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  It was a scene in reverse from Sunday night. Visiting player returns home scores 3 goals and a smattering of hats/caps hit the ice.

  The Flames liked it much better on Monday since it was winger Rene Bourque returning to where he grew up scoring the 3 goals pacing the Flames to a 4-1 victory.

  On Sunday in the Saddledome, Mason Raymond, who grew up in Cochrane, had the “hat trick” in a 5-1 Vancouver success over the Flames.

  That outcome set in motion a 20-hour period where the Flames were challenged by coach Brent Sutter, admitted they were embarrassed by the Canucks, did some soul searching and emerged with an important win.

  Bourque, who now has 13 goals with 5 of them coming against the Oilers, got a new centreman for the game. Ollie Jokinen, benched for much of the last 2 periods on Sunday, was moved off the #1 line with Jarome Iginla.  He picked up a pair of assists. Daymond Langkow took Jokinen’s spot with Iginla with Curtis Glencross getting the LW assigned.  They had chances but didn’t figure in the scoring other than Langkow, who made a great play setting up Bourgue’s SHG.

  Like Raymond did a night earlier, Bourque had a “natural” hat trick.  He scored even strength late in the first period to tie the game at 1-1. Then he triggered the only goal in the 2nd period on a PP before sealing the game with a SHG at 5:37 mark on the  3rd stanza. In 4 games against the Oilers this season Bourque had 10 points and that includes one of the games where he was held off the scoresheer.

 Miikka Kiprusoff, who had a rough game on Sunday allowing 4 goals in the first period, bounced back with another superb outting.  In the first period, the Flames were outshot 16-5 with Kiprusoff stopping the Oilers from scoring more than once.

  An interesting sidelight was Dustin Boyd engaging in his first NHL fight. That coming right off the centre ice face-off following the Oilers getting the 1-0 lead.  He took on another greenhorn to the fighting field, Andrew Cogliano.  Coach Sutter felt Boyd stepping up was a factor in the Flame rally. 

 Sutter was pleased with the team’s rebound but needs to see it much more often to determine that their December demise has been corrected.

  They seek another victorious performance Wednesday against Los Angeles.

   I keep many hockey books, calendars, etc in my basement that go years without being looked at.

  The suggestion has been made more than once that I get rid of them, even by me.  However, they stay on shelves. It’s for moments like these they are required to research something.

   Our Fan960 hockey host Rob Kerr wondered on the air on Dec. 23, have the Flames had ever played 4 games in 5 nights as they will this week starting Sunday at home vs Vancouver.

   The answer is yes, but not lately in meaningful games.

   As recently as Sept. 2008 the Flames played 4 games in 4 nights. That was during the pre-season when plenty of players were around and the line-up changed every night.

   Going back to the mid-80’s the first round of the playoffs started with a schedule, for all teams, of 4 games in 5 nights.  If it went to a 5th game, it would mean 5 games in 7 nights as the Flames are doing extending into next week.  Even 2-3 years after that playoff plan was dropped, there was actually a campaign from the players to have it return. The NHL ruled against and ever since the post-season has extended into June, or close to it.

   In the regular-season, four times in their history in Calgary, the Flames have played 4 games in 5 nights.  The last time was in late March of 1989 just a week before the Flames would embark on a playoff trail that would see them win their only Stanley Cup. Thus, this time would seem to be a good omen. The Flames won 3 of those 4 games with the only loss in OT as they clinch #1 overall in the entire NHL.  In, fact, twice in the ‘88-89 campaign the Flames played 4 in 5 nights. The other time was in Nov. when they had a 2-1-1 record.

   In Jan. of 1985, the Flames were 2-1-1 with the 4 games in 5.   The first time it occured was Jan. of 1982 when the Flames lost the first game in Vancouver but won the next 3.

   This is a first for the team over the Holiday Season.

   Overall, in these hectic schedule times, in the 80’s, the Flames had a 10-3-3 record. Based on that success, perhaps 4 games in 5 nights should be on the schedule more frequently.

   However, that was 3 decades ago. The meter on 2009 started counting Sunday. 

   The Flames are no better point-wise than they were a year ago, and its likely because the Western Conference race is much, much closer this time around.

   Heading into Wednesday’s final game before Christmas hosting St. Louis, the Flames have 44 points. The same number of points they had last year at the Yuletide break.  The difference, the 44 points were amassed in 34 games last year, now it’s in 35 games.

   In reality, the Flames may be better this time around considering closeness in the Western Conference. 

   At the Christmas break last year the Flames led the NW Division by one point over Vancouver. Now they are trailing Colorado by 4 points but have 3 games in hand. The West was led by San Jose in ‘08 with 58 points with Detroit second having 51.   Now the Sharks lead Chicago Blackhawks by 2 points are in a very close first place chase. 

