Saturday, November 29, 2008

Score on That Ginger (Punjabi Edition)

First off, we now have an alternative to Marc Crawford when he does the HNIC games.

Second off, Corey Schneider was pretty impressive for a red-head. It's heart-warming when people don't let disabiliites get in their way of accomplishing their life goals. Kudos to him. *kick*

Third off, can we petition to have Mason Raymond's jersey to have "Mason-Raymond" on the back? Maybe "M Raymond". For whatever reason, Jim Hughson can only say his name as a grouping, as if there's another Raymond we may be confusing him with. Something that just annoys me. Drinking game potential, though tonight it was some scotch so that's quite expensive...

Fourth off, what should be done with the Wellwood, the tubby little cheating bastard? How can no one catch this at the game? Does he not understand the concept of the hashmarks? The league needs to look at this.

Finally, it's interesting that this team can't beat Vancouver at the start of the season when they lost against every other team...but when Vancouver is one of the hottest teams int he league we beat them twice in a row pretty convincingly. The world works in mysterious ways.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The Beast, It Is Slain

Second ago, the Flames finally defeated the evil Vancouver Canucks for the very first time this season. It's about time, I think. It was officially "a gooder". Some brief notes:

  • Glencross: What a machine! The chuckwagon racing has done him good. I don't see what else it could be, what a terrific signing. My hate for him last year is directly proportional to my love for him this year.
  • Lombardi: He has been impressive tonight, in that he's been able to engage stealth mode and stay off the scoresheet while his linemates rack up the points.
  • Kiprusoff: He looked like a starting goaltender.
  • Iginla: Looked impressive, loved the pass on Cammalleri's 2nd goal. Perfect.
  • Langkow: He got 2 assists and I didn't actually notice him too much, but obviously he was doing a lot of things right.
  • Keenan: M-mi-mix-mix-mixmaster Mike is at it again. Keeps me on my toes, I suppose, but I still don't like it.

But it's not over yet. Time to kick the puppy while it's down, and enjoy doing it.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Hail Hale!

It only took him at least three seasons and more than two hundred games, but in a game against the Blue Jackets, David Hale finally potted one.

So what's the over/under on how many games he takes till #2?

Really a bizarre night. No less than three hattricks... is that a hattrick of hattricks?

Monday, November 24, 2008

Oh. Is that where we went wrong?

"You know what?" blurted Armour. "I hope they take us for granted. I hope they think this was a fluke. I hope they don't give us any credit. I hope they can't remember our names."

"Cause you know, if they do, we'll be back doing this again next year."
JoJuan Armour, in today's Calgary Herald

A big thank-you-and-well-done-and-congrats to the 2008 Calgary Stampeders. Well fought, and well-deserved. Even if that torpedoes that other pro sports team in town for the year.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Bandwagons Galore

It's no secret I'm a big booster of local sports; so in the spirit of that, GO STAMPS GO!

And with that out of the way, let me add that my hatred of the CBC knows no leaps and bounds... Lee and Crawford deliver the kind of play by play that make me want to rip my ear canals out. Not that the Sportsnet crew is much better... if we don't go far this year I blame the play-by-play crews. They're not responsible for the play of the team, but certainly are a symptom of The Suck.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Better?

Um, so I know nothing about last game besides that it was a "doozy" (thanks, Bethany) and a gooder (thanks, Dave).

I like the shot clock (though I would like to see more blocked shots, really).

I like that we didn't give up, apparently.

I like hearing guys not named "Dion" or "Jarome" score goals.

So what I want to hear tonight is that we did it again. Can we do that?

I know it depends a good chunk on how Colorado responds to a game they clearly were embarrassed over. I'm not even going to bandy about the word "consistency" right now, I'll believe that when I look back on our season so far in January.

So, here's hoping for another doozy and another gooder... Go Flames.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

It's going to be a long November, but there's reason to believe...

I never thought I'd miss the days we won 1-0 and 2-1 games, but I do.  I've tried to think of reasons why Kiprusoff is a sieve 90% of the time and our defense doesn't practice sound defense.  I really have nothing conclusive, except maybe Jimmy Playfair, my favourite scapegoat.  I'm starting to side with those who think Keenan should go -- I'm currently somewhere in the middle.  I wouldn't be sad nor happy to see Keenan go, but if we don't turn the ship around soon I will be on the "time to take a hike again, Mike" side of the camp.  I really, really want a Sutter behind the bench.

I actually think, in an ideal world, Sutter would step down as GM and step back behind the bench.  I think his utility as GM is waning but his utility as coach is pretty much undeniable.  I'm not even going to speculate who would take the GM seat, because it'll never happen.  But a man can dream...

I feel very fortunate that I have not been able to watch the last several Flames games.  That's a very sad thing to say, but this team is making me very sad with their play (look at me, busting rhymes).  It's still early, still time to start some good habits, but I'm not very encouraged.  By all means, stay on this bandwagon...but just keep your hopes realistic.  Mine are perhaps a bit pessimistic right now.

In honour of the newest word of the English language: Meh.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Hubris

So after a disastrous weekend, and while still in the midst of fighting off the flu, we face Canada's Favourite Team (TM) tonight in the Saddledome.

