There IS trouble in Shelbyville!

Well it seems like the rumours of Chris Pronger wanting to be traded have been substantiated by his agent this past Friday, you can read the story here.

I guess the big question now is why move after a phenomenal run for the Stanley Cup? Well rumour is that it is because Pronger's wife doesn't like Edmonton and wants out, story here. She wouldn't be the first Oiler wife that didn't like Edmonton (see: Janet Gretzky).

Tanguay a Flame!!

This just in...announced at the entry draft, the Flames have acquired Alex Tanguay for Jordan Leopold + picks...

Ummm...wow.

Links and analysis to follow...

Trouble in Shelbyville?

In the wake of their nearly triumphant, but unltimately fruitless, play-off run it looks like the Oil and their fans will have to deal with more bad news this summer.

Granted, the details offered in this article are more rumor than fact, however, should events unfold according to Sportsnet's prophecy, Edmonton faithful will (once again) have to deal with losing another MVP in the off-season.

This could all be good news for the Flames next year, depending on what sort of return the Oilers get for Pronger. One thing's for sure - with his departure I thankfully won't have to hear (read) about his blasted "Orbs of Power" anymore...

This is it - Game 7 is tonight!

Will all the hard work of the Oilers pay off tonight? Will they have that bit of luck that has followed them through out this Stanley Cup run? Or will Eric Cole bring up his game tonight and stop the Oilers from bringing the Stanley Cup back to Canada? Tonight we will see if the 8th place team from the Western Conference can beat the 2nd place team from the Eastern Conference. This will definitely be a game to remember.

Go Oilers Go!!!

Why the Oilers deserve to win the Cup

They've had to overcome a deluge of adversity to be one win away from getting their names engraved in sports most coveted trophy:

1) They clinched a playoff berth upon the completion of their 81st game in an 82-game regular season (on a last-minute game-winning-goal, no less).

2) They were seeded 8th in the conference, meaning they had to take on the Detroit Red Wings, winner of the President's Trophy for being the league's "best" team in the regular season.

3) They were down two games to none to another "better" team--a team that boasted the offensive talents of Joe Thornton and Johnathan Cheechoo, winners of the Art Ross and Rocket Richard trophies, respectively.

4) You think battling the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim might have been enough of a challenge for the Oilers during the Western Conference Final? Nope! Most of the players had to battle the flu bug as well. It seems as though the team from Anaheim took to their new name a little too early.

5) An early Conn Smythe candidate is irrevocably knocked out of the first game of the Stanley Cup Final and the back-breaking goal that ensued to seal the defeat. Could this be the beginning of the end of the magical run?

6) Down three games to one on the 12th of June, it seemed like the clock was inevitably striking 12.

7) Game 5 goes into overtime and a penalty, and a weak one at that, is called and the smell of pumpkins are in the air...


... but wait! Oh, there was something in the air that night. The stars were bright, Fernando! The Oilers escape with the first ever Stanley Cup Final Shorthanded Overtime goal. Three nights later, momentum builds as the spOilers win 4-0, playing a complete game.


Win one more game and the Oilers can complete the most unheralded Stanley Cup victory of all time (or at least, of MY time). So please, hockey gods, don't be cruel and bring the Cup back home to Canada.

There's going to be a Game 7!!!

With another night at the brink of elimination the Oilers proved their resiliency once again beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-0 in Game 6 at Rexall Place and coming back from a 3-1 series defecit to tie the series up at 3's. The Hurricanes came out flat footed and only showed a bit of life near the end of the second period, but that's all they could muster up against the gritty Oilers who simply out played their opponent in every aspect of the game. They out shot their opponents 34-16! That's just crazy for Edmonton.

Now we just have to wait and see if the Oilers can pull off the biggest upset in the Stanley Cup Finals.

For a review of Game 6 click here (courtesy of NHL.com)

Game 6 tonight!

