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The Calgary Flames have just 19 games to go this season, and they currently sit on the outside looking in. They’re in a race with numerous teams for the final few playoff spots in the Western Conference. Maybe that’s why the word “disappointing” was so apt after a 4-0 loss on Wednesday night at the hands of the Minnesota Wild.
That was the word used by Head Coach Brent Sutter following the game. He used it multiple times. He didn’t like the execution or emotion of his team on this night, and for good reason. The Flames were not good enough over a 60 minute hockey game to come away with a win, against Minnesota or most other teams in this league. Final shots were 29-21 in favor of Calgary, but how many of those were really good scoring opportunities? Not very many. They just weren’t good enough, and as Sutter said, made life far too easy on goaltender Niklas Backstrom.
Minnesota scored the opening tally on a Jay Bouwmeester cough-up. But that was a goal that you could probably bounce back from, and I felt they did. I thought Calgary was the better team for the first half of the second period, and had two really good shifts back to back. It started with the unit of Hagman, Stajan, Iginla, Sarich and Bouwmeester on the ice, keeping sustained pressure for a good 70 seconds plus. After a whistle, it was followed up by a great shift by Bourque, Backlund, Moss, Regehr and White. And then a nice breakout by Minnesota, a poor read from Adam Pardy, and the puck is in the back of Calgary’s net…they’re down 2-0. From that point on, Calgary wasn’t in this hockey game.
Their emotion level dropped off in a game where the opponent wasn’t tearing the walls down. Sure, Minnesota was good enough to win, but they weren’t incredible by any stretch. The Calgary Flames are in a situation where the playoffs are far from a guarantee. Yet, after falling down 2-0, they completely quit on an important hockey game and had nothing to show in the final 25 or 30 minutes. That’s very disappointing, and it goes back to the same thing we’ve been talking about all year. And eventually, the team will run out of time if they want to fix it. And lets face it…they may not fix it this season.
Jay Bouwmeester had one of the worst games he’s ever played on this night, finishing -3. Also sitting -3 were Chris Higgins and Matt Stajan. Hearing from Stajan following this one, he was not happy at all about how poorly his line played, and how few quality chances they created. To me, we saw consistent efforts from a select few group of guys…Kiprusoff and Giordano as always, plus I felt Sarich and Nystrom had strong games as well.
Wowwww so frustrating i cannot beleive the flames just loss 4-0 after a 2 week break first game at home a crucial game in the conference and they cant score a goal yup 20 games left it seems like they still think theres 40.
- MoeWow, Pat. Few weeks ago you mentioned in a blog that IF the flames play the way Sutter wants will win and we have to give it time. The flames just don’t want to play for Sutter. As a flames fan I can see that there is no body language signs of wanting to win!!
Trades:
We can’t score going into the Olympics. So what does Sutter do? He goes and gets a guy who hasn’t scored a single goal all year, this will help!
Were now stuck with bad draft picks going into next season and with the same team…its like its 1999 all over again!!
Thanks!!
Josh
- Joshmatt stajan is so soft its sad.He was pushed around like a Jr last night not a 6th year player(and cuz sutter is trying to save his job we now have him for 4yrs).How is it that he is on the #1 line and not buck? Iam a big fan of the flames not a fan of the player.And Ken.king you better start actting like a prez cuz if you have noticed the dome is starting to sound like the 80′s.At this rate flames finish 12-15 in the west.
- kevinI have said it before and I will say it again – these players are not the answer; nor are they the problem. We have a system and management that perhaps does not, or is unwilling to, understand today’s game (flow, speed, skill, etc.). We are continuing down a road of mediocrity, with no end in sight. We sign Matt Stajan to a multi-year deal – why? His record in Toronto does not lend any credibility to this signing. We acquire Toskala – why? I heard a Toronto media member state that he is possibly the worst goalie in the league! What is our club’s fascination with Toronto castoffs? I, and many other fans and local media, started this season with such optimism – were we all that gullible? How could no one see that this team would perform so poorly? Or were we sold a bill of goods by this management team as to the capabilities of the current squad? Perhaps ownership needs to reevaluate their faith in the Sutter plan; ’cause it ain’t working…
- TIM O'NEILHas anyone noticed? The seats on TV are looking emptier and emptier and the dome is quiet…
- JoshMaybe and IF I decide to go to another game this year, I will start the chant: Fire Sutter!! Fire Sutter!! and not Go Flames Go!!