Flames have a chance to rinse the unpleasant taste of the Edmonton game out of their mouths tonight against the surprising Coyotes. However, considering their record against relatively "lesser" opposition recently, I have my anxieties about that actually happening.
Since January 1st, the only sub-play-off club the Flames have beaten is the LA Kings. Phoenix, NYI and Edmonton (X2!) have all laid a lickin' on Calgary since then.
The other bad (and related) news is the continued struggles of one Jarome Iginla, who is looking more and more like his inept doppleganger, Jarmoe recently:
GP G A ESP ESP/60 EV+/-
10 0 5 3 1.98 -1
Those are some ugly numbers for a guy of Iginla's caliber. Add in the paltry 2 PP assists in the same time frame and this is one of the worst periods of hockey we've seen from the Captain in a long time. The quality of the opposition (Coyotes, Islanders, Nashville, Oilers X2, Wild X2, Dallas, LA, San Jose) and the fact that Keenan spent a lot of time giving the softer match-ups to Jarome on home ice makes it all the more puzzling.
Ahhh well. We just have to file this under "gonna work itself out eventually". It just sucks that Iggy's slump had to correspond with a big stretch of *ahem* highly winnable games. Now instead of being locked atop the NW division, Calgary's back to 7th in the WC and a mere stones throw away from being out of the post-season picture altogether.
Some of the other problems are getting a comfy seat tonight though. Word is, Godard, Primeau and Warrener will be healthy scratches with Smith, Nilson and Eriksson drawing in in their stead. It's theoretical, but a 4th line of Smith-Boyd-Nilson certainly looks like less of a liability than one of Primeau-Boyd-Godard. I guess we'll see if that's true or not...
For their part, the Coyotes are going to make it difficult this evening. Going into the season I thought they looked like the worst team in the league, but they've done everything they could to prove me (and sizable portion of other people) wrong. Gretzky has a fast, young, tenacious group of players on his hands, backed by a respectable blueline and Ilya Bryzgalaov. A lot of credit has to go to the Great One and co. this year - they've defied the odds with everyone laughing in their faces. If their kids can continue to perform at this level, the post-season isn't out of the question for the Desert Dogs. And that alone should garner Wayne some Jack Adams consideration.
Prediction - None. I've learned my lesson. Just hoping for something less embarrassing.
Go Flames.
PS - For Yotes insight, visit One Fans Perspective.
