Almost 9 years…that’s how long it’s been since the Calgary Flames won in Montreal, that was until Tuesday when the Flames took a 1-0 over the Habs.  And they did it in impressive fashion, coming away with a well-earned shutout, their first of the season.

Calgary has now let in just 4 goals in their last 4 games, as I think it’s clear to see the team is moving in a very defensively oriented direction.  This was their best effort defensively this season, no question…but that’s 4 games in a row where they’ve been able to keep things very low scoring.  In this game, they were full marks for the shutout from Miikka Kiprusoff on out.

In previous games, I had made the point that Calgary upped their game when they needed to…when the game was on the line, we saw the Calgary Flames elevate their game.  Well, on this night, they played very well when the game was on the line…but they also played well the entire game, with very few lapses. 

Calgary’s now 9-0-1 when leading after 40 and 9-3-1 when scoring first.  The after 2 periods stat is great, but I’ve talked about that enough.  What’s very intriguing is the scoring first stat.  In 16 games, Calgary has scored the first goal 13 times…and they’ve won 9 of those games.  To me, that shows, more than anything, that this Flames team does have a killer instinct.  They can finish games off, they can salvage games when they need to, and to me it’s clear…it’s only going to get better.  That’s gotta be scary for teams.

Dion Phaneuf wants to be an impact player on this team game in game out…well, on this night, he certainly was.  The most noticeable player on the ice in my eyes, Phaneuf was physical, mobile, intimidating and efficient.  Olli Jokinen played his best game for the Flames this year I thought…again, the work ethic was there, but things seemed to be clicking a little more and he was much more dangerous.  That’s 2 players who have taken a lot of criticism this year…I think that you saw a glipse of what they are able to do.  The challenge for both is to do that more often than not.

And what else can you say about Miikka Kiprusoff?  His 200th career win also serves as his 31st career shutout…and he was unreal once again.  There hasn’t been one game this year where Kipper has played poorly, or even average.  The numbers don’t show it, yet, but I believe we’re watching the best and most consistent goaltender in the NHL.

The Flames take on Buffalo on Friday night at 5:30.  Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.

The Calgary Flames made it 3 straight wins on Saturday night at home to the New York Rangers, and they did it by once again closing out a close game when it was on the line.  That’s been the most encouraging thing for this team over the last 3 games, and overall throughout the year…they’ve been able to finish off close games, and they’ve been able to find ways to win close games.

Calgary is now 8-0-1 when leading after 40 minutes of play, and they did it in strong fasion in the 3rd period.  Miikka Kiprusoff was a factor throughout the entire game, and that was a big part of it, no question.  But I thought Calgary played much better in the final frame as the game went along…there were some not-so-great spans for them, but I thought they were able to push things to the outside much better in the 3rd.  They got a timely goal, some solid possession, and some great goaltending in the final frame, and once again, they were able to close things out.

It’s the second straight game the Flames have given up just 1 goal in a game, and overall they’ve given up just 4 over their last 3 games.  That’s not too damn bad at all.  I think that we really are starting to see a shift in how we’re going to see the Flames play.  5-3 and 6-3 wins for this team aren’t going to be the norm as we move closer to the middle of the season.  Instead, I believe Brent Sutter is going to be more inclined to see his team play in these types of games.

And if they are going to be playing these types of games, then we’re not going to be seeing frequent offensive production from Prust and Nystrom and Boyd, etc.  Instead, we’re going to need 1 or 2 guys step up offensively in each game…tonight, Dawes lead the way with 3 assists.  And Jarome Iginla stepped up at a key time, and for a 3rd straight game he was the most dangerous player on the ice.  Iginla finished with 20:16 of ice time and took 6 shots…and he had some really, really impressive shifts.  What COULD be very scary with this team is the fact that there is the potential to have scoring from 3 lines, but there’s also the potential for Iginla to lead the way and take the offensive load on his shoulders.

So…make it 3 in a row for the Flames as they get set for another game on the road.  The Flames take on the Canadiens in Montreal on Tuesday night.  Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.

