Postgame: What To Say

We’re going to forego the traditional recap tonight.

I don’t care that these guys make a stupid amount of money. That’s fine, the market determines the price, whatever.

I can’t even bring myself to damn the effort tonight-69 Corsi events, 25 scoring chances and 39 shots. The effort was certainly there-sure, the finish wasn’t, but that happens sometimes. 

The thing that pissed me off more then anything else is the acceptance of defeat. The listless looks on the faces of the players immediately after Iginla’s goal showed us all they know it’s done just as much as we do. It was further evidenced after the game-I’ve seen happier people at morgues then they were at the Dome tonight.

There was one point in the third period with about 14 minutes remaining where a defenseman-Sarich, Hannan, Giordano, doesn’t matter and I don’t really care which one it was-but there was an opportunity to keep the puck in the zone by taking one more step. The guy backed off of the puck.

I just can’t understand that thought process. There’s 14 minutes left in the “most important period of the season”, yet you’re still playing not to lose. If you’ve ever played any sort of competitive sport, you know the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. Sure, most of the time the result will end up the same, but there’s always a few games where it doesn’t. Those, oh, five or so games will be what gets you to the playoffs or what makes you pick 11th. 

I don’t know if that’s coaching, if it’s the players, if it’s the environment created by the guys at the top…but it needs to change.

In that same vein-and I’m sure I’ll look back at this in the morning and swear at myself-but I’m now teetering extremely close to the edge regarding the possibility of trading Jarome Iginla. I’m sure there will be much ink spilled regarding that in the coming weeks.

The apathy is hitting hard, and if the Flames wish to curb that-for both the good of the business side of the team and the perception of them by fans-things need to change.

Evidence? Check out this and this.

Oh well. They play again tomorrow.