   Overall, last year the separation between 1st and 10th was 21 points. Now its 5 points from 1st to 7th where the Flames are located.  From top-to-bottom last year a 29-point different, now its 15 points.

   The Flames will be looking to avenge last Tuesday’s 4-3 loss in St. Louis against the Blues.  Andy Murray’s team has some aims as well.   The Blues are looking to win 3-straight for the first time this season and seeking a Western Canada sweep for the first time ever after wins at Vancouver and Edmonton on Sunday and Monday.   

  It was Bobble Head day at the Saddledome and the puck bobbled on the Flames several times late in the game at key times as Nashville gained a 5-3 triumph.

  The Bobble Head feature player, Jarome Iginla, had 2 goals ending a 9-game drought but with close-in opportunities, Flame players couldn’t control the puck to notch the equalizer  Rene Bourque had a couple of those chances, Curtis Glencross had another.

  The Predators came into the game eager to avenge a Nov. 30 loss at home 5-0 to the Flames and at the end of the afternoon had it.

  The Predators, who average 9 matinee games over the past 3 seasons, displayed their experience in that area jumping into a 2-0 first period lead against a Flame squad that rarely plays in the afternoon.

  Still, just beyond the midway point of the 2nd period, the Flames got their game going and wiped out the Nashville lead gaining a 3-2 advantage.  The Preds got a late tally in the 2nd to tie the contest then put it away in the 3rd with a pair of goals — the last into an empty net.

  The Preds, who are now 3 points better than the Flames, won their fourth straight. They haven’t lost 2-in-a-row since Oct. 21.

  The Flames, who haven’t won 2-straight in December, attempt to mount  a streak on Wednesday hosting St. Louis.  That’s 3 days between games, the club’s longest break since Nov.3. After that repite andpractice the team went through its best stretch of the season — 4-straight wins, a 6-game point streak (5-0-1), just 2 regulation losses in 14 games.

  Flames play a rare home matinee game on Saturday but not as rare as the Bobble Head promotion.

  For just the 3rd time in 6 years the Flames have an afternoon match at the Pengrowth Saddledome facing off against the Nashville Predators.

  The Flames are 1-1 their last 2 games at home in the afternoon. Last Feb. 7 a 2-1 loss to Anaheim and in 2006 a 4-1 win over Buffalo.

  The Bobble Head promotion Saturday is the first of 6 the team will have this season starting with captain Jarome Iginla.  The first 2,500 fans into the ‘Dome will get Iginla’s likeness.

  The Bobble Head has been around since 1920 for a New York Knicks basketball promo known then as “Nodders” then. The fad has come and gone over years. This is the Flames first such venture.

  The Flames are looking to win 2-straight games for the first time in Dec. The Flames ended Nov. on a 4-game winning streak after defending the Predators, 5-0 in Nashville.

  The Preds, who were on a roll before that game and are again now with wins in 5 of 6 games, lead the Flames by one point in a tight Western Conference where just 3 points separate 7 teams.

 Los Angeles Kings admitted they weren’t ready for what they got from the Flames Thursday night.

  Led by defenseman Mark Giordano, who hit Dustin Brown with 4 solid hits, the Flames authored a relentless hard hitting assault on the Western Conference leaders ending up with a 2-1 victory.

  It was the club’s first win after 3-straight losses and once again it was Miikka Kiprusoff preserving the win great save after great save in the 3rd period when the Kings outshot the Flames 16-3.

  But it was the Flames hitting that dominated post-game talk.  The Kings were without 4 regulars and has some of those in the line-up playing with hurts.

  It was solid Flame effort to wear down the Kings but the LA skaters made it a battle to the end and even had a shot go off the side of the Flame net in the final second.

  The final second of the first period saw the Flames gain a 1-0 lead on a Dion Phaneuf PPG that was executed just as it was drawn up.  Jokinen won the face-off over to Iginla, who set the puck up perfectly for Phaneuf.
  Nigel Dawes’ 10th goal in the 3rd period on a pass from Daymond Langkow turned out to be the winner.  Kiprusoff lost his shutout bid when rookie Cory Elkins scored his first NHL goal at 11:06 of the 3rd.

   Flame host Nashville on Saturday afternoon.

  Brent Sutter elected to sit 16 rows up in the stands to watch Flame practice on Monday in St. Louis feeling a bit blue from the lingering affects of the flu and his team’s 2-game losing streak.

  On the ice, under the bright lights, all of Sutter’s players on the trip, save goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, worked out under guidance of the assistant coaches for about 30 minutes sans the “bag skate” some had suggested might occur.

  After facing 81 shots in two weekend games, Kiprusoff relished the break but agreed the team must tighten up defensively. “We’ve been working on things but the last couple of games got away from the plan.”

  All hands vow they’ll get back to the “program” Tuesday against the Blues in a building where the Flames have won their last 4 games.  As well, the Blues have struggled in recent games in their own arena having lost 4-straight.

