By Peter Maher

Starting with Tuesday’s home date vs Edmonton and through to March 18, the Flames play 10 of 14 games in the Saddledome.

This won’t make or break the team’s quest to get back in the playoffs have a 2-year absence but it could make the final 3 weeks of the regular-season less hectic.

Six of the next 14 are vs teams the Flames are in the mix for the West’s final 2-3 available playoff posts. Three of them at home.

They also have 3 games, and potential 5, against team out of the post-season race. A home-and-home vs the Oilers and home assignment against Columbus. There are also home assignments upcoming vs Montreal and Winnipeg, 2 clubs just barely alive in the East scramble.

There also 3 contests with squads in races for first place in their respective divisions. Those tilts vs Philadelphia, St. Louis and San Jose are all in the ‘Dome.

Based on home games vs road, the Flame schedule over the next month is better than any of the teams in the scramble for 6th, 7th and 8th place.

With a solid record during this stretch, the Flames could make it easier on themselves for the final 3 weeks when they play 5 of 9 at home to end the schedule, hopefully not the season.

  After Flame games Miikka Kiprusoff is generally the last player to leave the dressing room.

  It’s because he spends extra time working off-ice on his flexability. Most days he works almost 3 hours on it.

  The Los Angeles Kings wished he’s stayed away from the Staples Center on Saturday for the almost 3 hours it took the Flames and Kings to play their battle for 8th place in the Western Conference.

  The Flames won 1-0 and Kiprusoff was the reason.
  The acrobatic goalkeeper made 28 saves notching his 4th shutout of the season and 44th of his career.

  Broadcasters like myself are running out of superlatives to describe the brilliance of Kiprusoff, who is having at least as good a year as he did in 2005-06 when he captured the Vezina Trophy.  If he keeps it up over the Flames final 23 games, the NHL General Managers will have a tough time keeping him off their ballots when  the vote for the top goalie.

  When Darryl Sutter made the trade for Kiprusoff in Nov of 2003 it never entered his mind that one day Kipper would beat him in a key game.

  Sutter was behind the Kings bench Saturday and could only watch in dismay as Kiprusoff turned away good scoring chance after good scoring chance including 2 late in the third period off of Mike Richards and Jordan Nolan.

  The win moved the Flames ahead of Sutter’s Kings into 8th place in the Western Conference.  Its the first time this season the Flames have been in a playoff position.

  Meanwhile, the game’s only goal was produced by Mike Cammalleri at 4:03 of the 3rd period.  It was Darryl Sutter that brought Cammalleri to the Flames from LA but after one season made little effort to sign him before he became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2009.

  The Flames break now until Tuesday when they start 4 games at home hosting Edmonton. By then they may need another win to get back into the #8 position.

  Mike Cammalleri wanted no part of the suggestion that the Flames should feel good about being tied for a playoff spot for at least a couple of hours on Thursday night.

  The Flames were out having a post-game meal when they learned that Phoenix had won 1-0 in Los Angeles dropping Brent Sutter’s crew back to 9th place.  They get another opportunity get to 8th when they play in LA on Saturday.

  For Cammalleri and his teammates its all or nothing after getting one points from a 3-2OT loss in Dallas.  No moral victories. The one point, for a little while drew the Flames even with Phoenix for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

  The Flames were having a post-game meal in Dallas when they learned Phoenix had won in Los Angeles pushing Brent Sutter’s crew back into 9th spot.  They get shot at 8th on Saturday in LA.

  Cammalleri did allow himself a little smile that the team rallied to get the point thanks to his goal with 5:03 left in the 3rd period.  Cammalleri, however, shook his head about missing on an open side of the net just a couple of minutes earlier on a Flame PP.

  The Stars won it at 2:01 of OT when Mike Ribeiro made a slick play inside the Flame blue line before rifling a shot past Miikka Kiprusoff.

  It was the first time in 6 starts that Kiprusoff wasn’t selected a game star despite making 29 saves.

  On a 3-game losing streak, trailing the Flames by 3 points the Stars were desperate for a win.

  It wasn’t the Flames best performance after two straight wins, but the one point they got extended their points streak to (3-0-4).  Given the Stars recent history when they take a lead into the 3rd period, the Flames had to earn the single point.

