Iginla nets hattrick to complete comeback
 

Iginla nets hattrick to complete comeback
04.02.05 23:00MST

Flames defeat Blues and hold playoff place

Attachment 687373

Flames Captain Jarome Iginla (pictured) scored three unanswered goals to complete the comeback against the Blues in Calgary tonight 5-4. St.Louis had a commanding 2 goal lead going into the third, until the Captain's phenomenal effort saw them lose the game by one.

"We made a few adjustments, started matching our top line with theirs and it was too much for them." Said Coach Fyvie of the third period effort. "It's something we may need to do a lot more of down the stretch. We're in 8th place. We need to keep winning games."

St.Louis started strong scoring three in the first period to Calgary's one. Handzus scored on a breakaway on the first shot of the game at :22 of the first from Pronger and Hecht. Hecht scored one of his own at :51 from Conroy and MacInnis soon after. Tom Preissing of Calgary got his team on the board with a slapshot at the top of the circle for his 5th from Cammalleri and Gelinas at 2:04. Nagy responded shortly after with his 9th of the season at 4:37.

The second period was quieter with both teams trading one goal apiece. Brad Richards brought the Flames to within one with an unassisted powerplay goal at 11:23. Turgeon renewed the two-goal lead with an unassisted powerplay marker of his own at 19:39 to close out the middle frame.

The scene was set for Iginla who scored his first of three, on the powerplay, at 8:03 of the third from Boyle and Richards for this 22nd of the season. He scored again at 9:06 from St.Louis and Richards and again at 18:33 from Regehr to complete the comeback.

The year has been an uneven one for the Flames who are looking to return to the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. Many in the dressing room hope this emotional victory is a sign for things to come.

"It's good timing for us to start playing more consistently." Said Iginla, the first star of the game. "We're finally healthy, we're playing better. It's time to start doing the little things and start finishing games."

For the night, Calgary outshot the Blues 41 to 35. Calgary went 2 for 5 on the powerplay and St.Louis went 1 for 8. Calgary, who sit at 24-24-7, next host the Washington Capitals, after a week off, to finish their home stand February the 11th, while St.Louis heads north to play Edmonton tomorrow.

Giguere makes milestone win against Sharks
 

Giguere makes milestone win against Sharks
03.03.05 22:42MST

Flames sink Sharks 2-1

Attachment 687451

Flames starterJ-S Giguere (pictured with his idol Patrick Roy) collected his 200th win against the San Jose Sharks in Calgary this evening before 19,000 fans. The netminder stopped 15 of 16 shots that came his way as the Flames continue their torrid run down the stretch, extending their unbeaten streak to 10 games.

Opening the scoring was Flame Dean McAmmond who tipped a point shot from Toni Lydman at 4:28 of the first period. Glen Murray of San Jose later tied the game late in the Second Period with assists from Ekman and Cheechoo. Martin Gelinas iced the game at 13:43 of the Third Period with a goal from Cammalleri and Lydman.

"It feels good to get 200 wins in the NHL." Said the 27yr old netminder. "To be honest, it has flown by. I feel like I could win another 200."

With the win, Calgary has closed ground on 3rd place in the conference, occupied by the very same Sharks, making this an important victory for the team. "This was a tight game. We've been playing really well for about 3 weeks now and are getting really comfortable in these close games." Said Coach Fyvie. "We're comfortably in 4th place and we want 3rd place now." Calgary now sits one point back of the Sharks who have 74 points.

The team is also a remarkable 14-2-2 since the return of defenseman Zbynek Michalek. "He's really important. When he went down with that broken hand in early November, we knew we had to ride it out until he came back." Said Coach Fyvie.

The Flames outshot the Sharks 44-16 and 0-5 on the powerplay. San Jose went 0-4 with the man advantage.

The Flames next play the Stanley Cup Champs Blues March 5th in St.Louis. The Sharks return home to host the Boston Bruins March 6th. Both San Jose and Calgary have 16 games left to play before season's end.