  Its kind of ironic that on an evening the greatest goal scorer in Blues history, Brett Hull, is being honored the competing teams have struggled to score lately.

  St. Louis in recognizing Hull’s recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame with ceremonies prior to Tuesday’s game.

  The Blues may want to put Hull into their line-up despite the fact he’s been retired for 3 years. Hull scored 741 regular-season goals plus another 103 in the playoffs where he played on 2 Stanley Cup winners.

  The Blues have scored just 5 goals in their last 4 games.

  The Flames have gone into a scoring slow-down as well with just 5 goals in their last 4 games — 3 of them losses.  The Flames all-time leading scorer, Jarome Iginla, is in his longest goal scoring slump of the season — goalless in 6 games.

A funny game this hockey.
A week ago the praises were being  sung for the Flames after a hard fought win in San Jose.

Now that’s all being re-assessed after weekend results.
Sunday a 3-2 setback in Colorado in a game with 1st place on the line.
That on the heels of Friday’s 2-1 home loss to Minnesota.

The only reason both games were close was Miikka Kiprusoff’s continued goaltending brillance.

He was peppered with 81 shots in the weekend games. Only 5 got by him.

Too many penalties and continued loose play defensively early in the game led to the downfall in Denver.  Flames outshot 22-6 in the first period escaping with just a 1-0 deficit.

The Avs added 2 more goals in the 2nd on 13 shots.
The Flames took over in the 3rd getting a late goal from Rene Bourque making it 3-2. Jarome Iginla had a great chance to  tie it in the closing seconds but his stick snapped at the shaft on contact.

Iginla has now gone 6 games without a goal. His longest famine of the season. In those 6 games the Flame have lost 2 while scoring only 10 goals.

Brent Sutter, who, a week ago felt his team was grasping what he was looking for, figures to be snapping his skaters to attention Monday at practice in St Louis in an effort to get the gang on track Tuesday vs the Blues.

  After leaving frosty Calgary and its -25 degree weather with snow on the ground and more on the way, it felt balmy for the Flames as they arrived late Saturday afternoon in Denver.

  There no snow on the ground and none on the radar for at least a week.  With tempertures hovering around +10c the squad walked ralaxing around city streets.

  Sunday it’s all business as the Flames face the Colorado Avalanche in a battle for first place in the NW Div. Both teams have 42 points as they enter the contest

  It’s the 2nd time this season the Flames and Avs have clashed with both having the same number of points.  The Flames lost the first time at home 3-2 on Nov. 17.  Since then the two squads have been taking turns holding the division leadership.

  The Avs also won an earlier confrontation in Calgary by a similar 3-2 tally on Oct. 24.

  At the season’s outset Brent Sutter felt the Flames would be engaged in alot of 3-2 and 2-1 games.

  …And they have been. Those have been the scores in 12 of the first 31 matches. To Sutter’s chagrin his boys haven’t won nearly as often as he’d like.  The Flames have won just 4 of 12 contests. They have a recoprd of 1-3 in 3-2 games and 3 of 8 when the scored ends 2-1.  In fact 4 of the last 5 games have been 2-1 battles with the Flames losing 3 of them including Friday home game vs Minnesota. 

  In all, the Flames have been involved in 18 one-goal games with a 9-5-4 record.  They have more success in the higher scoring affairs. While the coach likes those wins he knows that for ultimate success they need to do better in the lower scoring contests.

    Who knows what Sunday will bring. It pits the NHL’s top road team, the Flames, against a Colorado team that has won just 2 of its last 6 at home.

  The weather will be on the plus side Sunday, the Flames want a plus on the scoreboard and in the standings.

   It was difficult to tell what frustrated the Atlanta Thrashers more.  The bumper to bumper traffic they faced in the ice and snow getting to the Saddledome an hour later than planned or Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff.

   The rushed preparation didn’t appear to be a factor as the Thrashers come out strong outshooting the Flames 7-1 early but they couldn’t solve Kiprusoff and the Flames would gain a 3-1 victory.

   The only shot to get by the Flames splendid netminder was a puck off the skate of Colby Armstrong in the 3rd period. Otherwise, Kiprusoff made 23 saves as Calgary re-gained first place in the NW Division.

   In their first home game after 6 on-the-road, the Flames took a while to get their legs in the first period but once they got going took control of the contest.  Second goals my Nigel Dawes and Ollie Jokinen were all the Flames needed.  Rene Bourque added an empty netter in the game’s final minute.

   Kiprusoff, who got the Molson Cup award for Nov. prior to the game, took the final skate on the ice taking first star honors.  The flashy Finn has been a star in 11 of the last 17 Flame games.

   Friday the Flames swing back into action against a NW Div rival Minnesota, who here after getting 1-0 shutout win in Colorado on Wednesday.