"We hate you guys asking us the same question," sighed the captain. "We hate being asked the same question:
" 'Why can't you win on the road? Why can't you win on the road?' But, really, what can we expect when our record is what it is?
"We can't blame it on bad breaks or bad calls or bad anything. We can't blame anybody but ourselves. Why can't we win on the road?
"It's still an issue only because we continue to make it one."
- Jarome IginlaTonight, Jarome and company can take a step towards arresting that annoying reporter (and fan) inquiry by taking out the Avs. With the Canucks holding top spot in the NW division and the Wild merely one point behind (and 8th in the conference), there couldn't be a better time for the Flames to take their road issues by the throat.
Course, that has been true, to varying degrees, throughout the season thus far and they've almost always failed to get the job done. The lone bright shining moment for the Calgary road crew this year no doubt came against these same Avs while Iginla was laid up by his wonky knee. Whilst I was competing for cancer rays with the infirm and the elderly south of Florida, the Flames beat up on Colorado to the tune of 7-3 in the latter's own barn. At the time, the convincing victory seemed to indicate a reversal of fortunes for the much maligned away efforts.
Alas. A couple weeks later, the return of Jarome and a strengthening of the line-up through trades and the Flames still languish amongst the league's very worst road clubs.
Not to belabour the point unduly, but if they're so wise to the problems, why not ... fix 'em?! Ah, but that remains shrouded in mystery, along with Stonehenge, crop circles and the sudden, inexplicable cultural relevance of Anna Nicole Smith.
Says Johnson in the linked article. And, not to besmirch the education of the writer, but, crop circles are currently far, far less mysterious than the Flames ineptitude away from the 'Dome (I will concede the Anna Nicole Smith point, however).
Tonight we may well have the answer. Or an answers first glimmer, at least. With the regular season winding down and the possibility of losing the NW division crown to the Vancouver Canucks (gag) looming large, will necessity finally - finally - inspire the Flames to an actual, honest-to-god, decent road effort?
Here's hoping...
GO FLAMES!
