If I could ever be relatively happy with a loss, then I was "happy" with the S/O set-back to Columbus on Wed. night. I think the team did almost everything right - except score some goals. While that tired old achilles heel reared it's ugly head again, it was nice to see the fast/tough/defensive Flames play re-appear from wherever they went during the prior roadtrip. Add a suddenly serious Jarome Iginla and it was - or what should have been - an ideal Flames victory. However, thanks to a slight lack of finish and some really bad bounces (Im looking at you, dual "delay of game penalties") and the result is another shoot-out loss to a basement dweller...
Oh well. Tonight's the night to bounce back. Calgary's regular "slump tonic" (ie; the Canucks) are visiting this evening, no doubt looking to knock the Flames off of their NW division perch. Aiding Calgary in their fight to remain the best in the NorthWest will be Mike Leclerc (and, to a much lesser extent, Boucher), newly arrived from Phoenix. I am seriously hoping for a draught of that "new player" energy that seems to infect teams after a deal or shake-up (see Sturm, Stuart - Boston, Thornton - San Jose, coaching change - NY Islanders/ Montreal Canadiens, etc...). Calgary has certainly been victimized by it a couple of times this season.
So now it's our turn.
A victory over Vancouver...I certainly can't think of a better way for the new addition(s) to start out their tenure here...
Go Flames Go
