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Happy Halloween everybody, I hope you have a safe and fun trick or treat day.

Great sign from last nights game, after it was all over Eric Nystrom was being interviewed by Jamie Thomas (or Fabio as I call him) live on Sportsnet and Eric Goddard pied him. That is something that we haven’t seen from this version of the Flames in a while, with the Hard Hat and the Tie that was a team thing, but it wasn’t spontaneous like last night. Early in this season you do get the feeling that this te4am enjoys being around each other, back in 05/06 when the lockout ended this team was very business like, and while they were successful winning the division, they just never looked like they were having fun.

Will someone please explain to me why the perception is out there that this team has no secondary scoring? They are not the 1980 Oilers, but right now they have two lines that can score, and a third line chipping in more regularly. Speaking of which Matt Lombardi has had a nice quiet start to the season, and by quiet I don’t mean he has been invisible, far from it, I think the consistency in his game is something that hasn’t been there before.

Now with that said I still believe the defense has to get better. The questions that I had about the individuals at the start of the month have been answered, the parts are good, but as a group they need to get better. Actually I think they need to be more consistent, but it is early.

Marcus Nilson skated today after missing last nights game, it looks like he may miss tomorrow’s game versus Detroit.

What can you say about Kiprusoff last night, if that’s the goalie that will be here all year, he will be in the running for another Vezina.

As speculated in this blog on Saturday (I have always wanted to say that, now I have and I won’t again) Eric Nystrom has been recalled by the Flames from the AHL, don’t know if he will be in the line up tonight or not.

There is a buzz around town with the signing of Kiprusoff, most are excited and really happy with the job that Darryl has done in getting the deal done. Kudos’ to Darryl for getting the deal done, but with that said this has more to do with philosophy and less to do with rolling up your sleeves and ordering Chinese food and staying up until a deal is done. Quite simply if Darryl wants a player and that player wants to stay in Calgary then the deal will get done, no questions asked. As I think I said yesterday in my blog, the only downside to this deal is if you make the wrong selection on which your core guys are, the fact is you are essentially saddled with the contracts in the good times and the bad. The GM is the one who has make the call, he has and I said before this has more to do with the philosophy of Sutter then anything else.

No Marcus Nilson at practice this morning, which is a better explanation of why Nystrom is back. Nilson apparently came up injured after yesterdays practice and won’t play tonight; hopefully we will get an update later on this morning on his condition.

Lines (I bet they stay the same today)

Tanguay Conroy Iginla
Huselius Langkow Nolan
Nystrom Lombardi Moss
Smith Yelle Goddard

Regher Sarich
Phaneuf Aucoin
Hale/Eriksson Warrener

Kiprusoff Keetley

A couple of other contract notes, with Darryl Sutter in the Hot Stove Lounge yesterday we were able to make inquiries about some of the other contract issue facing the Flames. As far as Dion is concerned Sutter was quick to point out that as a restricted free agent Phaneuf is a different situation all together, the Flames will always have the final decision on him as they can match any offer sheet. My opinion on Dion hasn’t changed this is a guy Darryl will keep come hell or high water. Now on Langkow and Huselius Sutter was a little more blunt, despite their quick starts he wants to see them be clutch players when the games really matter. My guess on that is Langkow they will try and resign and probably will, Kristian may be the odd guy out when all of this comes to pass.

For the record the estimate that the Flames have committed towards the cap for next season is around 38.2-38.6 million for 12 players. I do expect the cap to rise next year because revenues will rise, why will revenues rise? Because you the fans have to buy new jerseys for all of your favorite teams this year.

Miikka Kiprusoff is now with the Flames for half dozen more years, 6 years at 5.8 is what we believe the terms to be on the deal. Miikka is not off to the best of starts, but I think the terms in the current NHL are very favorable for the Flames. That means the Flames have now locked up their core of Iginla, Regher, and Kiprusoff to long term deals, something that would have been unheard of before the lock out of 04/05.
The downside to these deals is quite simply the players don’t pan out, doubtful but if that happens you are stuck with the player. More on this tomorrow! Ohh by the way I think this is a very good deal for the Flames.

Flames are back on the ice this morning, numbers a little smaller with Eric Nystrom back with the Quad City Flames. The biggest question on this day for me is how do the Flames respond tomorrow night against the Predators. To say Friday night was some what controversial would be a slight understatement, I feel the Flames may have had their most complete game of the season but came away with only 1 point. The officiating aside, the team didn’t get 2 points versus a division opponent, in fact gave away 1 extra to Colorado. I find you can tell a lot more form a team after a loss then after a win, if the Flames duplicate the effort on Tuesday against Nashville I think that would be a very positive sign.

