Game 38 - Flames vs Islanders Live Chat
Kent Wilson
December 29 2011 04:27PM
The Islanders are one of a number of NHL clubs stuck in a sort of endless drought brought on by a lackluster budget and even more lackluster management. They are one of the prime examples of how a "rebuild" can go awry and result in perpetual misery rather than a renewal and return to success. Of course, that may be more an indictment of the people behind the wheel than the strategy itself.
The Flames are on a roll right now, although Im personally rather dubious of it's legitimacy. For most, the issue is one of pragmatics over principle however - so if a lucky streak will help the club get into the playoffs this season, so be it. Just as long as Calgary's decision makers can delineate between some short-term fortune and the long-term needs of the franchise, of course.
Flames Scoring Chances - Game 37 versus Columbus Blue Jackets
Kent Wilson
December 27 2011 07:50PM

Final Score: 2-1 SOW
Game 37 - Flames vs Blue Jackets Live Chat
Kent Wilson
December 27 2011 04:39PM
The Blue Jackets haven't tasted a lot of success the last few years. Unless, of course, you count how often they seem to beat the Flames on home ice. For whatever reason Calgary has had issues defeating the Blue Jacets in their home rink in recent memory. They'll need to change that tonight to get the road trip off to a good start.
Flames Season Defining Road Trip
Kent Wilson
December 27 2011 10:51AM

Prior to the season, I marked the Flames as a 7-10 club in the west. It's not a terribly wide range in terms of actual results - probably 1-2 wins over 82 games. It's a big difference when it comes to consequences however - at 7-8, the Flames sneak into the post-season and give us (and the ownership) something else to cheer for in April. At 9-10, the club picks in the low teens in the draft and the chances of a full-blown, scorched earth rebuild grow exponentially.
Flames Scoring Chances - Game 36 versus Vancouver Canucks
Kent Wilson
December 23 2011 10:36PM

Final Score: 3-1 W