Dallas sends Lukowich to Calgary
 

Dallas sends Lukowich to Calgary
04.03.05 12:30MST

Flames send prospects and picks for veteran blueliner

Attachment 687453

GM and Head Coach Dave Fyvie announced a trade today between the Flames and the Dallas Stars. Coming to Calgary is Cranbrook BC native Brad Lukowich (pictured) for Flames' prospect Doug Lynch and two 5th round draft choices (2005, 2006). Lukowich is a 28 yr old stay-at-home defenseman who previously won a Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars.

"Brad is a Western Canadian kid who plays the right way. When we lost Michalek it really exposed a lack of depth we have at the blueline. We hope this trade addresses that." Said Coach Fyvie.

It seems doubtful that Lukowich will be given the type of minutes who has become used to in Dallas, and will most likely play on the third pair with Tom Preissing. Lukowich will sure to become more of a fixture on the team's penalty kill.

Going the other way is Doug Lunch, a two-way defenseman who has spent the previous 3 years toiling in the American League.

It is not known if Lukowich will be dressed for the Flames game against the Blues tomorrow night in St.Louis.

Flames draw Predators in first round
 

Flames draw Predators in first round
06.04.05 13:00MST

4th place Flames host 5th place Nashville

Attachment 687967

The Flames will host Alex Ovechkin and the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2005 playoffs April 11th. Calgary went 3-1-0 against the Predators this season.

Lead by Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin, the Predators have qualified for the playoffs for the first time in their short 7 year history. Ovechkin led the team this season with 32 goals and 65 points in 81 games.

"We have to be careful with Nashville. They're a hardworking team, with a solid blueline and a superstar that can burn you when he's in the mood." Noted Coach and General Manager Dave Fyvie.

The Calgary Flames will be led by Captain Jarome Iginla who led the Flames with 39 goals and 71 points. It remains to be seen if Fyvie deploys his top-line against Nashville's or if he attempts to shut Ovechkin down with two-time Selke finalist Ryan Johnson and rookie winger Kyle Brodziak.

The Flames finished the season with 43 wins and 95 points to finish second in the Northwest Division to the Canucks and fourth in the conference. The Flames finished strong with 22 wins in their last 31 games, securing them home ice for the first round.

"This season was a tale of two teams to be honest." Said Coach Fyvie. "We really had a difficult first 3 to 4 months of the year. We were barely above water in terms of wins and losses. It really wasn't until late January that we started playing better and stringing lots of wins together. It was a tough year for these guys. It cost them their coach. It almost cost them the season. I'm just happy that, as a group, we've peaked at the right time."

The first round begins April 11th in Calgary.

Flames bury Predators in six
 

Flames bury Predators in six
21.04.05 23:26MST

Cammalleri nets series winner

Attachment 688089

Mike Cammalleri (pictured) scored his second of the playoffs which turned out to be the winner as the Calgary Flames beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 to close out the series in six games.

Calgary stormed out to a 3 goal lead before Nashville clawed their way back to within one. However, the Flames defense managed to hang on and send Nashville to the golf course, thus ending Nashville's first franchise appearance in the playoffs.

"This is the second year in a row we've advanced past the first round. It's encouraging, especially since we didn't start the season all that well." Said Captain Jarome Iginla who posted 2 goals and 4 points in the 6 game series.

Calgary opened the scoring with a point shot from Tom Preissing at 1:09 of the first period. It was his first goal of the post season and was assisted by Ryan Craig and Kyle Brodziak. The Flames doubled their lead shortly thereafter with Shawn Bates scoring off of a scramble out front at 1:43 of the first, from Brodziak and Johnson.

The Second period was a bit more even as both teams traded goals. Mike Cammalleri at 4:25 from Jarome Iginla made it 3-0 before Nashville finally got on the board with Fedor Tyutin's first of the playoffs from Arkhipov and Walker at 14:55.

Alex Ovechkin made the game interesting at 17:35 of the third from Zidlicky and Peltonen to make it 3-2 but that was as close as they got. It was his team leading 4th of the playoffs.

Calgary will have to wait to find out who they'll play in the next round, but as Phoenix has already upset the Sharks, all signs point to a potential Vancouver and Calgary rematch of last season. Vancouver currently leads their series against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 3 games to 2.

