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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.
