So, neither game has been perfect, but yet, the Flames are 2-0 on the season.  After a 4-3, last minute win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, again I thought there were positives and negatives to take away.

Lets start positve.  First off, I love that we’re seeing a consistent system.  The things we’ve been hearing about through training camp are on display on a pretty regular basis.  We’re seeing the team cycle it very well and, once again, they were able to hem their opponent in their own zone for some nice stretches.  The puck support offensively has been noticeable, and you can tell it’s starting to become (or already is) second nature.  Defensively, over and over, we’re seeing players in the shooting lanes.  It’s been tough for teams to get quality shots through, because sticks and bodies are in the way on a pretty consistent basis.

The lines stayed constant throughout the game…only time we saw things change was when players were in the box.  Mike Rogers made a great point on the broadcast…can’t call the 4th line the 4th line anymore.  Sjostrom, Prust and Nystrom were great once again…and were rewarded once again with around 9 minutes of ice time for the line.  The PP is turning into a nice aspect as well, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there are 2 units that can be threatening offensively.  Might be nice talking about a team with a real man advantage this year.

Individually…other than the dumb slashing penalty, I thought Dion Phaneuf was very good.  He looks a lot more comfortable defensively through 6 periods of hockey.  And Bouwmeester was damn good, he’s so fun to watch, great game from #4.  But that’s going to get old saying that.

Negatives…well, other than David Moss, the top line.  Man, Iginla and Jokinen were not good at all and seemed lost at times.  But, Brent Sutter limited their ice time…Iginla finished with just over 15 minutes total, that’s really, really low for him.  And again, there was a little bit of a lull in this game for the Flames.  That’s going to happen in every game, but it’s how teams respond to that and negate it as much as possible.  I also thought the Oilers got a little too much off the rush…some real quality opportunities off the wings.

Still, they’re 2-0…with stuff to improve on.  Most Flames fans will take it.

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Well, it wasn’t perfect…as Brent Sutter said following the game, it was a pretty darn good 38 minutes.  The Calgary Flames take a 5-3 win over the Canucks to open the 2009-2010 season at the Saddledome.

It was a weird game.  The Flames were flying off the hop and carried the entire first half of the first period.  They were getting sustatined pressure and forcing turnovers with their puck pursuit.  What was really impressive through the first period was the anticipation of the Flames.  It was something we didn’t see frequently last year, Flames players seeming to know where the other player was as they exited the defensive zone.  Throughout the game, the Flames were able to hem the Canucks in their own zone with some really nice sustained pressure too.  The best example of that was Daymond Langkow’s line with Rene Bourque and Nigel Dawes.  They used constant puck pressure to create offensive chances, and forced a couple penalties as well…I thought they were the best line on Thurday.

Also liked the 4th line…Prust, Sjostrom and Nystrom looked good together and not only played well in their own zone, but they were able to get some things going offensively as well.  Best player of the night, other than the goaltender, was Mark Giordano I thought.  Poised in his own zone, very very strong defensively, and looked great in the offensive zone.  Made some good reads, got the puck through traffic and just looked really comfortable in an offensive role.  Phaneuf and Pardy looked good tonight too.

How worried do you get about the lapses in the game?  Sort of…but it’s also the ebs and flows of a game.  Tough to carry that type of momentum throughout, and Vancouver did a good job to get themsevles back in it.  The Flames did start skating, and that’s not something you want to see, but Brent Sutter seems like the type of coach to nip that stuff in the bud right away.  All in all, a positive start to the season…not perfect, but lots to be excited about for the remaining 81 games.