I paid about $40 for both tickets to the Flames/Sharks game and can honestly say I haven't been so ripped off since attending the laughable feature film "Ghosts of Mars" in theaters. Actually, the movie was probably more enjoyable because it was funnier.
Nothing much amusing about last night's loss though. More pitiful and embarassing than funny, really...
While the Flames were still missing open nets and bobbling passes in the neutral zone they also managed to add to their repetoire of ineptitude by taking the night off defenseively as well. In fact, there was a particular sequence that did manage to evoke some chortles of contempt from me:
The teams are playing 4on4. The Flames are established in the Sharks zone. Damond Langkow passes the puck into the skates of an obviously covered Robyn Regehr. Regehr, having a rough game already, mishandles it further, stumbles, and then turns to pursue Patrick Marleau who is suddenly breaking away alone with the puck.
Luckily, Kipper makes the save on the ensuing backhand deke. Unluckily, he's surrounded by incompetent teammates. Regehr overskates the play and ends up in the corner. Langkow, who is in front of the net, manages to swipe at the stationary biscuit once before falling down. A surprised and opportunitic Michalek rifles a top corner goal past a sprawling (and probably frustrated as hell) Kiprusoff.
So akin to a Three Stooges comedy sketch was this series of events that I couldn't stifle a derisive laugh. I mean, this team is supposedly built around it's defensive strength?
the brain cramps didn't start or end there though. The Shark's second goal was gift-wrapped by Kipper himself: at a critical junction in the game (behind 1-0), Miikka decides to casually (mis)handle the puck at the side of the net. Johnny-oh-the-spot Bernier promptly takes it away and stuffs it in the short side. It was that kind of zombie-quality focus from the Flames all night.
Naturally, it wasn't only the defensive side of the game that was out of whack. The woeful PP continued to emit a foul and stagnant odour even though Tanguay did end the Flames string of futility with a meaningless third period PP goal. There was no sign of relief when the Flames finally spoiled Toskala's shut-out, however; just a sort of resigned sigh and shrug of the shoulders.
Ugh. Confusion and indecision are the order the day for the Flames currently. No aspect of their play is done with conviction or authority; the forecheck is flacid , the boardwork is soft and offensive opportunites are basically pearls before swine. Calgary will need to figure itself out in a hurry if it doesn't want the upcoming eastern roadswing to turn into a nightmarish march into doom.
Positives:
- FINALLY score a PP goal.
- Err...Happy Thanksgiving?
Negatives:
- Still can't score. I've counted 4 empty nets in the last 2 games the Flames have failed to score on.
- Robyn Regehr. The Worst night for Reggie in awhile. He was on the ice for 3 of the Shark's goals against.
- Darren McCarty. The only thing of note McCarty managed to do was take a holding penalty 8 second into a Flame powerplay. Looking like washed up veteran flotsam so far this year.
- Andrei Zyuzin. Another bad outing for the former Wild defensemen. Im starting to understand why they let him walk.
- Damond Langkow. Missed goals and checks will equal aplomb!
- Jarome Iginla. Nothing much to speak of last night. During the "Stooges" sequence I detailed above, Jarome was seen coasting around center ice.
- Chuck Kobasew. Utterly wasted on the 3rd line.
- Tony Amonte. Still can't fathom why old Tony is getting so much ice time.
- Marcus Nilson. Another symptom of Calgary's night was: Nilson gives the puck away in his own zone. Nilson takes a hooking penalty to make up for give away. Sharks score on the powerplay.
- Jeff Friesen. Still looking like a total waste of $1.6 million. The Sharks first goal occured after Friesen failed to take proper advantage of a Shark defender miscue at the Flames blueline. Instead of a Calgary break-away, the play turned into a lame dump into the neutral-zone, fast-transition back to the attack for the Sharks thanks to Friesen's boobery.
Next up - The Senators!
