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At Wednesday’s am skate a young fan wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey with #87 was sitting behind the Pens players’ bench.
He said he was a Crosby and Penguin fan #1. An Iginla and Flame fan #2. For that night he hoped Crosby would score, the Pens win and Iginla score a goal.
The focus of that fan, and most others, excitement got there satisfaction early when the Pittsburgh captain scored his first NHL goal in Western Canada at 3:53 of the first period.
Iginla didn’t score and the Penguins went on to win, 3-1.
But as fans exited the Saddledome, the raves, or frustration depending on your perception, were for Team Canada’s #1 Olympic goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury.
Entering the game, the word was that Fleury had been off his game since he was named with Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo to backstop the Canadian squad next month. He’d lost 5 of his last 6 starts. Fleury’s game was back on the beam Wednesday. Again the Flames, for a 3rd straight game, had great chances but were repeatedly robbed by the opposing goalkeeper.
The result. In 3 games where the Flames completely dominated opponents they came away with only 3 of 6 points.
It started in Vancouver where the Flames won, 3-2 in a shootout, Roberto Luongo stole a point for the Canucks facing 40 shots. On Monday, Craig Anderson stole 2 points for Colorado as his 46 saves gained the Avs a 3-2 shootout triumph. Wednesday, Fleury made 36 stops for the Pens.
Although a lack of scoring has cost the Flames in their last 2 games particularly, they have played the style Brent Sutter wants with determination and passion. The big challenge heading into another run of 3 games in 4 nights starting Friday at home vs Nashville is getting the players to stick with it. The type of play exhibited by the Flames in the past 3 matches will garner wins in a big way. The scoring will eventually come.
Obviously, the sooner the better.
Hi Peter,
Not so much a comment on the current blog entry, but a kudos for all the great work you do!
Had a great time at the First Ever Flames Fan Forum at Flames Central. It was topped off by an albeit brief conversation with youself – a Hall Of Famer – just before you left for the evening.
Keep up the great work from one East Coaster to another!
By the way, thanks for the insight on Kirkwood. Would you have an email that I might be able to send a note to him? Just wanted to send a note saying hope all is well and appreciated the work he done. He always helped me out with any questions I had.
Cheers,
- Chris RalphChris