Big Win For Flames Last Night, An Even Bigger Week Ahead
By Cait Platt
To say that the win last night was a much needed kick in the butt for the Flames would be an understatement. While their play was not the cleanest, 4 of the 6 penalties called on the Flames last night was due to sloppy play, it’s hard to not be excited over the 5-2 victory over a team who blew them out a week earlier 4-1.
The Flames finished up a very short 2 game stretch at home split with a win and a loss. While the 2 points lost to the Ottawa Senators was not ideal, they did come out on top against the leader of the Western Conference. In the long run, those lost points against the Sens might hurt, but right now it is more important that the Hawks were denied the two points.
Next for the Flames? A 4 road games to nearly finish off the month, the Flames next home game will be November 29th against the Nashville Predators. Here’s a look at their next two games:
It’s easy to think that the Flames will have a win on Monday against the Blue Jackets, however it should be noted that the Blue Jackets are only two places below the Flames. It’s not like the Flames are having this hot season where a blow out is guaranteed. Right now, they are holding their own against the Nashville Predators, tied 2-2 at the end of two the Blue Jackets have defeated the Predators in OT, racking up their 2nd win of November. The Predators are a defensively heavy team that are currently in 4th for the Western Conference and them falling to the Swiss cheese defense of Columbus does not bode well for the Flames. It doesn’t help the Flames that they will be on the road for that game either. It will be their 41st meeting, let’s hope for their 21st win against CBJ for the Flames!
After Monday, the Flames have a day off before they take the ice at the Joe Louis Arena against the the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. This will be the second meeting of the Flames and the Wings this season, second time the Flames head to the Joe for a game, and hopefully the second win against the Red Wings. It’s easy to discount the Wings for an older slow team (the have the second oldest team average in the NHL), however you mustn’t forget, the Flames aren’t exactly the youngest bunch. The Wings have adapted for a slower game, their skills lie in their ability to take control of the puck, a la Pavel Datsyuk. While the Flames aren’t bursting with youth, they do have the advantage of being younger, hopefully that youth will translate into running the Wings ragged. Playing the whole length of the ice, using the size of a player like Tim Jackman or Cory Sarich to play a physical game, and not allowing the Wings to get momentum through man or two-man advantages will be the key to winning on Wednesday. Flames need to step it up if they want to have the same out come from the 4-1 win on November 3.
Check in at the end of the week for more comments on the Flames 4 game road trip.
Go Flames Go!