Iggy Pops One In As Joks Reaches Silver & Flames Beat Wild

Wow what a night to be a Calgary Flames fan! I’m a bit bummed that so much of this happened against the Minnesota Wild and not a week ago when I was at the game, but what a return to the Saddledome!

The night opens with Olli Jokinen‘s Silver Stick Ceremony as he joined the 1000 game club on January 1st, 2012 against the Nashville Predators.  As his family took the ice, the Flames played a wonderful highlight reel of Jokinen’s career and then presented flowers and the Silver Stick to Jokinen as his girls stood next to him.

After that, the Flames were off to an awful start.  During the first intermission Jokinen chalked it up to getting tripped up by the ceremony, but whatever it was, the Flames clearly struggled the first few minutes trying to pull themselves together.  As the first period comes to a close, I find myself nodding off.  Not because there is a 0-0 tie, but because for 20 mintues it was back and forth “hit-shot-skate-pass” repeat.

The second period was much the same too.  I’m sure you noticed it.  At that point I got my butt off the couch to do some chores as I listened to the game.  However, 2:02 into the third period things got interesting when newly recalled Lance Bouma knocked the puck in the net and gave the Flames the charge they needed to really get the game going.

From there, it took just a few minute over 6 to get the big goal.  The enchilada.  The goal all of Flames Nation has been waiting for.  Mr. Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla’s 500th goal:

Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla has had prettier goals than this one, but none will ever be as memorable as this 500th goal.  With the looming shadow of his goal drought finally lifted, hopefully this means the return to the amazing goal scorer the Flames fans know and love.

To add icing to the cake, Dany Heatley got one by Miikka Kiprusoff.  Kiprusoff lost the shut out, but Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla’s goal was now the game winning goal of the game.  Just a little bit more special.

As it was pointed out, Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla is the 15th player to reach 500 goals with the same team for each goal:

• Jean Beliveau
• Mike Bossy
• Johnny Bucyk
• Marcel Dionne
• Wayne Gretzky
• Gordie Howe
• Bobby Hull
• Brett Hull
• Guy Lafleur 
• Mario Lemieux
• Stan Mikita
• Mike Modano
• Gilbert Perreault
• Maurice Richard
• Luc Robitaille
• Joe Sakic
• Bryan Trottier
• Steve Yzerman

What an illustrious group to be part of Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla!  Here’s hoping the rest of your season is as magical as tonight was for you.

Go Flames Go