Happy Thursday Calgary Flames fans! The team may have lost last night, but they’re so close to a playoff spot. Let’s check out some Flames news.
A win in any fashion last night against the Los Angeles Kings would have secured a playoff spot for the Calgary Flames. Unfortunately, the Kings had other plans in mind. And after arguments and bruises, the Kings would take this one 4-1.
Some interesting things happened in the game last night.
First, we already KNEW that Flames rookie Matthew Tkachuk was going to be fired up. After the last game with the elbowing of Drew Doughty which caused a two game suspension for Tkachuk, we knew these two teams probably didn’t like each other very much.
I mean, we didn’t need Tkachuk and Doughty to tell us this.
But even during warmups, there were conversations happening and you could tell things were going to stir up this game. What I didn’t know was that so much was going to happen within the first 10 minutes into this game. We have Tkachuk who got into a fight three minutes into the game.
Then we also have Jarome Iginla, former Flames captain and #1 in my heart, who got into a fight with Deryk Engelland. Iggy! What are you doing!? Stop fighting your old team! I have a sensitive heart! And BOY was this a fight. If you ever have a friend that asks you what a good hockey fight looks like, just show them that. I mean, just look at this:
(Warning: Blood).
I mean, 135K+ views in less than 24 hours? People love this kind of stuff. Especially since it was Iggy against his old team.
Iginla actually ended up having a Gordie Howe hat trick last night too!
If this turns out to be Jarome Iginla's final skate at Saddledome, can't think of a more fitting capper than a Gordie Howe Hat-Trick.
— Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) March 30, 2017
I’ll be over here crying, if anybody needs me.
But after all this, Iginla told Flames media that he’s not the biggest fan of Tkachuk’s comments off the ice.
Calgary Flames
Via Calgaryflames.com:
"When asked about Tkachuk, he was his diplomatic Iginla self.“I don’t know if I agree with all of it, so we’ll just leave it at that,” was the reply. “He’s had a good rookie season and he’s playing well on their team. An important part. He looks like he’s going to be a really good player. It’ll be nice just to see the battles on the ice as opposed to the other stuff. He’ll be fun to watch.“Obviously our fans, they’re not going to like him for a long time or ever and visa versa, but that’s the fun part of sports.”"
Now, I love Iginla with all my heart (as you are all aware), but I have to disagree with him for these comments. The only reason Tkachuk made those comments about Doughty in the first place was because Doughty had initially made comments about him.
Wow this feels like high school drama. Except these guys are getting paid millions and I cried before a physics final in high school. Moving on.
Some links surrounding the Flames to get you through your day
Giordano recognized for on and off ice work (Calgary Flames).
Iginla helps steal the show as Flames fail to clinch playoff spot in loss to Kings (Calgary Herald).
Brouwer peaking at the right time for Calgary Flames (Calgary Sun).
Backlund named NHL foundation player award nominee (Calgary Flames).
Some other links surrounding hockey and the NHL
NHL China games marks historic move to Asia next season (Puck Prose).
Time for NHL to get serious about ‘tapping’ (TSN).
Official goes all-in pursuing his NHL dream (Winnipeg Free Press).
Mock NHL expansion draft: Who will the Golden Knights pick? (Sportsnet).
Next: Elliott and Johnson headed in Opposite Directions
That’s all in this edition of Flames Daily! Thanks for tuning in.