Flames vs. Kings: Post-Game

The Flames notched their 12th win of the season tonight defeating the Los Angeles Kings 6-2. Bourque had 2 goals while Cammalleri, Iggy, Moss and Glencross each netted one, Frolov and Kopitar answered back for the Kings.

I was excited before the game even started when I heard the lines Keenan put together. Cammalleri, Lombo and Iggy made up the 1st line, Boyd, Langkow and Bertuzzi lined up together on the 2nd line, Bourque, Conroy and Glencross made the 3rd line and finally, Moss, Nystrom and Primeau brought the energy from the 4th. In my mind those lines have the potential to be solid from top to bottom and there was early results from the 1st and 3rd for sure, while Primeau, Nystrom continued to bring good energy and fore-check shift after shift. Cammalleri, Iggy and Lombo all played well in my mind combining for 5 points. The best line was without a doubt the Conroy, Glencross and Bourque line. They combined for 8 points while bringing energy all over the ice, fore-checking, back-checking you name it they did it. That line had chemistry right off the bat and they look like a good checking, secondary scoring line going forward. Glencross has really found his stride and is on a 5-game point streak after tonight. The 2nd unit was terrible, they weren't noticeable and whether Keenan was sending a message to Boyd in the third or he got injured, which nothing appeared to happen to really think that, I dont think he got one shift in the 3rd. Bert floated around all night while Langkow didn't played that bad but he has to do more to give the Flames that secondary scoring from the 2nd line. Moss ended up taking Boyd's ice-time in the 3rd while still getting his regular shift on the 4th unit. Moss has been a great surprise so far this season, has brought good energy and a nose for the net.

I didn't like either goal the Flames allowed. The Frolov shorthanded one was one of the worst back-checks I have ever seen in my life. Giordano and Langkow came back but the Kings were still on a 3 on 2 SHORTHANDED. That should never happen. The Flames did respond well scoring on the next shift, which I thought was a good move by Keenan to get his top unit off the ice after that awful effort and put on a more energy line lead by Moss who ended up netting the goal. The Kings second goal was not good either, no one picked up Kopitar in front of the net and just let him pot the rebound. Young Pardy made his only mistake of the game on that play when he for some reason went up to challenge the defensemen instead of letting Kipper have a clear look at the shot and just take Kopitar in front of the net. O well he had a solid game other than that in my mind.

The Flames have finally put together a string of games where they have played well consistently. The Red Wing game wasn't as bad as the scoreboard showed and I have really liked what I have seen from Keenan lately. He has given the guys a chance to stick together as a line instead of shuffling them 87 times a game and has realized who his top-6 forwards are and how to use everyone accordingly. Hopefully this play continues, cause it will be necessary with two very important games coming up next against the Canucks.

***Correction- I guess Boyd did leave the game in the third after a hit in the 2nd period, I must of just pain out missed it but hopefully it is nothing serious.

Long Over Due.

Well it has been a month since I have posted on my blog, and though I have been busy it is disappointing I haven't been able to write more about our beloved Flames and of course the NHL in general. I have watched probably 13 of the Flames 16 games thus far, which is way more than last year but with the addition of more channels and HD on my TV, I should have been putting way more input onto this blog.

Anyways the Flames are 8-7-1 to start the season after a very disappointing loss to the Chicago Blackhawks this evening. I thought the Flames looked tired but even so the effort just wasn't there. Other than Kipper who made some phenomenal saves in the first two periods to keep the Flames in it, no one really stood out to me. Boyd, Moss and Langkow had flashes but that isn't enough when you have 15 other skaters not doing their job. Many people said the Flames lost to Phoenix was the worst effort by the Flames top players, which I don't really have an opinion on since I missed the majority of that game but in my mind they were awful tonight. Iggy, Bert, Phaneuf and Cammalleri had no jump, nothing. With that the Flames went 0 for 7 on the PP and lost out on some good chances to take control of the game or chip into the Blackhawks lead. The Blackhawks have a very good, talented young team with a ton of speed. They took advantage of the Flames sloppy play and dominated. I thought Kris Versteeg and Adam Burish looked pretty good for the home side to go along with their stars, Havlat, Toews and Kane. All in all, Kipper was the best Flames by far and the Flames will have to re-group fast for their game Tuesday back at home against the Maple Leafs

The Flames have now lost 4 of 5 after winning 6 in a row and really need to get back on the winning track. They have shown that they can be a dominating team much like in recent years but it seems to me that they have the chance to be just that much better this season than the last couple which could bring them alot of success. I still think they need one more younger puck-moving defensemen but other than that I like what I see up front with the added depth. Kipper has found his form again and will steal some wins for us again this year.