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  The Flames look to end 2008 with 4-straight wins while at the same time winning the New Year’s Eve Classic for record 4th consecutive time.

   The present Flames have reeled off 3 wins in-a-row and have collected points in 8-straight games taking over first place in the NW Division.

   Past Flame squads have won their last 3 games in what has become their annual Saddledome date on the final night of the year.

   The club the Flames have defeated in 2 of the last 3 games on NYE, the Edmonton Oilers, provide the opposition again Wednesday.

   If NYE history prevails this will be another very close encountered.  Nine of the last 10 games in the ‘Dome of Dec. 31 have been decided by one goal or ended in a tie (2 of them did before the NHL instituted shootouts). The one that wasn’t, was the last time the Oilers were here in 2006 when the Flames won 4-2.

    Wednesday’s clash is the 18th game here on NYE and the Flame are seeking their 10th triumph. They have lost 5 times with 3 games ending in ties. The last time the Flames lost on this date was 2003 bowing 2-1 to Colorado with Steve Moore scoring the GWG.

   A number of other unlikely heros have emerged on this night over the years.  The Flames won the only 2 OT games which had winners.  Paul Ranheim notched the OTG in 1991 in a 3-2 win vs Montreal. Defenseman Derek Morris turned the trick in 2000 against the Canadiens. 

   In 1992, CJ Young scored two goals leading the Flames to 5-2 win over the Habs. The next year goaltender Les Kuntar played his first game of his short-lived NHL career for the Canadiens and won, 5-2.  

    Defenseman Eric Weinrich scored the GWG in Montreal’s 2-1 victory in 1998. In 2001, Steve Begin notched the GTG late in the 3rd in a 1-1 tie with the Oilers.

    Kristin Huselius has scored the winner in 2 of the last 3 games including last year in the 2-1 success over Vancouver.

   While the popular theory is that the Flames and Canadiens started the NYE tradition here, the fact is the Habs didn’t provide the opposition until the 3rd game in 1990 in which the Flames won 7-2 in the most one-sided of the 18 NYE specials.  Theoren Fleury had a goal and 3 assists in that one.  Philadelpia was the visitor the very first time the Flames played at home on NYE. The Flames won 5-4 when Gary Suter scored the GWG with 8 seconds left.  Winnipeg was here the following year for a 4-4 tie as Joel Otto scored twice.

    The Canadiens played here 7 times on NYE. The last was 2002 in a 1-1 tie.  In the prior 6 games each team won 3. 

     In all, 8 different teams have provided the opposition on NYE here. The Oilers have made the second most appearances. This year will be their 4th and they have yet to win.  

   Flame penalty killers have been drawing great raves over the past month-and-a-half.  Monday night they added another — a clutch goal.

   The PK had another perfect night, its 14th in the last 18 games, but Eric Nystrom pretty SHG at 8:56 of the 3rd gave the Flames a 2-1 triumph over Minnesota.

    The Flames have beaten the Wild 8 of the last 9 times they’ve clashed, all of the wins by one goal.

    Nystrom looked like an accomplished scorer when he swooped in after Wild defenseman Brett Burns knocked a puck down perfectly for the big winger to get a breakaway. He put a nifty move on Josh Harding for his 2nd goal of the season and 5th of his 76-game NHL career.  It was Nystrom’s first career SHG as well as GWG. Afterwards he called it the biggest goal of his NHL career.  A few more clutch, highlight goals and he’ll start drawing comparisons to his dad, Bob, who scored a few big goals in helping the NY Islanders win 4-straight Cups in the 80’s.

    Hard to believe that the Flames could have points in their last 8 games (5-0-3) with captain Jarome Iginla having only 2 goals — both in the same game — over that stretch. As well Dion Phaneuf hasn’t gained a scoring point in any of the 8 contests. Mike Cammalleri has 2 goals in the 8 games.  Its big sign that the club has come of age with scoring depth.

   Miikka Kiprusoff has been the goalie in the last 7 of those games allowing 17 goals against while providing the type of clutch goaltending needed for success.

   Wednesday the Flames endeavor to do something they’ve never done previously — go through the Yuletide Season (Dec 15-Jan 1) without losing a game in regulation time. They are 5-0-1 over that strtetch heading into the New Year’s Eve match with Edmonton. 

   During our Fan 960 post-game show, colleague Mike Rogers mentioned that had Rene Bolurque remained in Chicago he’s be lost with the Blackhawk having so man top scorers.

   True, but when GM Darryl Sutter preyed him away from Chicago as a free agent in July, the guessing was he’d be lost among Flame snipers.

   The anticipation being that Iginla, Cammalleri, Langkow, Bertuzzi, Phaneuf and perhaps Matthew Lombardi would be the Flame goal scoring leaders.