Flames face Coyotes in Round 2
 

Flames face Coyotes in Round 2
24.04.05 13:00MST

Ducks upset Canucks leaving Flames to face Phoenix

Attachment 688106

Jeremy Roenick (pictured) and the Phoenix Coyotes will face Calgary after the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim stunned the hockey world by beating the second seed Canucks in 7 games.

The Flames faced the Coyotes 4 times this season and took the season series 2-1-1. "We like how we match up against them." Said Robyn Regehr. "We've played well against them all season so we're excited."

Phoenix faced the 3rd seed Sharks in the first round and swept them in 4 straight games on the back of all-star goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. Jason Pominville leads all Coyote skaters with 1 goal and 5 points in 4 games.

The Flames match up well against the Coyotes who have shortcomings on the blueline. "Khabibulin is the star of the show on that team. We have to hem them in their end and punish him as much as possible." Said Flames centre Shawn Bates.

The first game of Round 2 begins tomorrow night April 25th in Calgary. Anaheim visits Detroit, Ottawa is in Pittsburgh and Boston is in Philadelphia. None of the top 4 teams in the Eastern Conference managed to escape the first round making it anyone's game in that conference. Detroit and Calgary remain as the top two seeded teams in the West.

Flames complete amazing comeback
 

Flames complete amazing comeback
07.05.05 22:42MST

Calgary wins 3rd straight to eliminate Phoenix

Attachment 688217

The Flames have done it. For the third game in a row under threat of elimination, the Flames beat the Phoenix Coyotes in 7 games by a score of 4-1. Leading the charge for the Flames was Captain Jarome Iginla (pictured) who's three point night sealed it for the home crowd.

"Trailing 3 games to one was tough. We were behind that eight-ball for 3 games. But we just stuck with it and started putting in the work and finishing games." Said the Captain who advances to the 3rd Round for the first time in his career.

Iginla's line, with Martin St.Louis and Brad Richards, kept Phoenix busy all series as the trio combined for 38 points in the 7 game series.

The series was one of momentum as Phoenix had a three-game winning streak of their own after losing game one in Calgary. But with their backs against the wall, the Flames won 3 straight, including a win in overtime in game 6, to take the series.

The Flames next play the Detroit Red Wings who have been waiting patiently after sweeping the Might Ducks of Anaheim. The Season series between Detroit and Calgary stands at 2-2 which could mean a long tough series for the two teams.

"We like our chances with Detroit. They're a good team, but so are we." Said Coach Fyvie. "We've played some good hockey this week and winning is contagious. Especially in the playoffs."

The third round is scheduled to start soon as the Eastern Conference final is set between 8th place Ottawa and 7th place Boston making it a series of cinderella teams.

Flames fall to Red Wings in six
 

Flames fall to Red Wings in six
19.05.05 22:45MST

Detroit and Ottawa face-off for Lord Stanley's Cup

Attachment 688300

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Calgary Flames 2-1 to finish the series in 6 games. This was the 4 straight playoff appearance for the Calgary Flames and the furtherest they've advanced since their Stanley Cup run in 1989.

For Detroit, they move on to face the Ottawa Senators who swept the Boston Bruins in 4 games.

"We're very excited. It all comes down to the final." Said young Russian sniper Pavel Datsyuk (pictured) of the Red Wings.

The Wings were a tough nut to crack for the Flames as they boasted a solid blend of youth and experience. Leading the charge is centre John Madden, acquired for Brendan Shanahan in 2002, and veteran centre Sergei Fedorov and standout defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom. The youth movement of Zetterberg and Datsyuk adds another dimension that makes the team difficult to contend with. The Wings hope to win their first Stanley Cup since winning back-to-back in 1997 and 1998.

For the Flames, it will be an off-season of decisions. Do the Flames top-brass bring GM and Coach Dave Fyvie back for another kick at the can? Or will the team go in a new direction.

