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Wow, what a day all in a good way, as you are probably aware the Parody song, that Boomer had our producer make, after the Oilers loss the Buffalo has become a crisis up North. I will not bore you with all of the details, but I will say the NHL asked us to take it off the website and not play it again and we have agreed. It should be pointed out that the league was very, very, very good about the issue and asked us as good NHL broadcast partners to help them out, and we have. It should be pointed out that there is now no shortage of copies of it elsewhere on the web, which I guess we can’t control.

I feel for my good friend Jason Gregor the host of “Just a Game” on the Team 1260 who is a big believer in the Edmonton Calgary rivalry who has suffered the verbal wrath of a representative of the Edmonton Oilers, he is ok he survived.

I have a lot of respect for many members of the Oilers organization, but I am disappointed that they have chosen to try and be a bully in all of this.

For the record one of the reasons that the Oilers are upset is that their broadcasters are used in the song, we have access to those clips as we are an NHL rights holder, some of the stations re airing our song are not.

For the record I have found it very entertaining that “up there” they always on top of what is done and said on our station, yet I have no idea nor do I care what they do.

Let me answer the question that I am sure a lot of you have “But Rob what if they did a song in Edmonton ripping on the Flames using your audio?” Please, please, please knock yourself out it’s a rivalry and it should be fun. I hope that the next time the Flames struggle that they jump all over it.

Too the game we go, Flames looking to sweep the Predators for the first time in a season series, the Pred’s did it to the Flames in 05/06.

The Flames will go with the same line up as they used against Buffalo on Wednesday, Glencross had his lower body checked out and he is fine.

Interesting little tid bit for you after 47 games last season the Flames had 10 points less then they do at the exact same point this year. They are also 10 points better at home this season then they were through the same number of games at the dome.

Life is good for the Calgary Flames these days, coming off an impressive 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres last night, the local hockey heroes were put through their paces in an up tempo but short practice this morning. A majority of players hung around afterwards to play some games with the young guys taking on some of the vets. They just seem like a team right now which is comfortable in its own skin.

Curtis Glencross did not skate today, he was at the doctor having is foot/ankle examined after blocking a shot last night, Keenan didn’t know if it was serious or not, but he did point out that he did finish the game.

Interesting comment made by Sabres GM on Flames Warm Up in regards to the current fighting debate that is ongoing. He feels that fighting will be removed from hockey not by the NHL, but by grassroots hockey. He pointed quite accurately that the renaissance of skilled Canadian hockey players didn’t come because of the NHL it came because of minor hockey coaches encouraging kids to be creative. I know in our conversation earlier in the week with Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada, he feels very strongly that fighting should be on the way out, so maybe he knows what the GM of the Sabres knows.

Mike Cammalleri was asked by Roger Millions of Sportsnet today about the distraction of his contract, and again the player refuses to take the bait and remains tight lipped on his future. I believe him when he says that he won’t worry about it until after the season, the debate however will rage on.

Coming up on the show today I am very interested to talk to Bill Buckner, in town as the key speaker at the U of C Dinos Baseball dinner. One of the most talked about in the history of Baseball will be a very interesting interview I am sure. He will be on at 4:25.

Practice is under way for the Flames today with Iginla and Roy back on the ice, no Gerber though.

Roy and Regehr apparently are both still awaiting word, one way or the other, on league suspensions for their crimes versus Columbus, it very well maybe that there is nothing to report. There is no mechanism in place to tell the media that there isn’t anything coming, we know that they were being investigated but unless there is a suspension we won’t know.

From the department of basic math, putting two and two together, there is clearly something too the rumor of the Flames relocating their farm club to Abbotsford for next season. With Ken King on yesterday he admitted that Quad City is struggling and mentioned the Abbotsford rumors. Add to that Quad City’s claim to fame is being the headquarters for John Deere, who yesterday announced they are laying of some employees. Attendance has not risen enough, so it is a rumor that will continue to gain steam as the year rolls on.

Note the early start time for the game tomorrow 6pm, that’s awesome.

Flames back at practice today with out a few players, Jarome Iginla has been given a rest recovery day coming back from the All Star game. Andre Roy was also not on ice no word on his situation.

