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?

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)

Family and Friends

Of historical relevance tonight — Calgary RW David Moss and Boston RW Phil Kessel skate against each other for the first time in the NHL. The two are first cousins — their mothers are sisters.

The two had dinner last night, and are ready to go head to head.

The Bruins are one of the teams in the league I have the warm-fuzzies for. Not really because they're resurgent after a long time in the dumps, or because of that cutsey wacky mismanagement (who mispaints the faceoff dots on their ice? who??). No, it's basically because over the years, some of my favourite ex-Flames have ended up there.



This is a shot we took just before a game in Buffalo once upon a time; barring the fact that it was the night I ran into maybe the worst meatloaf I've ever ingested in my life, it was also the last game Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew spent in Flames silks.

Sadly, Kobasew is injured, but Ference hasn't been back to play in the 'Dome ever since. While arguably Kobasew has been pretty replaceable by the Boyds and Mosses of the world, I think Ference's brains have been sadly missed in the locker room and on the defense.

And let's not forget ol'Sandbox. Yelle signed over the offseason with Boston; while he's slowed down noticeably in the last season or two, can't forget the time he played here, sacrificing his body for the game. It was really telling looking at the blocked shots column for the Colorado game the other night; while we managed to block a whole 4 shots, Colorado blocked 21 shots.

Sigh. Defense-first, right.

Anyways! Should be a gooder. Provided we can get a goal past Tim Thomas, heh.

The Open Ice Hits Olympics: Triathalon

So the triathalon last night was one hell of a race. Fantastic finish, though I was more bemused by the comedic value of having Simon Whitfield chased to the finish line by a huge German guy. It was just... funny. Even if said German guy passed him and won.

Gutsy performance, however, and it really was the kind of inspiring action that I think we all watch the Olympics (and sports in general) hoping to glimpse.

After Matt Fenwick linked to Simon Whitfield's blog, I couldn't help but spend a while procrastinating by perusing it for a while.

And! Found gold. Turns out that Andrew Ference is a pretty good friend of Simon Whitfield (see his brief cameo in the vid here).

Trawling through the site even more, it seems that Ference has started to use triathalon as some of his summer training, with the encouragement of Whitfield.

All our readers will know that we're big fans of the A-fence here. Has his head screwed on right, does cool things with his free time, isn't terrible on the ice anymore, and oh, has a contract that comes with a steal of a cap hit.

Really tellingly, his buddy Whitfield quotes this about him:

On TSN's Off The Record Michael Landsberg asked the GM of the Bruins what was one of the most important moves he'd made in the last couple years and he answered "bringing in Andrew Ference because he brought so much character to our team".

Sigh, I miss the guy.

The Open Ice Hits Olympics: Baseball

If you happen to be stuck on a gorgeous August weekend with nothing to do, don't forget to check out the Vipers game... perhaps you'll get to see their newest signing...



Am I taking this seriously? Well, neither should you. Still, if it manages to fill seats, well, more power to them.

I have a soft spot for Theo Fleury - he was my absolute favourite player in my formative years as a hockey fan. I'm glad he seems to have got his shit together, and has time to do publicity stunts like these.

Sorry.

I knew if I turned on the TV tonight, the Pens would be doomed. And what a hell of a way to lose the game, as it turned out.

Well, good for Detroit for just dominating these playoffs. That said, in the grand pantheon of Flames gone by, Gary Roberts >>>>>> (Stuart + McCarty).

Think about that.

Brad Stuart has a Cup ring.

The Andy and Steve Traveling Road Show

I don't know how many of you had the opportunity to spend today malingering on the couch with TSN going all day long, but I did!

Trust me, after these holidays, it's been much deserved.

The morning started off with watching Canada advance yet another round. And despite the Flames' long record of draft busts from Europe, I like Puustinen. He definitely stood out today, moreso than I ever saw at training camp.

Let me fast forward about three or four hours, to a special documentary produced by the league, about the adventures of Andrew Ference and Steve Montador in Africa, from last summer, as they visited tons of places for Right To Play.

I'm so proud of those guys. While it's pure marketing gold for the league, the show did highlight why it's so important that players get involved in things outside of the scope of their own normal lives. Just heart-breaking and happy, all rolled up in one.

Though, there will be hell to pay, if Ference's demonstrated goal demonstrations ever catch on. (He showed the kids what players do after they score: Ride a stick, hopping up and down, while miming a lasso throw).

And kudos also to Steve Montador for making a commitment to go on damn short notice - the story is Georges Laraque was supposed to go, but couldn't due to an offseason injury. Though I'm sure Georges would have been a massive hit.

Damn, I miss Ference.

So tonight! The Rangers. Who have not been here since 2002. And it is now (barely) 2008. Do the math.

I have nothing. They have a lot of snipers firing blanks. And a darn good goalie. We have a lot of guys who can skate fast (hint), forecheck hard (hint) and are trying to play consistently (hint).

Um. 5-2 Flames, with Sean Avery left dangling over the glass after he scampers up there to evade (a puzzlingly enraged) Dion and Iggy.

Jeff Shantz and Rico Fata are still alive?

Apparently so. Who knew?

Kudos to Mark Giordano and Hnat Domenichelli for winning that other Christmastime tourney.

We'll keep it short today. Boo Canucks, go Flames. Let's see the team play a full 60 minutes without falling asleep on their feet, and maybe let's slip Luongo some tainted eggnog. It's getting past the best before date of that stuff, y'know.

49-1 Calgary (originally it was going to be an aping of MG's infamous 4-1 prediction, then my fingers slipped reaching for the hyphen. And why the hell shouldn't I leave it that way? What? Oh. Happy thoughts! And Happy New Year! )

From the "where are they now?" Files

I had an awful suspicion while looking at Mirtle's post about scoring leaders in the preseason.

That's right kids! I'm having a Brennan Evans moment!

(And for those of you non-believers, look at that sweater he's wearing in the pic. That definitely ain't teal. Yet.)