Flames Struggle Against Predators And With Injuries

After spending a good portion of yesterday trying to find the Calgary Flames versus Nashville Predators game, and failing, I’ve spent the day watching highlights and looking at stats from the game.  Oh I’m so happy I couldn’t find the game. What a pitiful game.  Flames, you do realize that one of their top goal scorer and number one defense man in the league is out with a concussion, right?  This should not have been such a pitiful game.  I know that you want Jarome Iginla score number 500, but forcing the issue isn’t going to work.  You saw it fail on Thursday against the New York Islanders, but last night’s game, where Iginla got two SOG in the 21+ minutes he played, didn’t work well either. The Flames need to step it up. There’s still a chance to turn it around, the Flames are not doomed.

With two more games on the road, the Flames have a chance to finish above .500 before returning home on Sunday for a game against the Minnesota Wild.  With the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins still to face, it will be an up hill battle after seeing them struggle against the Ottawa Senators and the Islanders.

However, the Flames will be in trouble if Cory Sarich and other players are going to continue this reckless playing style.  Sarich is lucky he only received a a fine with his hit on Erik Condra Saturday night.  As I’ve said before, in the era of Shanaban, head shots are not only dangerous for a players health, but also dangerous for a team that is struggling to field a steady team.  Flames cannot afford to lose a player to suspension, including Sarich.

Why is it important that the Flames don’t lose a player to suspension?  Well besides the obvious, the Flames are currently playing with six players on the IR.  Another player out would surely be a disaster for the struggling Flames.

• While Leland Irving is doing an admirable job as a back up to Miikka Kiprusoff, the loss of Henrik Karlsson to a sprained MCL is noticeable.  Irving is still adjusting to the NHL and can’t be relied on as heavily as the more experienced Karlsson.  With Karlsson out for at least another 2 weeks, every game needs full participation from every player out on the ice.
• In true NHL tradition, right winger David Moss is out with a lower body injury.  Nothing more specific has been released and no timeline has been announced for his return.  With Moss out, it is nice to see Tim Jackman stepping it up to fill in as a solid player filled with heart. Moss has been out since November 13, the night before the Flames had taken on and beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3.
• Also missing since November, the 30th to be exact, is Mark Giordano who is out with a partially torn leg tendon.  He is out indefinitely with this injury.  As a solid defense man, the Flames have clearly floundered missing him.  Roman Horak has been pulled up from Abbotsford to play, probably much sooner that the Flames had ever intended.
• With center men Matt Stajan out with an ankle injury and no return in sight, it looks like rookie Paul Byron will be up from the Portland Pirates for a good length of time.
• Brett Carson, a somewhat ineffective offensive D-man, is out with a mystery upper body injury.  Carson has only played to games with the Flames this season and doesn’t look like he will see much ice time if he returns from the IR this season.
• And most recently, Alex Tanguay has been out since December 22nd with a mystery upper body injury as well.  Losing Tangs at left wing has put a serious amount of pressure on Curtis Glencross, Blake Comeau, and Rene Bourque left to pick up the slack.

With six players down, the Flames cannot screw around with lazy plays that lead to questionable hits.  The Bourque hit a few weeks ago against the Chicago Blackhawks showed exactly what would happen, suspension!  Sarich is lucky that head shot of his only resulted in a fine, those are not taken lightly any more.  Player safety comes before anything else.

Go Flames Go