  Oct. 31, 2009 is the last time the Stars have lost a game taking a lead into the final period.  They are now 58-0-7 under those circumstances.

  It was the 3rd time this season the Flames rallied to get at least one point out of a game (3-15-4).

  On Saturday night as the Flames 3-2 shootout win over Vancouver, it was my 3,000th broadcast.

  It’s a milestone that wouldn’t have been attainable without the solid support and confidence given me by hockey fans in Calgary and throughout Southern Alberta over all these years.

  Plus, the overwhelming assistance from Flame owners, management, players, trainers and doctors.

  The great team work and friendship from all the folks I’ve worked with on broadcasts over the years.  The broadcasters, the technical crew behind the scene, sales people and radio station management.

  …And, of course, all of the sponsors that have been part of our Flames broadcasts since 1980.

  When I was in our broadcast location on Saturday in the Saddledome on Saturday night, surrounded by our Sportsnet Fan960 crew, I also wore the watch my late father left to me and the final hand written letter I got from my late mother. Both of them passed away before I received the ultimate honour at the Hockey Hall-of-Fame with the Foster Hewit Memorial Award in 2006.  I had the watch and letter with me that day to.

  That I’ve been blessed to have the good fortune to call 3000 consecutive play-by-play assignments without missing, I’m sure brings a huge smile to my parents, who when I was a toddler was quite ill and they wondered if I’d be able get through childhood.

  Its been a privilege for me to do what I do in hockey’s greatest league.  Something I don’t, and won’t ever, take lightly.

  It all seemed so surreal when in September of 1977, I went from my hometown in Campbellton, N.B. (population 7,000) where I was broadcasting senior hockey to broadcast Toronto Maple Leaf NHL games on radio. Then coming to Calgary in 1980. 

  ..And now 5 decades later, still at it. 

  Broadcasting hockey has provided great memories.  The Flames’ Stanley Cup win in 1989. The wonderful Flame Cup runs that fell just short in 1986 and 2006. Plus calling Canada’s gold medal Olympic Hockey win in 2010 at Vancouver.

   The only regret is that the Flames haven’t won the Cup every year.

   I know I won’t get to broadcast another 3,000 games, but my committment to the listeners, is to continue giving the best I’ve got each and every night I’m on the air.

   I have over a million people (fans) with their support and following to thank for allowing me to “live-the-dream” all this time.  3,000 thanks to you all.

   Now, if you’ll pardon me, its time to prepare for broadcast #3001 — Flames vs Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

  A slow start, a solid 3rd period but disarmed in overtime.

  That’s how it went for the Flames on Thursday losing 2-1 in OT at Phoenix ending a trip were they annexed 4 of a possible 6 points but missed a chance to get into a playoff position.

  As sharp and intense as the Flames were in winning 4-3 in San Jose on Wednesday, they were well off the mark in the first 2 periods against the Coyotes.

  By then they were behind 1-0 and being outshot 22-14 after getting only 4 shots on net in the 2nd period.  As GM Jay Feaster stated during our 2nd intermission interview, “there are a large number of Flame fans at the game but we aren’t giving them anything to cheer about.”

  That changed in the 3rd period when they Flames came out intent on playing one strong period and pulling out a win.  At the 4:01 mark, Ollie Jokinen continued his hot shooting with scoring his 4th goal in 2 games.  That was all the Flames would get against Coyote goalie Mike Smith despite some good chances.

  In OT, the Flames didn’t have Alex Tanguay, who was hit in the face with a puck in the first period but tried to play later before calling it a night.  Then Michel Backlund was penalized for tripping.  On the Coyotes’ 4-on-3 PP the Flames blocked shots before Shane Doan struck for the winning goal at 3:05.  Blair Jones’ stopped a shot on the ankle and was completely out of position hobbling around trying to help.

  That goal spoiled a good night for Leland Irving, who was making his first start in the Flames nets since the 9-0 loss in Boston on Jan.5.  He made 33 saves, admitting the first goal between his legs by Taylor Pyatt he’d like to have back.