Canes vs Oil tonight. It's going to be an intense game (or so I hope). The Oil will be battling to stay alive and the Canes will be battling to close out the series a game early of game 7. Will the Canes be able to do it with the loss of Doug Weight? Will the Oilers be able to hang on for a Game 7 with the help of the hometown crowd in Rexall (I hope so!)? Hang on for a good game tonight!

Go Oil Go!!!

Carolina in 6?

Game 5 was incredible. The hits were hard and the goals were fantastic. However Carolina gave it away on a careless pass in their own zone and Fernando Pisani made them pay for it. Game 5 recap here (courtesy of NHL.com).

Flames Suck!

I know Flames Fans will enjoy this one ;)

http://www.flamessuck.com/

Carolina in 5?

Well I personally hope that Carolina does not win it in five tomorrow but I'm sure that a lot of die hard Flames fans won't be too sad to see the Oil lose. Do I think the Oil can pull it out of their ass to get a game 6 in Edmonton? No. But I do hope they do, it would make the series a lot more interesting. I can't comment much on this series as I have not watched a game since the series opener. But I leave with this picture and hope that the Oil can pull off a W.

Go Oilers Go!!!

One Small Item of Flames News...

According to TSN, Sutter signed Chuck "the punching bag" Kobasew yesterday (terms weren't disclosed). Next up? Juice and then ELIAS pls!

Booing the Canadian Anthem...

Well leave it to some degenerate fans in San Jose to boo the Canadian National Anthem at Game 5 last night. So disrespectful was this act that the Mayor of San Jose issued a comment about it. You can find it here. Hopefully fans in Edmonton are more respectful than this for Game 6 in Edmonton.

P.S. San Jose, you would be nothing without your star CANADIAN players (Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau and Scott Hannan)

Something to Talk About

Daniel Ryder is fast becoming a 3rd round steal for the Calgary Flames.

The younger brother of the Hab's Michael Ryder, Daniel lead the Peterborough Petes of the OHL in scoring during the regular season and just recently won the Wayne Gretzky 99 award as most valuable player in the play-offs.

The Petes completed a sweep of the London Knights on Thursday to claim the OHL Championship.

Ryder had 31 points in 19 play-off games, including 15 goals. He was featured on the Pete's top power-play and penalty-killing units and was one of their top face-off men.

Ryder is probably a few years away from challenging for a spot on the big club, but it sure is nice to see a Flame's FORWARD prospect making some noise at the junior level...

Flames Going Forward

The X-Factor is, no doubt, Sutter's to shop around for free agents during the summer...

the rest of Metrognome's barely-educated guesses regarding the Flames future are here.

The Hollow Men

This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

The rest of my pretentious lamentations are here.

Golf Anyone?

This pretty much says it all.....
Alex

Well everyone in Canada got to see the Flames choke tonight *sigh*

Thanks for the great season though. Us Flames fans are looking forward to seeing what you guys have in store for us this upcoming season.

Enjoy the links!

Stay tuned for commentary from Metrognome.

WIN! WIN! WIN!...

Im too choked with anxiety to post anything worthwhile. We all know what the Flames have to do to win tonight...all that's left are the nawing hours in between now and when we get to see if they can actually do it.

Yup...approx. 240 minutes till puck drop. Then a mere 60 minutes more will determine whether I take part in racous celebration or have to eat a heaping bowl of crow in the face of insufferable Oiler-fan-gloating.

I guess Im going to need some beer either way.

GO FLAMES GO!

Flames vs. Ducks - Game Six Review: Whip or Leash?

Flames need to make a decision: wield the whip or wear the leash.

the rest of the rant is here.

 

Just One More...

Another lone victory would extend and augment my shameless addiction. Think "Requiem For a Dream":



For the full blather, go here.

Flames vs. Ducks - Game Five Review (brief)

Despite falling two goals short (of their series high 5 goals in a game), I felt that the Flame's victory on Saturday night was probably their strongest game of the series...

For the rest, go here.