GDFD No. 67: Dare to dream
Ryan Lambert
March 11 2010 05:30PM
Welcome to the Game Day Fire Drill, for this, Calgary’s 67th game of the season on March 11, 2010.
It may be too much to hope for, but wouldn't it be nice if the Flames could win their fourth in a row? Don't see any reason why they wouldn't.
Since winning 11 in a row — wait what — Ottawa is just 4-4-1 against the Maple Leafs, Flames B.S. (Before Staios), Capitals, Red Wings, Islanders, Rangers, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs (again) and Oilers. Not exactly the toughest competition, but they did beat the Caps.
For one thing, Calgary's offense looks near-competent again, and what a pleasant change of pace that is. A whopping 14 goals in the last three games against teams that are currently second, 10th and 19th in goals allowed per game? Sign me up for that. Plus they're not even playing poorly defensively to make up for the strong offense (not that they're playing especially well but you see my point). Only allowing 28 shots a game against New Jersey, Minnesota and Detroit is solid enough that you're giving yourself an excellent chance to win.
It's almost like this team wants to sneak into the playoffs after all. Couldn't have said that a week ago.
Who
The Calgary Flames (33-24-9 for 75 points. Eighth! in the West, third in the Northwest) and the Ottawa Senators (37-25-5 for 79 points. Fifth in the East, second in the Northeast).
When
7:30 p.m. Mountain time and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. All other time zones should be hostile about their celibacy.
Where
Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta.
Calgary is 16-15-3 at home this year, and are 7-1-2 against Eastern Conference teams this year. The Sens are 14-16-1 on the road, but handed the Flames their only regulation loss to a team from the East on Feb. 9, 3-2.
What (to hate about the Senators)
They also don't have Steve Staios — If you had told me that trading for Steve Staios would have GUARANTEED an undefeated record, I would have demanded that Darryl Sutter trade for him years ago. See, this is the reason he might get fired at the end of the year: lack of foresight. The math is real simple: The Stavior + Calgary = Wins. Boom.
Alex Kovalev — I just find him to be bothersome, though that's just personally. I would bet that he's very unlikeable if you are, say, a teammate of his.
Mike Fisher — Remember all that talk about how he should be on Team Canada for the Olympics. You guys are lucky you didn't saddle yourselves with him. He's not very good at all.
Why
Because Staios says so! Enjoy the game and ride Steve Staios to victory in the comments section.
Another reminder why the crossbar standard is so stupid on high-stick goal plays. Scorers rarely have the common courtesy to stand right next to the crossbar when they're tipping in pucks.
Senators players go down easier than a Bangkok whore.
I'm not saying it means it totally makes sense, it just kinda adds a little background. Because I still agree...if he's not going to play, isn't it worth more to be playing games in the AHL?
Looks like Detroit is going to beat Minny, so the Flames will have to win to keep pace.
Their playoff hopes were already marginal but losing to both Calgary and Detroit in a five-day span pretty much puts pennies on the Wildmen's eyes.
Yup, they're done. The first few months where the entire struggled were far too costly.
Life's certainties — death, taxes and the early game going into overtime when the Flames play the back half of a TV doubleheader.
I'd probably lose faith if I was the fan of a team that couldn't take the Oilers in regulation.
I think the fact that the Oilers have Jason Strudwick killing penalties in overtime is a perfect summation of their current situation.
Well...this is ridiculous.
I can't fathom why the Flames have Backlund up only to scratch him every game. Doesn't make a lick of sense.
Must have heard wrong — game is delayed while the Saddledome crew cuts Tanner Glass?
That's something the Canucks should have done.
Along with Tanner Glass, old North Star Steve Payne also deserves a spot on the all-faulty-rink-delay team.
You win. I can't think of a response to that one.
Surely somewhere in the Belorussian league there's some defenceman called Sergei Plexiglasskin.
I can only think of Alexander Bumagin, but that's a different pun string I'd imagine.
Boy am I glad the game is starting.
Terrible pinch by Regehr to start the game.
Wow. The Flames look terrible.
Well, nice to get a lead when you're playing this poorly.
Two points in the wake of recent blogs by FlamesNation staffers ...
1) Mayers scores a goal
2) Carl Gunnarsson was plus-1 tonight
haha. Take that critics!
Flames have gotten very lucky to start this game. Hopefully they can take advantage.
The Iginla line has had a thoroughly underwhelming period.
Well, I waited a long time for this period to start, but I'd be just as glad to see it end. Neither club looks like it wants to be there so far.
well, hopefully the boys got that out of their system. It's incredible they escaped that one with a lead.
Ugh. Flames have to wake up at some point if they want to keep the lead. The start to the 2nd is just as uninspired.
Weird game. These inter-conference meetings sometimes have that indescribable blah factor to them.
Nystrom to the dressing room after the block?
It's amazing the team that outplayed the Detroit Red Wings so drastically in their own building the other night can come out and look like this.
Caught bits and pieces of the game thus far as we went out for my Dad's birthday. Luckily when we stopped at my sisters for cake, I got my paws on the remote.
I don't even recall much of the 1st period, and thanks to some of Kent's tweets I see that perhaps I'm not the only one...
One shot on net through the first hlaf of the period. For both teams. And there's been 2 PP's.
This game is as sloppy and passionless as a pre-season tilt.
Haha. I see why I 'missed' the 1st.
Is Nystrom done or did he return?
Well, at least the PK's been good...right?
Chances were 6-5 for OTT in that period.
Can't wait for a seven-game Stanley Cup final between these clubs.
I really haven't noticed Kotalik as much as I thought I would since joining the Flames. I figured I'd notice him in a bad way. I haven't really noticed much of him in either a good or bad way.
Shudder.
I've always liked the Ruutu's (sans Christian), but if I had to play against Jarkko, niether of us would finish the game. If he was an Oiler, I just may commit a murder...
Steve Staios on the PP...really?
Peter Regin... or Pat Riggin? That was terrible!
Scoring chances are 6-0 for the Sens this period. Flames in full-on "hang on for dear life" mode.
I had it explained to me today, it makes a litle more sense. Once the deadline passes, you get just 4 recalls. Once you use those up, you can only make emergency recalls, which are apparently tough to get. So, the Flames don't want to send him down, call him in a week and waste a recall.
So, I guess sort of makes sense.
Looks like Higgins cracked the seal with the empty netter the other night, lol.
haha, wow. The Flames first and only scoring chance in the period finds the back of the net.
Well... that is a sensible reason. BUT, you know what looks even less sensible now, after hearing that? Ready Kent? On 3. 1... 2... 3... the Dustin Boyd trade!
I...guess? Still think it would be better for him to be playing in Abbotsford rather than watching in Calgary.
@Pat Steinberg
If they wanted to keep the extra body around, yet don't want to play Backlund regularly, then the most sensible thing to do would've been to let Backlund keep playing/developing in the 'A' and let Boyd stick around as an extra body, no?
Looks like we're going to escape with this one.
Beyond the Boyd trade, I don't understand why the Flames consider 4 recalls precious with 19 games remaining in the season when they have 2 extra NHL forwards on the sidelines already.
Chances ended up 8-4 in favor of OTT in that period.