Calgary Flames Ponda Curse? I Don’t Think So

I wish I had no comments for the Calgary Flames tonight after that game against the Anaheim Ducks but I have nothing but negative things to say.  In a game that should have had some promise, well the Flames came up more than short, they fell flat on their faces tonight.

I think the best way to do this, so I don’t go all rage-y is to do a giant list post:

• Where was everyone tonight?  Up and down the lines, nobody brought their A-game until the last 5 minutes of the 3rd period when Jarome Iginla played with fire he hasn’t had since his younger games.
• The Flames PK?  Don’t let the stats fool you, there was nothing impressive about it.  The posts did all the work.
• Wasn’t Mike Cammalleri brought in for the power play?  When was the last time he did anything effective on the power play?  I was so excited to see Rene Bourque gone, but even Cammy can’t do his job right.
• Did TJ Brodie just feel like not playing tonight?  Seriously if he keeps this up, you might as well make him a healthy scratch Sutter.  What a waste of space out on the ice.
• Blair Jones, what were you thinking with your stick to Teemu Selanne’s face?  That was not something you could chalk up to an “accident” you clearly lifted you stick and swung at Selanne.
• What’s with this “curse of the Ponda”?  That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.  It’s not a curse.  Step up.  Play the game right and win no matter where you are.  Don’t blame it on some curse.
• Sutter what were you thinking?  The line up for the shoot out was a disaster!  Putting Olli Jokinen, alright and even Alex Tanguay was an okay choice.  But Cammy?  Iginla?  Brodie?  And then Mikael Backlund?  Who has no shoot out experience?  I know it went 8 rounds but there must have been other options!

So yeah, those are my thoughts on that game.  I am not happy. I’m not buying this “curse”.  And I wish Sutter would put some thought into the shoot out line up.  That was something the Flames could have walked away with another point.  Instead, they mark it up to the 14th loss in a row at the Ponda.

The two highlights of the game?  Iginla scored his 20th goal tonight making it his 13th straight season with 20+ goals.  Krys Kolanos showed up and rocked it during the shoot out.  While he missed the shot, Kolanos worked it until the very last moment, something a few of his teammates could learn.

Flames have a chance to redeem themselves and pick up two points on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks at The Tank.

Go Flames Go