Six games, 10 days, 5 different start times and 4 different time zones.

   Starting Tuesday that’s the immediate docket for the Flames as they entertain the Phoenix Coyotes looking to start a new win streak after the 6-gamer came to an end Sunday in Anaheim.

   Tuesday’s game starts at 8 Calgary time. Thursday’s clash with Nashville begins at 7:30. Then the Flames leave the Mountain time, playing Saturday in Eastern time zone with a 7 o’clock start in Columbus. Sunday its into the Central time zone for a 5p.m. commencement in Chicago.  A week Tuesday the club is back home to host Toronto at the regular mid-week time of 7. Next Thursday into the Pacific time zone for a 7:30 start in San Jose.

   Despite some speculation that Curtis McEllhinney might start against the Coyotes, it appears Miikka Kiprusroff will make his 13th consecutive start.  He was the first Flame goalie off the ice after the am skate, generally a tipoff as to who will start.  Illya Brysgalov starts for Phoenix.

   Defenseman Robyn Regehr, who missed the match with the Ducks with a lower body injury, skated this am in full gear and coach Mike Keenan said he’d be a game time decision.  Centre Matthew Lombardi remains out with an upper body injury.

The quest for a 7th straight win didn’t start so well for the Flames, but still if it hadn’t been for a space of 45 seconds early in the 3rd period it might not have been a setback.
The Ducks scored a pair goals in that brief span and coupled with a first period tally jumped into a 3-0 lead. Ultimately Anaheim would win, 3-2.

Again displaying solid character Mike Keenan’s collection took it to the Ducks in the 2nd half of the game.  A goal midway in the 2nd period by Curtis Glencross and pretty PPG from Todd Bertuzzi early in the 3rd set up a sensational finish.

Although they couldn’t beat J.S. Giguere for the tying tally,the manner in which the Flames battled was more positive vibes that weren’t so prevalent in the past season.

The negative was that Robyn Regehr was sidelined with a knee injury in the game in LA on Saturday  It’ll be checked out further Monday by team doctors.  The big shutdown defenseman didn’t feel it was a serious problem.

It was the 8th straight loss for the Flames in the home of Disney.

   When the Flames were departing from the Staples Centre backdoor parkade, the bus driver was asked, “how long will it take to get to Anaheim?”  He replied, “30 minutes”.

Mike the driver was true to his word. The bus pulled up at the Anaheim hotel at precisely 30 minutes from departure.

Now before Mike (the Coach) Keenan’s team departs the Disneyland area later tonight,they’ll need to be more precise on the ice tonight against the Ducks as they seek a 7th straight win.

The Ducks are vastly superior to their SoCal cousins. Flame players were the first to admit that the 3-2 triumph in LA was their least impressive effort in their 6-game winning streak.

Nobody questioned Miikka Kiprusoff’s selection as #1 star with his 34 saves against the young Kings.  It took Daymond Langkow’s goal, thanks to a great set up by Todd Bertuzzi ,with 3:36 left in the game to seal the victory after the Kings had rallied after falling behind 2-0.

The Ducks are also looking to gain a 7-game point streak tonight.  In their past 6 games,the Ducks have won 5, but in their game on Friday lost 7-6 to Vancouver in a shootout.

The Flames have lost the last 7 times they’ve played in Anaheim.  That’s a 7-game streak they want to end now.

  In their am skate Saturday at the Staples Centre, Flame players demeanor and jump is what you’d expect from a team on a 5-game winning streak.

   Lively drills and plenty of smiling faces.  Who said this team doesn’t have fun?

   They’ll be serious at game time seeking their 6th straight win at the expense of the LA Kings. Coach Keenan cautioned the players about being complicant with the 5-game winning streak reminding them of how it transpired. He also warned about not to be lulled in a false sense of security another the lowly Kings, who defeated the Flames 6-3 the last time they met.

   Flames will have the same lineup as Thursday against Boston.  Lombardi, Roy and Pardy are out. Lombardi practiced full out and appears close to returning from his upper body injury.