   Well, after Bourque’s first NHL ‘hat” or “boot” trick on Saturday, he now has more goals than all of the above except Iginla and he’s closing in on the Flames perrenial leading sniper.

    Bourque now has 14 goals, 2 less than Iginla and 2 away from matching his career best from the ‘05-06 campaign when he scored 16 times in 77 games for the Hawks as a rookie.

    The 27-year-old Bourque, getting comfortable in his new surroundings and Mike Keenan’s constant line juggling, has 8 goals in the last 9 outtings.

   The Flames now have 6 players on pace to score 20-or-more goals.  The last time the club had many 20-or-more goal men was 1993-94.

   The scoring balance has helped propel the Flames to the top of the NW Division standings. A couple of divisional challenges to round out the old year.  Minnesota on Monday and Edmonton on New Year’s Eve.

   The last time the Ottawa Senators were in Calgary in was also December, but that is about the only similiarity to now.

    Then it was Dec. 10 and the game was billed as the NHL’s top offense against the top defense.

    The top defensive team won as the Flames skated off with a 2-1 win in an overtime thriller. The Flames had the best defense record in the 2005-06 season. The Sens the best offense. Both would finish first in their respective divisions.

    Now the Flames are in first place in the NW Division but have just the league’s 22nd best goals against average, but its improved a great deal lately.  The Flames could increase their first place lead with a victory Saturday. 

   The Senators are playing the second match of an 8-game road trip not having won in their last 10 road assignments (0-8-2). They are last in the Northeast Division with the NHL’s second least goals total.

   The Senators are struggling to keep their season on the rails and this road trip could sink their chances of keeping their playoff streak of 11 years alive.

    The Flames are looking to run their point streak to 7 games, which would be their longest of the season.  Since their infamous 6-1 loss in San Jose on Nov. 13, the Flames have compiled a 10-3-3 record — one of the best in the league.

   The Sutter’s have a good many attributes, among them is always being ready for a good challenge.

   It appears to be no different for the second generation of Sutter’s. 

   Brett Sutter made his NHL debut most memorable on Tuesday, silencing those that suggested he was only playing because his father, Darryl, is the Flames GM. He played a key role in the 4-3 victory over Anaheim.

   The 21-year-old was as advertised smart, a solid checker and very responsible defensively.

   Lining up with veteran Craig Conroy and suddenly high-scoring David Moss, Sutter scored the most important goal of the night while gaining the adoration of the capacity crowd.

   After the Ducks took their only lead of the night at 3:45 of the 3rd period, Sutter scored 14 seconds later re-establishing a tie game. It was the first of 3-straight Flame goals, which propelled them into first place for Christmas in the NW Division.

   Sutter didn’t get an assist but he made a key play on the Flame first goal by Moss, who notched a career high 11th marker of the season.  Mark Giordano on a PP and the GWG from Michael Cammalleri also scored on J.S Giguere, who’s solid play in the Ducks net was the only reason the Flame margain of victory was one goal.

   There are no prizes for being #1 at the Yuletide break, just a recent historic not of significance. The last 3 teams leading he NW Division at Christmas have gone on to win the pennant each time including the Flames in ‘05-06.

   The Sutter’s of Viking are considered the first Family of Alberta Hockey but despite the fact seven Sutter’s have played in the NHL, only one to now has toiled for an Alberta team.

   Ron Sutter closed out his 19-year playing career with the Flames during the 2000-01 season playing 21 games with a goal and 3 points.

   Now Brett Sutter will become the second to play for an Alberta NHL team when he skates with the Flames on Tuesday night in the Saddledome against Anaheim. No Sutter has played for Edmonton, which is actually closer to Viking than Calgary.

   The 21-year-old replaces the injured Curtis Glencross in the line-up. The winger will miss his 4th straight game against the Ducks with a lower body injury.  Jamie Lundmark had been the replacement in the previous 3 contests.

   Sutter, who played in the WHL with Kootenay and Red Deer, is in his second season with Q-City in the AHL.  Sutter had settled in on vacation at the family farm during the AHL Christmas break when he received a call from his father, FlameGM Darryl, that his hockey break was over.

   Sutter has one goal and 6 assists with Q-City this season. He had a great read of the game and a diligent soldier in the heat of all the action with his aggressive play.  He’s likely get some work on the 3rd and 4th lines with Dustin Boyd figuring to move up to the #2 unit.

   Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Ron and Rich, sons of Louis and Grace Sutter all had long and distinguished NHL playing careers.  Brent’s son, Brandon, is in his first season with Carolina. Brian son, Shaun, was drafted by the Flames in 1998 and once played in the Flames organization, is now skating in Europe.

    The Flames will be looking to gain points for a 6th straight game, which would match their season best from the end of Oct. when the club won 6 in-a-row.

    What’s obvious is that the Flames PP needs work to get back to where it was earlier in the season.

    What is not quite so obvious is the Flames performance in extra time in the Saddledome.

