While some of the numbers are ugly, I thought the Flames played pretty well last night. Like their early October struggles, they were victimized by a couple of bad decisions (Conroy!!) and mediocre goaltending.
Good signs:
The 3rd line was - again - one of the Flames best. We're far enough along to say that they are legit and not some fluke.
Im liking the Flames blueline more than last years iteration so far. Aucoin still makes me swear now and then, but the explusion of Eriksson and Hale and the addition of Vandermeer and Giordano has had a net positive effect. The Flames move the puck with a lot greater efficiency from the back-end I think, and are able to keep the puck in at the offensive blueline more often. Giordano seems to be figuring things out and is bound to start getting some results from his efforts. I also think that Phaneuf, after looking shaky in the first couple of games, has resembled a genuine game changer the last little while.
All that said, it's getting harder to ignore the elephant in the room - the wretched play of Jarome Iginla. I thought he turned a corner after managing 6 points in two nights awhile ago, but he has fallen on hard times since that outburst. He hasn't scored a goal in 5 games, despite averaging over 20 minutes/night (with a generous chunk of that being in the PP). Keep in mind that 2 of his 6 goals this year were empty-netters as well.
I mentioned in the pre-game yesterday that Iginla is getting "Tanguay'd" by Keenan so far: so-so linemates, tough competition. I think we can see how difficult a position it is for a player - especially a player expected to produce at ES.
As such, Jarome's even-strength results are absolutely terrible for a player of his stature. I can't remember a similar 12 game segment where he has struggled to this degree.
I dont think the blame can be entirely laid at the feet of his circumstances, however. The Western Conferences best forward and Hart trophy nominee should be able to battle at least to evens at ES, despite lackluster teammates and tough match-ups.
I dont know why, but his execution and decision making are way off right now. Keenan moved Conroy off the top line last night (once the Flames were behind) and elevated Langkow, giving Iginla fairly capable linemates for half the game. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to make a difference. He still lost puck battles and flubbed scoring chances. By the middle of the third I was reduced to hoping Iginla would get off the ice so the Boyd line would get another crack at tying it up.
Two losses in a row is nothing to get too worried about, especially given the fact that the team as a whole actually played pretty well. The schedule is going to get a lot tougher, however, and things may get ugly if Iginla can't turn it around. The Flames are going to need some outscoring from it's #1 line in the long run: Jarome is too expensive and too important to the club to be neutered like this.
