On Saturday night, the Flames and the team they are aiming to catch, the Vancouver Canucks, found themselves at the same Tampa hotel.

  On Sunday morning, while the Flames travelled to Ottawa, some Canuck players took advantage of a day off to make the 3-and-a-half trek to Miami for the Super Bowl Game.  The Canucks play in Tampa on Tuesday.

  Since inserting 7 new players into the line-up (2 ex-Rangers, 4 ex-Leafs and rookie centre Mikael Backlund), the Flames have amassed 5 out of a possible 6 points at the expense of three teams in the Southeast Division.

   It might have been 6 out of 6 had fatigue not set in the 3rd period on Saturday in Tampa. After having their 1-0 lead taken away in the opening minute of the last period, the Flames lost 2-1 in OT.  Playing for the second time in as many nights and then losing forwards Rene Bourque (injury) and Ales Kotalik (game misconduct for not having his jersey tied down in a fight) in the first period, the Flames finished the game with 10 forwards.  After holding the Lightning to only 10 shots over the first 2 periods, the Flames didn’t have enough left to push back in the 3rd.

   The Flames ended the week back in 7th place in the Western Conference with a 3pt edge over #9 Detroit, still Coach Brent Sutter has is eye on finishing #1 in the NW Division.

   The Canucks started their 14-game road trip off with one win and two losses last week, allowing the Flames to gain ground in the Division pennant scramble.  The Canucks lead with 72pt. Colorado is second with 70. The Flames having played 2 games more than their rivals, have 67pt.

   Tuesday night, here in Ottawa, the Flames conclude their 3-game trip against a Senator team, which had its club record 11-game win streak come to an end on Saturday losing 5-0 at Toronto.

   Bourque figures to miss the game due to his injury, which means either Brian McGrattan will get to play against his old Senator teammates or Jamie Lundmark will draw in. The Flames round out play before the Olympic break with home games on Thursday and Saturday vs Dallas and Anaheim, respectively.

   The Canucks, meanwhile play 4 times this week. Tuesday in Tampa, Thursday in Florida against the Panthers, Friday in Columbus and Sunday at Minnesota.

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