It was the first of back to back sets in this month of November, the first 2 games of 14 this month and the Flames come away with the best possible scenario: 4 points in 2 games.  Calgary takes an overtime win for the second straight night, 2-1 in St. Louis thanks to Dion Phaneuf’s 6th of the season.  Was it exactly what we all wanted to see from the Flames in this hockey game…well maybe not.  But they won a second straight nail biter, and there’s a lot of positves to take from that.

I think there was some good fortune in this game for the Flames, but lets look at the positives in this regard.  Calgary played in a tight game for the second straight night, and in both games they’re were lapses.  But when it came down to the crunch times, the Flames got on it.  In the 3rd period of this game in St. Louis, yes, we saw the Blues tie the game, but we also saw the Flames adjust their game following.  Calgary seized momentum back after the Eller goal, and tilted the game back to their side and it clearly carried over into OT…because the Flames had all the pressure in the extra frame.  But I like the 3rd period…period.  They had the first 5 shots and end up outshooting the Blues 13-9.

Now, on the other side…a few things weren’t great.  Where was that emotion we wanted to see carry over from Wednesday in Dallas?  I don’t know…but it wasn’t quite what a lot of people were hoping to see.  I thought at times in this game there was a little bit lacking in the intensity department.  And it showed most on the powerplay, because it wasn’t there at all.  Calgary finished 0-6 on the PP and it was because, plain and simple, they weren’t good on the PP.  They didn’t seem to have any speed or burst.  On the bright side, Calgary’s PK was pretty good…even though they allowed a powerplay marker, I liked what we saw when the Flames were shorthanded.

Well, 100% or not, Miikka Kiprusoff was damn good on this night.  It’s the first time the Flames have let in less than 2 goals this year, and he made 30 saves on 31 shots…good to see some of the not-so-great numbers will be improved after this.  Kiprusoff was really good.  And the captain was really good once again…he score the one goal on the breakaway, he was +1, finished with 23:15 of ice time and was dangerous all night once again.  Iginla took 5 shots, 4 of them got through and he was very impressive.

The Flames are back at home on Saturday night, they take on the Rangers at 8 pm.  Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.

So did Curtis McElhinney answer any or all of the questions surrounding him?  That remains to be seen, but he was certainly a really good story in a Flames 3-2 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.  McElhinney made 38 saves while facing a career high 40 shots and was very good in earning his 2nd career NHL victory.

Lets start with the goaltender.  He was great and neither of the goals scored by the Flames can be put on his shoulders.  There were a few things that stood out right away for him.  Right from the get-go, you could tell he was playing with confidence and that carried over as the game progressed.  But technically, it 2 things that stood out.  First, he was making himself big and standing tall…his save on the Morrow penalty shot was a great example.  Morrow had almost nothing to shoot at because McElhinney had made himself that big.  The other was his lateral movement…that’s never been a problem, but it’s certainly one of the things you can pinpoint as a strength.  He’s got a real quick move going post to post.

Was it a great game for the Flames?  No not necessarily.  They weren’t consistent throughout the game and that played a part, clearly.  BUT, Head Coach Brent Sutter used the term “stuck with it” following the game, and that’s fair.  You could tell Calgary woke up a little following the first Stars goal from Neal…and even though the Stars scored after that, the Flames were much better.  Yeah…far too many shots, and the Flames gave up too many quality scoring chances.  These are things that will have to improve…but we all know that.

Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen both had good games, regardless of the points.  Iginla had a great game…3 points, 5 hits and he was a factor all night long.  And I really liked Jokinen…he fired 4 shots on net and seemed to be fairly comfortable playing with Iginla.  On the not-so-good side, well…it was not a good night for Adam Pardy.  He finished with just 7:37 of ice time (only 1:17 in the 3rd period) and seemed to be a few steps behind throughout.  I don’t think you’ll see him in the lineup Thursday in St. Louis.

There’s a possibility we see McElhinney back in net once again on Thursday night when the Flames take on the Blues…he deserves it regardless, but if Miikka Kiprusoff remains out sick, it’ll be an easy choice for Sutter to make.  6:30 start on Thursday night for the Flames and Blues.

Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Steinberg960.