One week into the NHL season and the Flames are the only team having all 18 skaters with at least one point. No other team is even close.

  It all proves Brent Sutter’s theory — think defense first and the goals will come.

  …And so do the wins.  The Flames take a perfect 3-0 record into Thursday’s clash in Edmonton.

  The defense record isn’t where Coach Sutter wants it but the process is evolving. The offense is coming from everybody.  The Flames have scored 13 goals and all the defenseman and forwards have had a hand in at least one.  Ten different players have produced the goals.

  The three players sharing the team lead in points with 3 are — Eric Nystrom, Dion Phaneuf and Adam Pardy.  None of them consider sureshots.  Will it be that threesome at the top of team scoring in the end?  Definitely not.  Jarome Iginla, Ollie Jokinen and Daymond Langkow will take their rightful positions at the top in time.

  In the meantime, while the stars learn the Sutter system, the “grunts” are working it to a “T” and getting a huge confidence boost offensively.

  The Flames and Philadelphia Flyers are the only teams to have played three game and utilizing only 19 players.  The Flames figure to continue with the same success squad against the Oilers.

  The aim?  Extend the season starting record to 4-0 tying a club record set in 1993.  As well Sutter could tie Dave King’s club record by winning his 4th straight game starting their Flame coaching career, which King did with the ’93-94 crew.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 8:11 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.