Calgary Flames - Offseason Review
 

Calgary Flames - Offseason Review
21.09.05

Attachment 688456

The 2004/05 season was a mixed bag for the Calgary Flames. For the first time in two seasons they failed to win the division and yet advanced further in the playoffs than they had in the previous 15 seasons, ultimately losing to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings in 6 games in the Western Conference final.

GM and Head Coach Fyvie was renewed for another 2 seasons and he utilised this new vote of confidence from ownership by transforming the Flames in a radical way.

Already without free agents Dean McAmmond and Martin Gelinas, the Flames attempted to resign 30 yr old winger Martin St.Louis to a long term deal. The winger publicly refused, saying that he wanted to hit the free market in 2006 leaving Fyvie limited options. St.Louis was traded to the Nashville Predators for Centre David Legwand (pictured) and a 3rd round draft pick.

It is hoped that Legwand will replace much of what the Flames lost when they moved Chris Drury the summer before; a solid two-way centre.

2 time Selke trophy finalist Ryan Johnson was also dealt, for young forward Alexander Steen of the New York Rangers. The move was seen as an attempt to clear some space for checking centre Kyle Brodziak and replace what the team lost with the departure of Gelinas.

Chris Simon, a longtime tough-guy was acquired from the Capitals for Flames fringe prospect Geoff Platt and a 6th round pick. Simon looks to play the same role Georges Laraque played in Calgary the previous few seasons in Calgary.

The promotion to the bigs of former first rounder Milan Michalek and prospect Scottie Upshall will provide some stability on the left side. The new look Flames will no doubt miss St.Louis' production, but many point to Legwand and Steen as solid pickups.

The Flames resigned deadline deal pickup Brad Lukowich and stood pat on the blueline. The Goaltending tandem and Giguere and Conklin returns for another season, but many believe Giguere, whose contract expires at seasons end, is also looking to explore free agency.

It's difficult to know how this season's team will finish. So many new faces bring too many variables, but on paper the Flames once again look like a team to be reckoned with with this season's team appearing deeper down the middle than last year. Look for another 4th place finish in the West, barring catastrophic injuries.

Attachment 688460

Flames end Preseason with pair of moves
 

Flames end Preseason with pair of moves
04.10.05 14:30MST

Turco claimed, Conklin swapped for prospect

Attachment 688461

The Calgary Flames announced a pair of moves today before the beginning of the 2005-06 season. Marty Turco was claimed from the Dallas Stars on the waiver wire earlier today and in an corresponding move, Ty Conklin was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins for 19yr old Russian prospect Sergei Shirokov (pictured).

The 29yr old Ty Conklin has been the Flames back-up behind J-S Giguere for the previous 3 seasons. Marty Turco, a long time minor leaguer has been buried in the Stars' depth chart for years but has shown much promise over the previous several seasons. It was thought that with the retirement of longtime starter Ed Balfour, Turco would be given a chance with Dallas but he was exposed on waivers. The Stars have decided to stick with the tandem of Niklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez for this season, making Turco expendable.

"We saw a chance to upgrade our goaltending, and we took it." Said GM Dave Fyvie. "Turco is a good choice for Giguere's understudy. We're excited to have him here."

The 19yr old Russian Sergei Shirokov, coming from Pittsburgh for Ty Conklin played in the AHL as an 18yr old last season and produced a respectable 12 goals in his first year of pro. "Shirokov is a great skater and has top-six potential." Beamed Fyvie when asked about his new acquisition. "We're a little shallow on the farm right now with all the new graduates so he'll get a lot of icetime down in Omaha."

The Flames are scheduled to start the season in Minnesota tomorrow and play their first home game in a little over a week against the Stars, Turco's former team on Oct 13th.

Flames win see-saw battle with Avs
 

Flames win see-saw battle with Avs
10.10.05 21:57MST

Marty Turco gets first NHL win against Colorado

Attachment 688478

The Calgary Flames found themselves on the right side of a back-and-forth battle with the Colorado Avalanche and in the process gave their 30yr old rookie goalie his first NHL win.

With the final buzzer sounding, Mike Cammalleri flipped the game puck into the glove of Marty Turco (pictured) who's waited a long time for his first NHL win. "It's makes it all worth while. I felt like I was good enough to be in the NHL, and being stuck in the minors all those years was tough. It's a sweet victory."