Confident? I wouldn't be. The Leafs have been surprisingly good to start the year, with Ron Wilson behind the bench. That said, after dropping consecutive games in Columbus and Chicago, and barely hanging on to win Thursday's game against Nashville despite a sizeable lead, I have to think that our boys will want to come on strong and not let go.

We'll see.

So yes, Toronto, something exists out here on the other side of Thunder Bay. And we're gonna beat you down.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Pregame vs Nashville: A Haiku

Goodbye, bandwagon.
Nashville makes us sad and blue.
Conroy is too old.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Phoenix is such a depressing team

I haven't been able to actually watch any of the recent Flames games, for a variety reasons ranging from being just plain busy to business trips to the surprising hockey void of New York City. Three teams and sixty channels in my hotel, and not a single clip of hockey. They are not worthy. I'll have to suffer that again next week. NHL.com needs to provide their Centre Ice Online/GameCentral service on a daily basis, that would be perfect. Or if I subscribe to NHL Centre Ice, I should get the online service included. I feel ripped off. Anyway...

What I have been able to do is look at the numbers, the statistics, and read the feedback of other bloggers. And I hear good things. And I see good numbers. Even the game against Anaheim, the feedback I've heard were the players were tired but still played well. Kipper looks Kipper-like. Good things, good times. The bandwagon is filling up again and people are happy. Who wouldn't be, after a 6W streak?

The season is very young, but it is much more promising now than it was a week ago. If you had told me a month ago Bertuzzi was playing as he is right now, I'd have kicked you in the nuts and called you a moron. I don't even hate the guy anymore, but I'm a softie like that. If you wear the Flames jersey and you put out, you're my best friend. That's been the highlight of the season thus far for me. I really, really love our powerplay with Cammalleri, Bertuzzi, Iginla, and Phaneuf. They're all good physical players and can create some havoc, my prediction is the Flames' powerplay will ultimately end up in the top ten. No longer will I sigh and cringe when we get a powerplay.

I was all excited to watch hockey again tonight, until I discovered we were playing Phoenix. It's such a depressing team, it really is. Full of awful European players and a couple washed up Canadian ones (I still do like Shane Doan, but I feel bad for him now), all in the most boring colour scheme imaginable with a pedestrian logo that looks more suitable for a childrens' basketball team than a professional hockey team. No one cares about Phoenix, not even most of their players. Someone needs to end that team's suffering, not to mention the pain it causes all of their opponents for having to face Phoenix. It doesn't even make sense to play hockey in Phoenix. Snowbirds aren't the best hockey fans.

I'll multitask tonight -- watching the election results and the game. But both will be pretty predictable -- an Obama-Flames win tonight against opponents from Arizona that no one really cares about. Do you think McCain even knows his state has a hockey team?

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Seventh Heaven

If you had told me three weeks ago that yes, we would indeed embark on a six game winning streak, I would have guessed that you were kidding. (And if you told me the Flames would be awesome the same time as the Stampeders are, I'd ask you what you were smoking)

Last night's game was particularly interesting since it marked another occasion where but for the services of the third and fourth lines, we would have been in considerably more trouble. The goals we got for the most part weren't pretty - they were garbage goals for sure. Just look at the number of players who got credit for the first one - Prust, then Primeau, then Nystrom.

And that last shift - wow. I don't think we've played a more exciting minute of hockey this year. And finally we saw some shot blocking. Yay, shot blocking.

Bertuzzi is settling down to become the player I thought we were getting. Iggy is taking a nap after his big week last week.

And a big congratulations to another member of the Flames family. I had heard about this a couple of days ago, but Jim "Bearcat" Murray is all set to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Next to Lanny and Theo, he was certainly one of the big parts of the Flames' early glory days when I was growing up, and figured prominently in one of the funniest stories of the Cup run, potentially garnering a +1 after the LA series.

I can't help but think how far the role of the trainer has advanced since his era; but that is a pile o' musings for another day. Anyways, kudos!

Today we're in Anaheim - we're hot, they're doing better, especially after Getzlaf finally got his root canal. They're rested, we just might see the McE finally start a game. Who knows?

I don't have too many thoughts on this. Check out the Battle of California for awesome intel from the other side for this weekend trip.

What else, what else! Well, October has ended! Which means it's time for a Open Ice Hits Fantasy Update! (No, it is NOT true that I wait till I get into first place before I put this up! Well, not really)

It has been a crazy month, but finally teams are sorting themselves out this year. I'm pleased to say that for once, Dave does NOT suck, and that yet again, I'm burning through games like crazy.

  1. The Naughty Nilsons (me)
  2. Steel Thunder(ST)
  3. The Pantless Pirates (Dave!)
  4. Flaming C (the mysterious Paul-Marc)
  5. Wasilla Meth-Heads (Dave's brother. Hi, Adrian!)
  6. Bancouber Pucks (Marcel)
  7. Retired Warreners (MG Kent W)
  8. FB Craig Conroys (Duncan)
  9. screaming dobermans (WI)


Stay tuned next month for our next update! (Though yes, we'll blog again before then. It's not our fault life is crazy)