I've decided to continue to bad-mouth players out of frustration in my "negatives" section.
Why? Well, recently I was down on Phaneuf for not producing offensively as he had been earlier in the season...next two games he gets 2 PP goals and an assist.
Last post, I lambasted Jarome for his lackluster effort in Nashville. Next game, Iginla gets a PP goal and assists the game winner.
Of course, I've been badmouthing players all year in the negative section, but this recent string of coincidental good-play-after-a-Metro-Gnome call-out has convinced me to become even more unfair and scathing in the "negatives" recap section towards individual players. Hell, if they're playing badly it certainly won't HURT them...
(unless, against-all-odds, they read this blog and have the emotional sensitivity of a 12 year old girl).
So the Flames managed to beat the Wild again last night, albeit in less than glorious fashion. For the second straight game, Calgary was badly outshot. While this was largely due to the unbalanced penalty calls (7 to 3) and an extended 50n3 PP for the Wild in the 2nd period, it still bodes ill for a team based on a "defense-first" philosophy.
That said, it was nice to see Calgary respond with a win after the disaster down south. Also, I think the best part of the game itself was the play of the Flames newly minted #1 forward trio (Juice, Langkow, Iginla). For the first time in awhile Calgary looked to actually have a bona fide #1 offensive unit (rather than an endless series of 3rd lines). They accounted for all 3 Calgary goals - and none of them were empty-netters or 3-whack garbage goals. Huzzah! Now we just need to put it all together - scoring first line, great goalie, good team defense - in a single game (and more or less consistenly thereafter).
On a wound-poking note, good to see Vancouver continue their meteoric plunge with a ghastly effort against Detroit last night. Keep it up 'Nuckers!
Positives:
- Canucks lose again
- Flames repsond to the drubbing and put some distance between themselves and Colorado.
- Jarome Iginla. Still a thorn in Minnesota's side. One of his best games in awhile.
- Langkow/Huselius. Each has 4 points in the last 2 games. That's like a player getting back-to-back hat tricks on any other team.
- Dion Phaneuf. Another assist and 6 hits on the night. Threw himself fearlessly at that monster Boogaard all night.
- Tony Amonte. Still can't score, but his tireless penalty killing and timely back-check on Gaborik in the 3rd were game-savers.
- Kiprusoff. 37 shots against, only 2 goals allowed.
Negatives:
- Still continue to take mountains of penalties. While a few of the calls seemed rather phantom to me (Phaneuf "charging" penalty in particular), the Flames need to find a way to stay out of the box. Bribe the bloody officials if you have to!
- Simon/Kobasew/Lombo. While I really like this trio as the #2 line, they had some issues last night. Seem to be great when they are forechecking and cycling, but have trouble in their own end. Sutter seperated them after their running around lead to the first goal against. Hopefully they can get it together defensively because they seem excellent when they're in the opposition's end.
- Jordan Leopold. It's about damn time this guy scored a goal. I mean, even Bouwmeester scored recently.
Next up - Minny repeat (I hope).