    Perhaps Mike Keenan and the coaching staff may want to practice 4-on-4 and shootouts in their own building.

    The Flames take a 5-game point streak into Tuesday’s home assignment against Anaheim. Three of those 4 matches have gone to extra time. On the road, the OT record in those games is 1-1. In the ‘Dome its 0-2.  By extension, overall the Flames are 0-3 at home in extra time, but are 2-1 on the road.

     The Flames problems in ‘Dome extra time extends beyond this season. Going back to the 2007-08 campaign, Keenan’s crew has now lost 5-straight games at home that have gone beyond the regulation 60 minutes and have lost 11 of their last 12 in the “friendly confines.” That’s just regular-season games.  In playoffs the Flames have lost their last 2 OT matches — Detroit’s clinching game 6 in 2007 and the night they were in a position to win the Stanley Cup in game 6 vs Tampa in 2004.

   Want more, in extra time since the lockout of ‘04-05 campaign, the Flames at home have a 6-16 with only one season with a winning record. On the road in the past 4 years the local skaters have a 12-10 mark with one losing season. Lately its been wins in 5 of their last 7 on the road.

   The power play? It could have been the difference in getting wins in regulation time of late. After a solid performance in the first 8 games after the 6-1 blowout in San Jose on Nov. 13, the club has struggled with the man advantage of late.

    No PPG in its last 8 chances and just 2 for 32 over the past six contests.

   When all is said and done on the first half of this NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks will rank as the class of the West Conference, if not, the entire league.

   But, the Flames and Chicago Blackhawks are gaining ground as the clubs set to clash Friday night in the Saddledome.

   Whether or not the Flames and Hawks will get to gain elite status has to play out. Clearly both have been making inroads.

   After the Wings slammed the Sharks, 6-0, on Thursday the standings among the top 4 teams in the West is: San Jose 53pt, Detroit 46, Flames 39, Chicago 39, Vancouver 39.

   But since the Flames suffered their worst defeat of the season on Nov. 9 at Chicago, the standings are much closer: San Jose 26, Detroit 25, Flames 22, Chicago 22 and Vancouver 21 with the Flames and Hawks have played one less game than the other 3.

   The Flames are 10-4-2 in games since their 6-1 slamming at the hands of the Hawks and that included that 6-2 setback in San Jose. The Hawks are 9-3-4 since Nov.9.

    Tonight’s winner will be the third West team reaching the 40-point plateau.

    In contrast to Edmonton, the Hawks kids thus far haven’t incurred the sophomore jinx. Patrick Kane is tied for 5th place in league scoring with Jarome Iginla at 37 points.  Jonathan Toews, after a slow start, now has 23 points in 29 games.  The Oiler rookie stars of ‘07-08 have floundered and so has the team.

First it was the speed of the legs. Then deftness of the hands.

Todd Bertuzzi’s first big dividend as a Flame was a thing of beauty giving the Flames a 3-2ot win Wednesday in Minnesota.

Hopefully the clutch tally will silence the Bert bashers.

Mired in a 19-game goalless string, the winger couldn’t have picked better time to break out.

Moving up left wing, Bertuzzi seeing the chance to make a difference after Daymond Langkow made a superb diving play in the neutral zone batting the puck ahead to the Minnesota blueline.

That’s when Bertuzzi turned on the after burners swooping in on Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom and using his hands to make an intricate move then flipping the puck into the net.

Bertuzzi appeared to end his slump in the 2nd period with the first goal of the game.  After a review, Langkow got credit for the goal.

It was first time this season won games on back-to-back evenings and it was necessary to remain in first place in the NW Division.

Now a clash of the 39-point teams with Chicago at the ‘Dome on Friday.

The odds are good that Jarome Iginla will notch his 800th career point Wednesday in Minnesota.

The Wild are his second favorite team to register points against.

Tuesday night he faced his favorite point collecting team netting 2 goals and 2 assists in the 6-3 win vs the St. Louis Blues.

The captain, who needs one point for 800, has 19 goals and 54 pts in 45 career games against the Blues. On average that’s the highest percentage for the captain.

The Flames’ #3 all-time leading point getter put on a show in front of Blues excutive Al MacInnis, the FLames #2 all time point collector, who Iginla now trails by 23 pt.

Although his 2 goals were the 54th time the captain has noticed a pair in his career, it was his assist on Mike Cammalleri’s goal in the 2nd period on a PP that had everybody talking.  The tally would turn out to be the GWG.

Def Cory Sarich drew raves. He was a solid plus 4 with 2 assists and went to the aid of defense partner Adam Pardy when he was run over by Cam Janssen in the 3rd period. It was Sarich’s 2nd fight of the game.

The club experienced no travel delays getting to Minnesota.  Iginla has 47pt in 43 games vs the Wild.  In all he has more points than games against 9 teams.