  With Minnesota and Dallas both losing, the Coyotes climbed into 8th place with 60 points, two ahead of the Flames, Wild and Stars.

  Now its home for two games.  Vancouver on Saturday and Toronto on Tuesday.

By Peter Maher

In the best of the 54 games the Calgary Flames have played this season, the club’s Finland-connection made the big impact.

Olli Jokinen was part of all the scoring and Miikka Kiprusoff made sure the San Jose Sharks didn’t get enough scoring in a 4-3 win on Wednesday.

The Flames pulled to within one point of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with an opportunity to vault into the top 8 with a game in Phoenix on Thursday.

Jokinen, who had been goalless in 16 games before stopping in for a Big Mac last weekend before scoring on Friday ending his goals slump, continued his hot scoring with his 2nd “hat trick” as a Flames and also assisted on Jarome Iginla’s 21st marker of the season. Jokinen was quick to note a burger wasn’t part of his diet Wednesday. “Once every 4 years is enough.”

Kiprusoff made 34 save scoring his 300th career win becoming just the 27th goalie in NHL history to join the club.

Kiprusoff was especially brilliant in the 3rd period when the Sharks pressed for the tying goal with all their big gunners getting chances including a “scorpion” like stop in the game’s final minute.

To get enough wins to get to the post season, the Flames can’t have any passengers. They didn’t have any in this contest against the Pacific Division leaders, who they finally beat after 5-straight losses.

By Peter Maher

Miikka Kiprusoff played as good as he’s ever played in Anaheim but still suffered another loss.  This time it was eight-shooters deep into a shootout before losing 3-2 Monday to the Ducks.  It was the Flames 14th straight loss within the shadows of Disneyland.  Kiprusoff has been the goalie in 10 of them.

Prior to Monday, Kipper’s GAA in Anaheim was 3.91, but he was brilliant in this one.  He yielded a pair of goals late in the first period 1:59 apart as the Ducks secured a 2-0 lead. Kipper slammed the door after as his teammates mounted a comeback.

Alex Tanguay scored in the 2nd period and Jarome Iginla tallied in the 3rd to force OT.

The Flames succumbed 3-2 in the shootout. The problem was the Flames didn’t have any more players available who’s last name started with a ‘J’.

Ollie Jokinen and Blair Jones scored!!!  Tim Jackman was in the line-up but not available after a head hit from Lucas Sbisa in the third period.

Generally, a team coming back as the Flames did in this one would have left the game feeling good. But with points so important now letting one slip away meant a quiet 45-minute flight from Anaheim to San Jose after the match.

The deficit from 8th place is now 3 points for Brent Sutter’s squad, which faces the Sharks on Wednesday in place where they have lost 4-in-a-row.

  The Flames commence the February portion of their schedule on Thursday hosting Chicago in the exact same position in Western Conference standing that they were a year ago.

  However, the Conference landscape is much different.

  A year ago the trumpets were heralding the best playoff race ever in the West.  Positions 4 through 12 were separated by 4 points. Having won 4-straight games to close out January of 2011 there was talk of the hot Flames finishing as high as 4th and getting home ice advantage for the opening round of playoffs.  They were among 8 team vying for 5 playoff spots.

  In the end, the Flames faded wouldn’t make it to the post-season.

  Now with 14 points separating the #4 West position from the 12th, fewer playoff spots appear up for grabs.

  Where the Flames were one point away from 8th place a year ago they are now 3 in arrears heading into Wednesday’s action during which the Flames are idle.

  Breaking it down, last year starting February, the Flames were among 8 teams looking for 5 playoff positions. Now they are among 5 clubs seeking what appears to be just one post-season spot up for grabs.

  Los Angeles Kings improved play since Darryl Sutter went behind the bench has seen them pull away gaining a good hold on the #7 position and could well move up. The Flames are 8 points behind the 7th place Kings.

  So, unless any of the top 7 clubs in the West take dramatic falls, the #8 post is all that’s available for the Flames to be playing beyond April 7.

  The positive news, is the schedule.  Brent Sutter’s crew still have 12 games left against the 5 teams they are in the mix with for 8th. That’s 4 against both Phoenix and Dallas plus 2 each against Minnesota and Colorado.

