I have a strange feeling heading into tonight. Strange, because for the first time in perhaps ever, it doesn't feel like the Stars are going to run the Flames out of the rink.
Dallas has (or rather...had) been good for a long time and seemingly had the Flames number for even longer. The Stars and Red Wings were the only two WC teams to consistently strike fear into my Flames-fan heart since the lock-out.
Well, no longer. Dallas lost some depth guys to free agency this summer, imported Sean Avery and then promptly stepped into an elevator shaft. Their difference makers are aging, injured or both, while Turco has caught a nasty case of the Theodores (or Raycrofts...Careys...you get the picture). No Zubov, no Morrow, no Lehtinen (no hope?). Oh yeah - that interminable scumbag Steve Ott is hurt too. YAY!!
As such, Dallas is currently the worst team in the WC by a good margin. They allow a ton of goals but can't score a lot themselves. The guys who over-achieved last season (Ribeiro, Morrow, Hagman, Niskanen) aren't doing it this year. Yup, it's ALL BAD.
Of course, as I've already mentioned this season, it's THESE games that always seem to derail the good vibes of a winning streak. An also-ran slinks into town and beats up on the local heroes, right when everyone is just starting to think "hey...we might have something here." It's why hockey is such a cruel sport to follow (unless you're a Detroit Red Wing fan). It's also why many of us keep coming back I suspect.
No word if Boyd is still hurt or not, although his return prompts a revisiting of the issues the team had when Lombardi came back from injury. If/when Boyd comes back, where does he slot into the line-up? Fourth line is a waste, but every other unit seems to be clicking...I suppose that's a bridge to cross once we get there.
Prediction - Im going to go with optimism for this one. Flames 3, Stars 1. Iginla, Bertuzzi (!) and Phaneuf for Calgary. Eriksson for Dallas.
Go Flames!
Update - Apparently the NHL has deemed fit to suspend Avery for his little off-color outburst today:
NEW YORK -- Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery has been suspended indefinitely, pending a hearing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in accordance with the provisions of NHL By-Law 17 and Article 6 of the NHL Constitution for conduct "detrimental to the League or game of hockey," the National Hockey League announced today. The suspension was imposed following inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game, made by Avery earlier today.
I like Avery getting slapped because he's a jackass, but...I was kinda looking forward to watching him come down Phaneuf's wing this evening...
(H/T to reader Ben).
