins (Rita, Cross) for the PP specialist Dick Tarnstrom yesterday. More proof that they still don't really know what they're doing over in Pittsuburgh. With the added acquisition of that cheap-shot artist (but, admittedly, decent defenseman) Spacek, look for KLowe to make a deal for a goalie involving one his young rear-guards (MA Bergeron, probably) soon.