  Little room for any lengthy stumbles as Thursday the Flames look to end a 2-game losing streak.

  The Flames did a number of things right on Tuesday, but as colleague Pat Steinberg so accurately put it starting the Overtime call-in show, “Moral victories aren’t any good at this time of year.”

  Playing the  NHL’s best team, the Flames took the Detroit Red Wings into the 2nd half of the 3rd period tied at 1-1 before the patient Wings pulled away with a pair of goals.

  The Flames had chances, but couldn’t solve Jimmy Howard 5-on-5. The only goal coming on a 2nd period PP from Mike Cammalleri. The Flames outshot the Wings, 29-25.

  Brent Sutter’s squad kept the Wing scoring stars off the scoresheet.  However, they couldn’t stop the lesser lights as Cory Emmerton, Jiri Hudler and Drew Miller scored for Detroit.

   The only good news came from the Subway Restaurant Out-of-Town where the Flames didn’t lose any ground in the chase for a playoff spot.  They remain3 points behind 8th place Minnesota.  However, a win would have cut the deficit to one.

  Prior to the game Ollie Jokinen advised, “We have to play every game like its a playoff game.  We may have to win alot of game 1-0 or 2-1.”

  However, a team still needs to score more goals than the opponent to win and the top snipers need to step up.  Cammalleri’s marker was his first in 5 games.  Jarome Iginla has one goal in 7 contests. Jokinen hasn’t score in 15-straight contests. Alex Tanguay has one tally in the last 13 games he’s played. Mikael Backlund, the #1 line centre now, has 4 goals in 35 games.  Lee Stempniak, who 3 games ago became the first Flame to notch a “hat trick” was injured late in the first period with a lower body injury and could be out a while.

  As well, the team greatly misses Curtis Glencross, who missed his 4th game with a knee injury of his own.  The winger, who has 18 goals tying Iginla for the team lead, is gone for at least another month.

  The most telling stat is the fact the Flames are 5 games over .500 in the Scotiabank Saddledome but have scored just 55 goals in  23 home assignments.  That’s lowest goal total at home of any team in the league.

  Another challenge Friday when Chicago is in the ‘Dome.

  There was once a time in the mid-80′s when the Flames played 13 games against the Edmonton Oilers without gaining a win.

  The Flames have a similiar domination going now against their provincial rivals.

  Lee Stempniak’s “hat trick”, the first by a Flame this season, on Saturday in Edmonton,was the latest Flame mastery over the Oilers.

  The 6-2 triumph marked the Flames 9th straight win over the Oilers and 16th over the past 17 games.  The lone Oiler win was their first meeting of the 2010-11 season when Edmonton gained a 4-0 win.  That was the night, in Edmonton, when Steve MacIntyre ko’ed Raitis Ivanens with one punch in the 3rd period putting the Flames’ winger out of hockey for a full year with a concussion.

  The only knockout punch thrown Saturday was the Flames’ total control  of the game, which started 6:48 in when Mikael Backlund opened the scoring.

  It was the Flames 4th straight win this season over the Oilers clinching a win of the season series for a third straight year. 

 Tom Renney, in his 2nd season as Edmonton coach, lamented after the Dec. 10 loss in Calgary that his club was at a disavantage in the first 3 meetings.  He pointed all that the young Oilers played the night before on all 3 clashes while the Flames rested.

  There was no such edge this time.  Both team had played their previous 2 games out of the porovince on Tuesday and  Thursday.  Both flew a little better than 3 hours to the provincial capital on Friday.  Neither played the night prior.

  Stempniak’s 3 goals and one assist with a +5 rating was the highlight for his line with Ollie Jokinen, who hasa 2 assists and Blake Comeau, who had a goal and 2 assists for his most productive night as a Flame.

  Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester had a goal and 2 helpers as well.

  Six points out of 6 would have made last week a perfect 3-game trip, but nobody was complaining having gained 5 points out of 6 keeping the Flames within a couple of points out of the 8th and final playoff sport in the West Conference.

  Now a Tuesday home classh against San Jose before taking a week off for the All-Star break.  Another win the departure on Wednesday will be even more enjoyable.