The Weekly Ignition: December 16 2013

 

 

As the National Hockey League enters into the third month of the 2013-14 season, we’re also hitting the lean part of the junior and college seasons. Christmas breaks are upon us, so hockey is thinning out a tiny bit.

So we have a little bit less to catch up on here in the Weekly Ignition.

In an emotional battle on Tuesday night, Jarome Iginla got zero points but the Bruins beat the Flames at home anyway by a 2-1 score. The Flames got off to a 1-0 start via a Jiri Hudler goal, but Reto Berra couldn’t hold the Flames in it and they fell via a third period collapse. [Post-Game]

Thursday night’s clash with the Carolina Hurricanes was a bit similar: The Flames got out to a lead (Brian McGrattan scored), the road team tied it up late…except this time, Chris Butler scored in overtime to give them the win. Karri Ramo got the win. [Post-Game]

On Saturday the Flames played a matinee as they began a five-game Eastern road trip. They trek began in Buffalo, with a match against the NHL’s worst team. They won 2-1 in overtime, with Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scoring and Ramo picking up the win. [Post-Game]

Finally, the week ended with a Sunday night game with the New York Rangers. Despite goals from Mikael Backlund, Curtis Glencross and Sean Monahan, the Flames fell 4-3 in a shootout. Ramo took the loss. [Post-Game]

To kick things off, Steve Macfarlane spoke with Jarome Iginla following Iggy’s return to Calgary. Great stuff, except for the fact that the Flames lost.

Georgie Johnson broke down the ins and outs Feaster/Weisbrod firings.

Eric Francis looks at the timing of the move.

Randy Sportak explains why, despite Brian Burke’s insistence that he’s impatient, that patience will be needed in the rebuild.

Finally, Kristen Odland breaks down Sean Monahan’s return to the line-up.

The Flames went 2-1-1 this week, continuing a pretty decent recent string. They also fired their GM. Right after Brian Burke spoke about truculence and size, tiny Paul Byron got four points in two games. Life’s all about timing.

Down on the farm, the Abbotsford Heat split a pair of games with the Iowa Wild this week. Joni Ortio got the lone win. Other notables included Corban Knight, Markus Granlund and Brett Olson, all with three points, and Ben Street with a pair of goals. Granlund’s on a long scoring streak and Michael Ferland has been excellent, as well. In the ECHL, Alaska lost two of three games, but David Eddy did have two short-handed goals in one game.

Not much to talk about in regards to prospects. Ryan Culkin (3 assists), Emile Poirier (2 assists) and Brett Kulak (2 goals) are your Three Stars. But remember, Hockey East is off for Christmas (and ECAC and Big Ten are off next week, as is the CHL). And heck, Eric Roy, Coda Gordon and Morgan Klimchuk are out with injuries, so it is what it is.

The Flames play three times this week as they finish off their road trip. On Tuesday they visit the Boston Bruins, on Thursday it’s Detroit, and on Saturday morning they play Pittsburgh beginning at 11am.

In the minors, the Heat head on the road. They’re in Utica to play the Comets on Wednesday and Friday, and then head to Hamilton to play the Bulldogs on Sunday. The Alaska Aces host the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Junior and college teams begin their Christmas breaks this week, so you won’t have much prospect news until after Boxing Day. But, upside? The World Juniors are almost here!