The Avalanche started strong in this game, which was Calgary's second in as many nights, with a goal from Sandis Ozolinsh at 7:19 of the first period from Joe Sakic. Eric Weinrich later doubled the lead at 16:10 of the first with a wrist shot from Jeff Carter and Ryane Clowe.

The visitors got their legs in the second as they scored three consecutive goals in the second. Iginla with his 3rd of the year at 1:24 from Preissing and Richards. Milan Michalek with his first career goal at 2:55 from David Legwand and later Shawn Bates with his second of the season from Mike Cammalleri and Legwand. The Avs tied the game at 3 with a tip from Stephane Yelle at 17:01 from Weinrich and Foote to finish off the second period.

The back-and-forth continued in the final frame. Calgary regained the lead again 7:01 of the third from Ryan Craig from Bates before Joe Sakic tied it up at 10:38 from McGillis and Aaron Johnson. Finally, Brad Richards tallied the winner at 18:04 from Iginla to hand Turco his first win.

"The lead changed hands a lot tonight." Said Coach Fyvie. "We played pretty well on the road against a good team. We need to be a bit better away from the puck, but the effort was there."

Shots were 41 to 30 for the Flames. Calgary went 0 for 2 on the powerplay, and Colorado went 0 for 5.

The Flames have finished their road trip to start the season and head back home to play their Home Opener against Marty Turco's old squad on October 13th. Colorado remains at home to host Alex Ovechkin and Martin St.Louis of the Nashville Predators on October 12th.

Boyle and Flames burn Stars
 

Boyle and Flames burn Stars 5-2
13.10.05 21:56MST

Boyle shines in homeopener.

Attachment 688485

The Calgary Flames, led by defenseman Dan Boyle, beat the Stars 5-2 tonight in their home opener. 29yr old Boyle scored 3 goals and had 2 assists in the game that also saw J-S Giguere record his 11,000 save of his career.

"We played well out there tonight. It took us a while to get going and skate off the butterflies, but we are happy with our effort." Said Coach Fyvie who faced off against his former coach Paul Maurice who was behind the Dallas bench.

Dallas took advantage early in the game with a goal from Brenden Morrow at 1:06 of the first from Modano. The Flames answered back on the powerplay from Brad Richards at 3:24 from Boyle and Lydman for his 3rd of the season. It was Calgary's first powerplay goal of the season. Dallas retook the lead at 17:21 with a goal from Miettinen from Stoll and Horcoff.

The Second period was all Calgary as the Flames tied the score at 2 with a goal from Boyle at 6:16 from Milan Michalek and another from Boyle, this time on the powerplay, at 15:34 from Richards and Iginla.

The Third period was more of the same as the Flames extended their lead. Milan Michalek scored his second of the season at 10:16 from Connolly and Boyle. Boyle then completed the hat-trick, on the powerplay, from Iginla at 14:38.

"It was a great game. I came in tonight with no goals and no points and come home with 5 points. It felt great!" Said Boyle of his historic night.

For the game, Calgary outshot the Stars 50 to 24. Calgary went 3 for 8 on the powerplay whereas the Stars went 1 for 8.

Calgary next hosts the rival Edmonton Oilers in this season's first instalment of the Battle of Alberta October 15th. Coincidentally, Dallas' next game is also against Edmonton. The Stars travel north to face the Oilers tomorrow night, October 14th.

Flames win round two of 'Battle of Alberta'
 

Flames win round two of 'Battle of Alberta'
20.10.05 22:35MST

Iginla nets 5 point night in demolition of Oilers

Attachment 688670

For the second time in a week, the Oilers rolled into Calgary and limped home. Much like the previous game 5 nights ago, the Flames top line went to work and handed the Oilers a humiliating loss. This time it was an 8-1 rout, 2 goals worse than before.

Tonight Captain Jarome Iginla (pictured), an Edmonton native, was the one who carried the scalpel. Iginla scored 2 goals and had 3 assists and sent his childhood team back up Highway Two, battered and bruised.