A big thanks to all who attended Big Party 3 on Saturday Night, congratulations to all of the winners, and my hat is off to everyone in our FAN960 promotions party who arranged it all. Just an observation, but I find at events like that that it is a lot of fun to talk to you the listeners about what you like and what you don’t. I am always shocked by what resonates with people listening day in day out, and I find it to be a real pleasure to shake a hand or two and put a face to caller, that sort of thing. This is why I will always take a face to face conversation over an e-mail each and everyday. I hate e-mail, you may have guessed.

We talked about the Flames schedule on Friday, and how nice it would be to get a little break, that ends tomorrow. Begging with Nashville predators the Flames will play every other day for almost 2 weeks again. The other note on the Flames schedule, moving forward, after this week when they play Nashville and Detroit, Calgary play’s 8 in a row with in its own division.

I would like to clear up somthing from last night, Tony Proudfoot color analyst on Montreal CFL broadcasts on CJAD joined me during the 2nd period, I have had a couple of people e-mail and ask if Tony was alright, I am afraid he is not he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Despite his speech starting to slip, he is still working, he is a great a man and ALS is tough to live with, my prayers are with him. My fault I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but clearly it came across in the interview, so I probably should have said somthing.

The Flames sent Eric Nystrom back to the AHL, with the Flames not playing until Tuesday they can save some cap room, and will likely recall Nystrom or another player later in the week.

Finally Ground Hog day ends tonight when the Flames play host to Colorado, funny enough Ground Hog day began with the Avalanche about 10 days ago. It has been prepare one night, game night, then prepare, then game night for me the last little while, so I look forward to a little break of routine over the weekend. I can’t imagine what it’s like for the players, the same routine day in day out, I am sure they are looking forward to spending some time with their families.

Would you be shocked if I told you that the Flames were 7th in the NHL coming into this game?

The Av’s have owned the Calgary Flames lately, they are unbeaten in 5 straight games daring back to last season when coming up against the Flames. During that torrid race to a playoff spot last year the Av’s really controlled the Flames led by Jolt’in Joe Sakic. The Flames of course had every opportunity to beat the Av’s 10 days ago in Denver with a 4-0 lead in the 2nd period, but I digress.

Just a thought on the penalty kill, struggling to start the season, much better though at the end of Wednesday’s win over Minnesota, maybe if the Flames took a few fewer penalties that may help out the PK. So far this season only the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks have given their opposition more power play chances.

Looking forward to Big Party 3 at Shanks South tomorrow night, it will be the first one the Pete, Mike, and I will be able to participate in. We will be doing some thing tomorrow night that should be fun and entertaining, make sure you come on out and say hello.

Lines for the game tonight (Ha Ha Ha Ha)

Tanguay Langkow Iginla
Huselius Conroy Nolan
Nilson Lombardi Moss
Smith Yelle Goddard/Nystrom

Regher Aucoin
Regher Sarich
Warrener Hale/Eriksson

Kiprusoff/Keatley

If I hadn’t been there, I probably wouldn’t have believed it, down 3-0 less then 10 minutes into the game against last years stingiest defense and they mount the comeback. In a span of just over 9 days they go from blowing a 4 goal lead in Colorado and then the comeback at home over Minnesota, this is fun. Two notes on last night’s game, it was the first time since November 1998 that Calgary had recovered from a 3-0 nothing deficit, beating LA 5-4 in overtime. Also a first last night in their 7 years in the league the Wild had never blown a 3 goal lead.

Calgary also answered another question, the thought had been floating around that the team hadn’t (couldn’t) beat a good team. After falling at home to San Jose on Monday, there were those in the media who thought the team was exposed and would struggle all year, they may, but then again its early.

Lines at Practice

Tanguay Langkow Iginla
Huselius Conroy Nolan
Smith Lombardi Moss
Nystrom/Nilson Yelle Goddard

Regher Sarich
Phaneuf Aucoin
Warrener Hale/Eriksson

Kiprusoff/Keatley

When the ongoing debate over the current structure of the NHL schedule surfaces in the city of Calgary, the same line is always uttered, I don’t want to have to see the Flames play the Minnesota Wild 8 times. Lost in that argument that the best games in terms of atmosphere and fan involvement are the 8 against Vancouver and Edmonton. No the scourge of those hoping for a more balanced schedule is the 8 times they have to watch their team play the defense first, methodical, trapping Wild. Minnesota came into being in 2000/01 and they have played the exact same style since day 1, it isn’t pretty and more often then not, it isn’t fun to watch, but it is effective. Minnesota is off to its best start in team history, and talking to their players it isn’t that surprising. The only coach the Wild have ever known is Jacques Lemaire demands a cult like devotion to his system, which you should never refer to as a trap cause that makes him mad, and much to my shock he gets that devotion from rookies to veterans. That alone flies in the face of convention, we hear it all of the time, ohh so and so team has tuned out that coach, or this guy has worn out his welcome. Lemaire is a different cat, he has no interest in what the fans, media, and his players think about his game plan, just do it or they will get some young guy to do it, it is that simple.