The general feeling around the league seems to be that Robin Regehr will receive some sort of discipline for his high stick on Dorsett last Wednesday in the game versus Columbus. No word at this point so it is just speculation at this time.

Brandon Prust is skating with the main group, albeit wearing a blueberry jersey to remind his team mates that he is inured and can be part of the contact in drills.

Just a thought on Martin Gerber coming to Calgary, I wouldn’t order your Gerber replica jersey anytime, I feel bad for reporters who have to follow up on out town colleagues rumors.

Coming up tonight between 6 and 7pm we will have an exclusive one on one interview with former Flames Coach Wayne Fleming from his home in Omsk, Siberia. We will hopefully shed a little light on what is going on over in Russia with the KHL.

Interesting sight at practice this morning, Rhett Warrener skating with the main group, you know all the phone calls to overtime I have gotten asking me if he would be back and I said no, and maybe he may be back. He didn’t stay out for the optional practice but just having him there seemed to boost his teammates.

Optional practice for the Flames today no Iginla, Phaneuf, Langkow, Aucoin, Bourque, and the head coach.

One note from the Blue Jackets room it appears that former Flame Kristian Huselius is a question mark for tonight’s game after hurting his wrist in Edmonton last night.

Bertuzzi did skate this morning and looks like he is ready to go.

Bertuzzi back at practice today and is possible starter against Columbus tomorrow, both the player and head coach were taking a wait and see approach to the next game.

A ton of media today at practice, it almost seemed like a play off game not sure if they were all here because the team lost two in a row or what but there was shortage of scribes and talking heads (yours truly one of them)!

A lot has been made this week about the NHLPA’s announcement of whether or not they will utilize the re-opening clause that is included in the current CBA. It is a forgone conclusion that the players will continue with the current agreement. While I feel very strongly that the current salary cap system has made hockey better for me, evening out the playing field for all involved, I am worried that the traditional frosty relationship between players and owners could rear its ugly head yet again.

I don’t have to tell you that the economy is in the crapper, and I don’t think that I have to tell you that the stories of economic woe that we hear from many southern states teams are true and probably undersold rather then oversold. I can also tell you that I have no interest, and I am guessing you don’t either, seeing another labor stoppage in 3 years, but as it stands now I can defiantly say that I believe we maybe headed down this path again.

Now is the time for leadership on both sides to sit down and plan for the future, they need to form a real partnership to ensure the leagues future is ensured. Nobody wants to talk about it, and I don’t blame them, but the facts are the facts the current CBA isn’t recession proof. If nothing changes it the next couple years from both sides then I see both sides getting their back up blaming each other when the CBA comes up and clearly there will be no shortage of blame to go around.

It is likely that we are destined to relive history, because that is always the way it has been in hockey. For once though wouldn’t it be nice if both sides recognized ahead of time that they need to put there differences aside and come up with a model that really would allow everybody to be profitable and the players to be properly compensated. I guess I remain somewhat of a dreamer.

Interesting conversation with Ryan McGill of the Quad City Flames as we discussed a number of the Flames prospects on the farm. Most interesting to me were his comments on Kris Chucko, the Flames former first round pick has really found his game this year. According to McGill he remains an eager student and is very close to making that jump. The Coach also had some great praise for goalie Leland Irving and forward Kyle Greentree.

There is a line up change for the Calgary Curtis McElhinney will make his 3rd start of the season. All of which have come in sets of back to back’s on the road the most recent was December 10th at Detroit. McElhinney is still looking for his first win in the NHL; he did get his first point in the overtime loss to Detroit.

I am a little surprised, but I like the move (for what that is worth). The Flames have always put a premium on divisional games and have on many occasions had Kiprusoff play in a situation like this. McElhinney needs a win to get more starts it is as simple as that.

The Av’s will counter with Peter Budaj as coach Tony Granato is running a tandem with Budaj and Raycroft switching off every other game.

No Bertuzzi for the Flames the 5th consecutive game that he will miss with a hip flexor. This is the perfect example of how the NHL’s non disclosure policy when it comes to injuries causes problems. We are told that he remains side lined day to day but that is what we have been told about Wayne Primeau who hasn’t been seen 18 games and we have no idea what is going on there, only that Wayne has a walking cast. You can bet the papers and radio will be filled with speculation about how bad Bert is over the couple of days.

