Anaheim itself has been the bane of the Calgary Flames existence, they haven't won there in now 14 contests.

Flames Hang Kipper Out

Kiprusoff had a chance to hit victory #300 (with the crappy FLames no less) tonight with a win.

A lazy start by the Flames put that victory in doubt. Blown coverage lead to goal #1. A tip in front of the net dropped the Flames 0-2 before the first frame was done.

To their credit Calgary clawed back with timely goals, the final tying goal, his 20th of the season by Iginla, came on a 5 minute PP. Jackman took a helmet to the head and the ensuing penalty was illegal blow to the head. The league probably won't review the incident, but in today's head sensitive NHL the penalty made sense.

For their part the PK unit killed of an extended 5v3 and 4 minute high sticking penalty after which you had the sense Calgary would return to tie the game (scoring just after their penalty was over for their first goal.)

If the teams had played the entire game like they did in the third period the largely Calgary friendly crowd would've been thoroughly entertained. Chances were exchanged in end to end rushes, but nothing was solved in the third or in extra time.

That meant a shoot out. The big guns came out firing but only Jokinen could score. The book on Hiller should really be he's slow in lateral movement. Any goalie on his game would've been scored on multiple times but because HIller was slow moving across his crease he inadvertently svaed at least 3 Flames chances. On the other end Kiprusoff gave his team chance after chance to take two points but NOBODY wanted to score.

No hero tonight and a point lost against a team where two points should be a lock. Things aren't going to get any easier against SJ Wednesday.

Flames Squander Points: Calgary 2 – Anaheim 3 (SO) is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

Calgary has the same amount of points coming into this game as they did last year, albeit 150 more man games lost. Albeit, the team should in theory look better on paper. It's going to be an interesting two weeks, the season could very well be over.

Inadequate: Calgary 1 – Detroit 3 is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

The move gives the Flames some cap room and another spot to potentially bring up certain contracts from the minor leagues (Krys Kolanos anybody?) Morrison's injuries and lack of offensive production made his spot expendable. The Hawks will probably find use for him, albeit only as a fourth line plugger.


The Flames today made another minor trade sending John Negrin to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for RW Akim Aliu. YOu might remember the name from the infamous fight between he and Steve Downie in the OHL (Same team) after Aliu refused to be hazed. Since then he's bounce thru the minors unable to find a consistent game. He'll bring size on the RW for the AHL Heat. Going the other way is John Negrin, once highly touted defensive prospect, who's been on the decline spending time int he ECHL this year. Flames have a glut of D men so the move shouldn't leave an unmanageable hole to fill.

The question of course is who's next? Will some team be stupid enough to take Matt Stajan? How about Cory Sarich? Any takers?

Quiet Trades Over Past Few Days: Morrison Out is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

The good news is Calgary is close to contending which sets up for an interesting stretch run. They are in the exact same place this year as they were last. So anything can happen.

Flames Can’t Beat Playoff Caliber Team is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

Calgary continues their dominance over an inferior Oilers squad taking 17 of the past 20 contests. I do'nt know if you can really take too much stock in this game (maybe Kipper should've had a rest?) but it was great to finally see some secondary scoring, and the Flames, despite the loss of Glencross, are only getting healthier.


Lee Stempniak lead the Flames with a +5 night and a hat-trick. The second line lead by Jokinen again finds ways to chalk up points. Backlund, Comeau and Bouwmeester also contributed goals.

When the FLames return from their largely successful road trip on Tuesday they'll get a stiffer test vs. the SJ Sharks. Then we can start to wonder aloud whether Cammalleri, the 7 million dollar man, is working out, whether Backlund is a #1 C (not really right now), and where Tanguay will slot in when he returns.

In the meantime, as the Flames sit stagnant in 10th place, the team will relish this victory agains their provincial rivals and leave disappointed Edmonton fans behind.

Notes: Brendan Morrison back in the lineup, Roman Horak out. Expect Tanguay back in the lineup Tuesday. Taylor Hall returned to th elineup after taking a skate to the face.

Battle of Alberta Dominance Continues: Calgary 6 – Edmonton 2 is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

Despite a rash of injuries and at times really frustrating play (3 first period shots?!?) Calgary's scraping together points in a hotly contested Western Conference race. They sit tied for 9th with 50 points.

Tonight's win can be attributed to one single hero--Miikka Kiprusoff. His timely saves bail out defensive lapses, tonight particularly in the overtime frame. Whenever Iginla is on the ice you cringe because he doesn't play D essentially turning a 4v4 into a 4v3 with much more open ice.

Thankfully the hockey gods let the Flames play through their mistakes and steal two points. We can expect the game coming up in Edmonton Saturday to have even greater importance. Calgary has been playing slightly more consistent, but perhaps more importantly they'll likely be getting some healthy bodies back in the lineup (Morrison and Tanguay).

A win vs. Edmonton would prep them for the next three games over the next 15 days--all against division leaders.

The season will be held in the balance in the next two weeks. Fans will have to hold their breathe a bit longer on this season....

Notes: Matt Stajan made his expensive return to the lineup playing marginal minutes on the forth line. Anton Babchuk sat. Roma Horak back in the lineup. Discussion on bringin Krys Kolanos up from the minors is heating up, but it seems to be a contract problem at this point (Flames only have room for one more pro contract).

Flames Steal Two Points: Calgary 2 – LA 1 (SO) is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

Lead by their captain Jarome Iginla Calgary played a much better San Jose team and after weathering the early storm, had good things going with their cycle. Although Sutter decided to dress only 11 forwards (a head scratcher that later bit him in the ass), it seems giving the captain even more ice-time fired him up.


The energy from the Flames was on par to what fans have been expecting all year. This type of play will win them games, especially when they get some healthy bodies back. You can also expect officiating to improve, no powerplays on this game which was shocking given some blatant dives from SJ and clear cut trips against the FLames.