I may have mentioned this before, but in case I haven’t I just wanted to mention the work that Flames goalie coach David Marcoux does with the tender’s before every practice. They come out about 20 minutes before anybody else and work on a system of drills designed by and used only by Marcoux with his goaltenders. If you have a goalie in the family or coach one it may benefit you to come down and watch a practice one day, just make sure you get their early.

The Flames have had fairly good luck against the Wild in the past couple of years, they won 5 of 8 games vs. Minnesota last year, an interesting stat about the match up last year was that Miikka Kiprusoff started all 8 games and had a goals against of about a buck and a half.

Just a thought on Curtis McElhinney being assigned to Quad City, he needs to play and the baby flames play tonight and Friday. Will he get called up after a couple of starts in the AHL? My guess yes, but we haven’t had a chance to talk to Keenan or Sutter about the move hopefully we will do that today!

The Line’s – Get them here first

Tanguay Conroy Iginla
Huselius Langkow Nolan
Nilson Lombardi Moss
Smith Yelle Goddard/Nystrom

Regher Sarich
Phaneuf Aucoin
Warrener Hale/Eriksson

Kiprusoff/Keetley

Last nights 4-1 loss to San Jose should be the measuring stick that the Flames use going to forward, if this team is to move up to another level if they are going to defeat a team like San Jose who played one of their best games of the year, by their own admission. It’s funny with all of the rule changes, equipment changes, and other stuff they have tinkered with over the last couple of years the game still comes down to discipline. Not just the discipline involving penalties but I mean the discipline to play your game, execute your system, and to do it no matter where you are. The San Jose Sharks didn’t wow me with offensive brilliance, or a big bad slugging team, just a squad who was determined to impose their game on the opposition.

Calgary’s challenge is to evolve into a team that can do the same thing, sure their system’s are different and their players are different, but the goal should remain to impose your game on the opposition. As practice begins this morning Mike Keenan is putting a heavy emphasis on work ethic, that and consistency is what is missing right now.

There is an addition to the woodland creatures that inhabit the Saddledome, today I spotted a little grey cat running around underneath the stands, he/she joins the pigeon and the 2 sparrows that I have seen inside the building, and the two Geese that live around the parking lot in the back, who I have nicknamed Pete and Mike. Tell me what other blog is going to give you info like that?

Everybody is on the ice today including David Moss who missed last nights game, he could be ready for Wednesday. Not a lot of bright spots last night but Eric Goddard stood out for a lot of people, he is getting a few more minutes of ice time, he has turned some pucks over in offensive zone. For me the best thing about his game this year has been his willingness to go out and start things, last year he waited for other tough guys to come to him at times, this year he will go out and find you.

This afternoon on the program lots about last nights game and a little preview of tomorrows game.

Big win for the Flames on Saturday night as they routed Edmonton 4-1, if it weren’t for Rollie the goalie that game would have gotten away from Edmonton early. It came at a cost though as the Flames lose both Wayne Primeau and David Moss, expect Primeau to be gone 6 to 8 weeks (we could get a better timeline today), Moss suffered his 2nd concussion in the last calendar year, but I don’t think he should miss to much time. As far as the hit goes by Torres on Moss, normally I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, Warrener went out and challenged Raffi and to me that ends it. But, and a big but, if the NHL is trying to curtail head shots they should at least review it, the real question I have and it there may very well be a good reason why it wasn’t, but (there’s that word again) the league put in that rule to allow a 5 minute major for interference and it looked the right time to make the call.
I put a lot of time into downplaying the Battle of Alberta on Saturday, and then the game saw a couple of tilts the Torres hit on Moss, and apparently the visiting GM getting into it with some fans. I just hope that it keeps up that kind of pace for the remaining 7 games.
With the Moss injury the Flames recalled Eric Nystrom from Quad City on Sunday, for Nystrom he will play his 3rd NHL game tonight, his first since October of 2005. I am a little surprised that it was Nystrom that got the call, only because he was sent to the farm early in training camp, but Darryl Sutter did tell me that he has over 10 players he felt could be recalled at anytime. Mike Keenan has also talked about recalling players to fit needs, my guess is Nystrom will fill in for Primeau on the 4th line, I guess we will find out when they do lines. BY THE WAY David Moss is out taking the morning skate.
The San Jose Sharks come into Calgary with a 4-3-1 record, and are getting lit up by their local media and the national guys as well. It’s 8 games into the season, yes the Sharks are everybody’s sexy to pick to win the Stanley Cup, and they very well could, but the media has got remember(me included) the season is a marathon and not sprint. God we spend a lot of time in this business ripping anybody who we decree to be under performing.
Lines (always subject to change)

Tanguay Conroy Iginla
Huselius Langkow Nolan
Nilson Lombardi Moss
Smith Yelle Goddard/Nystrom

Phaneuf Aucoin
Regher Sarich
Warrener Hale/Eriksson

Kiprusoff

Well after all that pre-amble about Nystrom he looks like the odd man out, we will see tonight for sure