Av’s are really hurt by injuries with no end in sight they are with out Paul Stastny and Joe Sakic both out until at least late next month.

The Av’s are playing game number 2 of a season high 8 game home stand, you would think that this series of games could determine their season; if they struggle at home they may dig themselves a hole that they can’t get out of.

Trade today in the NHL, as the Edmonton Oilers tried to relive some of their goaltending pressure by trading Matt Garon to Pittsburgh for Ryan Stone who is from Calgary, and former Flame farm hand Dany Sabourin, and a draft pick. Wait a minute Sabourin is a goalie, how the hell does this solve the Oilers goaltending mess? We will wait and see maybe Sabourin is on a two way deal?

One other thing on that deal how does the back up goalie from Edmonton help Pittsburgh?

The Flames don’t appear that they are fat and sassy after their latest win over San Jose, there was no way you can get any one of the players to talk about how good this team is in relation to the rest of the league. The only thing they are interested in talking about is their next opponent.

Todd Bertuzzi did not come out for the morning skate. Brandon Prust continues to skate on is own prior to the main group.

The Coyotes should be a very formidable test for Calgary tonight as they have just 5 regulation losses in their past 18 games and currently occupy a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

No practice yesterday for the Flames so it is all hands on deck for Calgary this morning from coaches on down.

Hot on the heals of last years Vandermeer and Phaneuf combo that we nicknamed Vanderneuf, we will now refer to the forward wearing number 4 as Vandertuzzi.

It appears that Miikka Kiprusoff will start his 15th consecutive game; you would think that McElhinney will play tomorrow in Denver, but the Av’s are a divisional foe

Lines

Cammalleri Conroy Iginla
Vandertuzzi Langkow Bourque
Glencross Lombardi Moss
Roy Boyd Nystrom

Regehr Aucoin
Pardy Phaneuf
Giordano Sarich

Kiprusoff

Same line up for the Flames as they do battle with the Sharks at the Shark Tank in Northern California, Todd Bertuzzi will miss his 3rd consecutive game with a hip flexor.

A lot was made of the Flames last visit to San Jose on Nov 13 the Flames have played 24 games going 17-4-3.

Talking to Todd Woodcroft Asst. Coach with the Sharks and it is interesting to hear him talk about how his team is just now waiting for the play offs to truly test themselves. Not to belabor the whole “Elite” debate when it comes to teams in the NHL, but I thought of this today we are essentially right around the half way mark and elite NHL team is now preparing for post season play comfortable with the fact they will be there. While the opposite of that probably means you are not an elite team, if you still consider yourself in a playoff race and can’t with every fiber of your being commit to extra games this season then you are not an elite team. Using that theory - San Jose, Detroit, and Boston seem like they are home and cool, not so much for everybody else. Just a thought!

Jody Shelly is a game time decision for the Sharks tonight, he was hurt a couple of games before the Flames and Sharks met last week, it would not surprise me to see him play tonight. Alexi Semenov is game but he doesn’t put the fear into anyone, watch for Shelly tonight.

The Flames begin 3 games in 4 nights, two of which are on the road, and of all of the things that have gone right for the Flames of late their road record has gotten the least amount of attention. Calgary has gone 7-2-1 in their past 10 road contests which has been a huge contributing factor to their latest run.

Just finished a conversation with Darryl Sutter about Mikael Backlund and the uproar that the young man’s club team in Sweden has caused over the last couple of days, which he thinks is unfair. Darryl was quick to point out that it was his decision that Backlund would play in Kelowna and that he and his staff handled everything above board.

Darryl was very quick to point out that Backlund needed permission to play in the WHL which he received from the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation late Sunday Calgary time early Monday Swedish time. That is why Mikael was in Calgary until Sunday and not in Kelowna. He also told me that the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation told off the club team telling them to essentially get lost.

Darryl cited the fact that there is no formal transfer agreement between Sweden and the NHL, but the Flames still informed Vasteras via a face to face meeting, a phone call, a text message, and a fax that they intended to have the player stay in North America.

Just talking to Darryl it was quite obvious he was most annoyed that Vasteras was implying that Backlund was not being honest with them when in the eyes of the GM of the Flames they did everything above board.