Chris Butler scored the Flames' lone goal in the second period. SJ tied it up late in the third which would force overtime. Miikka Kiprusoff was up to his usual heroics in regulations making enormous saves late in the final frame.

The Sharks seemed to have scored in OT but the goal was waved off due to 'incidental contact'. Not sure about that one, but it did give Calgary a chance to win in the shootout, which was abysmal. Iginla and Cammalleri whiffed on both of their chances whereas SJ scored twice.

Notes: No time to rest, the whirlwind tour of California concludes Thursday in LA when Calgary tries to beat a team they lost to 5 days prior.

Flames Lose Nail Bitter: Calgary 1 – San Jose 2 (SO) is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

From top to bottom the Calgary Flames were thouroughly manhandled and embarassed. Sure, this wasn't a 9-0 blowout, but if you needed any more confirmation that the Flames will not--no--CANNOT make the playoffs, this game was a testament. This team is terrible. THe players didn't show up--yet again. They were outhit, had no heart, no effort, and when given glorious scoring chances either shot wide or right into a hot goalie in Jon Quick.

Yes Flames fans, the stars were aligned for the Flames to use this game agains the Kings to propel a playoff run. There were story lines galore. Instead they stunk out the damn joint and left fans with yet another head scratcher.


The reasons for excitement were huge. Renewed rivalry with a Pacific division rival. The Sutter brothers facing each other for the first time (would hate to be in that family right now, not only does nobody talk to each other Brent Sutter is the laughing stock of the family I'm sure). Mike Cammalleri's first game back as a Flame. Hockey Night in Canada.

LA whether the weak first period pressure by Calgary and simply buried their chances like any regular NHL team would. Calgary played in slow motion from the outside edges all game.

What's left to do? The Flames can't even compete with teams struggling to make the playoffs, let alone leading the division. Management has tried to pull the trigger on a number of changes, and although there are injuries on this squad, it's evident that the depth is sorrily lacking. Defensively Calgary should be better but are getting worked over. Nobody wants to hit, nobody wants to fight, nobody wants to score with any level of consistency.

The most glaring problem is down the middle. The center position is a revolving door taking applications from anyone who can win a faceoff. Blair Jones is a career minor leaguer yet somehow makes our squad as a starting PP centerman? Blake Comeau hasn't scored in what seems like years yet runs a consistent shift. The team is a one line wonder; your top scorer is CURTIS GLENCROSS who, bless his heart, is second line at best on any real team.

This post is obviously biter. For a moment let me blog from the perspective of a homer fan. This team doesn't show up and it's embarrassing . This is a city for winners, and when you have one of the best fan bases who pump hundreds of millions into the team only to get s$%# in return, well you should expect a slew of disgruntled fans.

But then again, most of them have already given up and are doing more interesting things like playing in the snow.....(what? we don't even have snow?!)

Calgary Flames Put on Poor Effort at Home on Night with Endless Storylines is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

Calgary acquired:

• Michael Cammalleri (LW)
• Karri Ramo (G) (apparently the top goalie in Europe right now.....)
• 5th round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft from Montreal

Montreal in return receivs:

• Rene Bourque (RW)
• Patrick Holland
• 2nd round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft

The difference in salary is about 2.7 million in Montreal's favour.

How rare is it that Calgary acquires the better player in a deal? Admittedly, the price for 6 million and ten goals sounds like another Matt Stajan bust, Flames fans for the most part seem positive.

For one, they get rid of Rene Bourque who's streaky play and seemingly lazy attitude raised the ire of most fans (other than teenage girls who really dug Bourque's looks).

Calgary also picks up a top goalie prospect who's currently playing in the KHL.

For their part, Montreal picks up Bourque who can score in spurts, and also an interesting prospect in Holland. One would think that when Montreal wakes up from this trade news they'll eventually see they came out on the losing end. Maybe a snap decision after some recent Cammalleri comments on the recent Habs losing squid? We'll never know....

What we do know is that Mike will be in the lineup Saturday to face the Kings and the old boss who didn't believe re-sining the 39 goal scorer was a priority.

It was way back in 2009-2010 when we had the idea Sutter's moves were crippling the team. Slowly though the team Sutter destroyed through stupid moves, is slowly being rebuilt, or at least the pieces that used to make sense. Sure, Cammalleri's best days may be behind him (the pessimist would say), but we can't argue that the Flames took this trade.

Your thoughts on the trade?

Mega-Deal: Flames Re-Acquire Mike Cammalleri for Rene Bourque is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News

YOu had the sense this game was going to go down much like previous games against sub .500 teams. Calgary just can't beat basement dweller hockey clubs (of which they are one). Lately the problem has been sustained offence, only 18 shots in this game and 10 going into the third period.

But Calgary weathered the storm, Kiprusoff came up big, and the Flames snuck two points in what was for the most part a boring and tentative game. The fireworks actually came off-ice in a blockbuster trade.


This game needed overtime and Blair Jones, newly acquired from Tampa due to the rash of injuries at center, scored the overtime winner. The pay itself developed because Cory Sarich threw himself in the bench upside down and Mark Giordano jumped onto the ice to join the play to make it a 3 on 2.

Giordano returned to the line up after missing over twenty games due to a groin tear. He didn't look out of place; we can expect more healthy bodies to slowly return to the fold very soon.

This game seemed to develop in slow motion throughout. Calgary for their part will need to figure out how to create some more offence. Although they had some glorious chances, you can tell their injuries are affecting their offensive game.

Notes. Darryl Sutter to return to Calgary Saturday when the Flames host LA.

Flames Squeak Out Win Against Ducks is a post from: FlamesForum Blog: Calgary Flames News