Despite the number of goals, first blood wasn't spilled until the second period. Shawn Bates got the Flames on the board with his 3rd of the season at 5:31 of the second from Rene Bourque and Chris Simon. Richards doubled the lead at 13:14 from Cammalleri and Iginla. Richards scored again shortly thereafter at 15:05 from Iginla to make it a 3-0 game. Chris Clark ended the period with his first of the season at 15:59 from Steen and Boyle.

The Third period saw more from the Flames with their powerplay going to work on the hapless Oilers. Steen scored his first, with the man-advantage, at 00:54 of the third from Legwand and Connolly. Comrie answered for the Oilers at 6:30 from Nummelin and Chimera to make it a 5-1 game. Lydman of the Flames replied just over a minute later at 7:42 with a point shot setup from Oduya and Iginla. Then Iginla scored two himself to end the game. His first coming at 12:31 from Boyle and Milan Michalek and another at 19:34 from Boyle and Richards.

"This is the second time we've played them in a week and the results are the same. We didn't change too much." Said Coach Fyvie. "It was like a shooting gallery out there, the boys had fun."

The previous Battle of Alberta played on the 15th was just as one-sided as the Flames took Edmonton to the woodshed in a 6-1 affair.

"I think we're going to have fun this year." Said Iginla who has 3 goals and 7 points in the two outings against Edmonton this year. "Having (Cammalleri) with me and (Richards) has been great. He's really filled the hole (St.Louis) left when he was traded." The Flames top unit of Cammalleri, Richards and Iginla have thus far combined for an impressive 36 points in 8 games and Iginla leads the team with 7 goals and 15 points to start the season.

The Flames outshot the Oilers tonight 50 to 20 and went 3 for 9 on the powerplay. Edmonton's powerplay unit went scoreless, 0 for 8.

Calgary now sit first in the West with 12 points to start the season. Edmonton sits 9th. The Flames head on a 5 game road-trip with their next game facing the Dallas Stars on the 22nd of October. Calgary has already faced the Stars, beating them 5-2 last week. Edmonton goes home tonight to host Colorado tomorrow night in a quick turnaround.

Milestones hit in Battle of Alberta
 

Milestones hit in Battle of Alberta
23.01.06 23:00MST

Iginla hits 600 points and Guerin plays 1000th game

The Calgary Flames hit the road this evening in Edmonton and came away with an ugly 9-6 win over the Edmonton Oilers which saw a lot of penalties, goals and milestones for all those involved.

Attachment 690254

Longtime veteran Bill Guerin of the Edmonton Oilers celebrated his 1000th game in the NHL at the start of the hockey game with a short opening announcement. And then the puck dropped, and the game then belonged to Flames Captain Jarome Iginla (pictured) who played perhaps his best game of the season, with 4 goals and 6 points, against the provincial rivals.

"It was ugly out there." Said Iginla with a laugh. "Lot's of goals. Lot's of gritted teeth. We really hate each other." Iginla scored 3 of his 4 goals with the man-advantage and had completed his hat-trick mid-way through the second period. The Captain currently leads the Flames with 35 goals and 72 points in just 48 games. He has 19 more points than Brad Richards who sits second in team scoring with 15 goals and 53 points.

"To get 600 points in this league is an honour. It is an honour and a privilege to play in this league, with these teammates and in front of these fans." Said the Flames Captain.

On the other side of the building, Bill Guerin was equally thankful. "I'm a lucky man. I've had the benefit of playing in a market that lives and breaths this team. 1000 games is a long time, but it's flown by. I just wish we would've won the game."

In the 15 goal affair, the Flames at one point had a 6-0 lead, but Edmonton could never close the deficit anymore than to 3 goals. Other notables included 11 different Flames players registering at least one point, 7 of which registered a multipoint game. 10 separate Oilers registered at least one point, with 5 registering more than one. 10 powerplay goals were shared between the two teams, 7 for Calgary and 3 for Edmonton spread across 23 opportunities. Calgary took 25 minutes in penalties to Edmonton's colossal 52 minutes. And Calgary took 49 shots on net to Edmonton's 23.

