I haven't any inspirational phrases or positive predictions for the game tonight. Might as well fill the ol' blog with some mainstream clippings.
Damond Langkow earns some praise for his quick start from Scott Cruickshank:
After scoring twice in Thursday's 3-2 stumble to the Philadelphia Flyers, Langkow swatted home another two in Saturday's 4-3 overtime groaner against Vancouver.
"He's had a good start," said coach Mike Keenan. "He was hurt during the pre-season -- I don't think we ever told anybody that -- and he's rebounded pretty well. He's not a big man, but he's got a big heart. He's made an impression, certainly, coming out of the gate."
Now we just need thew rest of the team to follow suit. Or at least the $35M man playing on Langkow's right side.
George Johnson revisits the Ghosts of play-offs past:
To The Joe.
What awaited them there six months ago was the stark reality of their limitations, the utter folly of their aspirations. The Wings averaged 45 shots in the three playoff games versus the Flames at Joe Louis Arena, winning 'em all en route to a six-game series victory [...]
The unfortunate Miikka Kiprusoff was the only thing standing between Calgary and being swept away by the tide. Go back to The Joe? Passing a kidney stone the size of a billiard ball might be more laughs.
Expect the Red Wings to shove the billiard ball, dry and unyielding, up a neighboring orifice tonight if the Flames don't play significantly better than their first two games.
Eric Francis goes down a similar road in his piece:
Marcus Nilson summed up his club's first-round playoff effort with two words: "Horse (bleep)," while Alex Tanguay encapsulated the spring shellacking by using three: "Men against boys." [...}
However, with a summer of reflection behind them, the Flames took time before returning to the scene of the crime yesterday to come clean on just how outclassed they were by a Red Wings squad that outshot them 135-59 and outscored them 12-3 at Joe Louis Arena.
(says Tanguay) "We're proud individuals, and obviously we feel extremely bad and embarrassed about what happened last year. And while it will take all year, we can start redeeming ourselves (tonight)."
The Flames talked a good game last year too. There was a virtual tidal wave of quotes from everyone between Iginla and Warrener stating they "knew" they were playing poorly and just "had to get better". It never happened, at least not when it came to the road and not when it came to the post-season. We'll see what their words are worth this season.