This was the 6th meeting between these two teams with Calgary holding the slight edge at 4 wins to 2. There remains 2 more games, giving Edmonton a chance to tie the series. The next Battle of Alberta is March 16th, in Edmonton.

The Flames currently sit 2nd in the Conference with a 31-12-5 record. Edmonton continues to struggle with in 12th with a dismal 17-25-7 record.

Flames and Flyers make swap
 

Flames and Flyers make swap
03.03.06 14:25MST

Langkow and Demitra traded for Connolly, Upshall, and pick

Attachment 690526

Attachment 690527

The Calgary Flames and the Philadelphia Flyers made a late season exchange this afternoon, it has been announced. Coming from the Flyers are linemates Pavel Demitra and Edmonton native Daymond Langkow (both pictured) in exchange for Tim Connolly and winger Scottie Upshall. A 7th round pick has also been listed as going to Philadelphia.

With Demitra, Calgary is getting an offensive winger that can also play down the middle. Langkow is known as a two-way centre that can play big minutes. "We're obviously happy with the players we got today. With the new rules, the game has opened up a lot and someone like Demitra can really exploit that." Said GM Fyvie of his new winger. The GM was also keen on his new pivot Daymond Langkow. "Langkow's a really important player. He can do a lot of us up and down the lineup and gives us a lot of depth in a key area. He's an Alberta boy, has played with Iginla in the past and already has a chemistry with Demitra - they'll be playing together right away."

For the Flyers, this was a salary dump as both players have expiring contracts and the team is on the outside looking in for for the playoffs this season. Coming the other way are two players that will be under contract for the Flyers next season as they look to rebuild.

The second place Flames next play tomorrow night when they host the San Jose Sharks, who currently sit in 8th place. It is anticipated that both of Fyvie's new acquisitions will suit up for tomorrow's tilt.

Boyle nets hat-trick in win over Wild
 

Boyle nets hat-trick in win over Wild
21.03.06 22:45MST

Flames win 4-3 on the road

Attachment 690770

Defenseman Dan Boyle was the difference maker for the Calgary Flames as they defeated the Minnesota Wild tonight by a score of 4-3. The blueliner scored 3 goals, 2 of which on the powerplay, and continues his stellar season with career highs with 22 goals and 56 points.

"He had his legs moving tonight." Noted Coach Fyvie on his defenseman's performance. "He's been solid all year for us."

Mike Cammalleri opened the scoring for the Flames with his career high 31st goal of the season at 5:53 of the first period from Iginla and Daymond Langkow. Minnesota native and Wild star Zach Parise tied the game with a short-handed wrist shot past Giguere at 9:32 from Laaksonen and Bouillon. Boyle scored his first of the game less than 10 seconds later on the same powerplay at 9:39 from Richards to retake the lead. Minnesota fought back again to cap a busy first period with a goal from Mikael Samuelsson at 16:16 from Nordstrom and Rasmussen.

The second period was a lot quieter than the first. The Flames retook the lead for good with a goal from Boyle, his second of the night, at 19:11 from Regehr and Iginla.

Boyle scored again to get the hat-trick early in the 3rd to double the lead with a powerplay goal at 3:11 from Cammalleri and Iginla. The score stayed at 4-2 for much of the 3rd until Bouillon brought the Wild to within 1 with a shorthanded goal at 17:43 from Hentunen and Nordstrom.

The Flames outshot the Wild 50 to 20 and went 2 for 6 on the powerplay, though they did concede 2 shorthanded goals. The Wild's powerplay went 1 for 5.

The 2nd place Flames continue their road-trip by visiting the Blues on March 23rd. Minnesota, who sit 13th in the conference, head to Dallas tonight to face the Stars tomorrow night in a quick turnaround.

Cammalleri and Giguere hit milestones in win
 

Cammalleri and Giguere hit milestones in win
05.04.06 21:58MST

Flames beat Coyotes 5-4

Attachment 691038

The Calgary Flames faced the Phoenix Coyotes tonight and came home with a 5-4 win coupled with notable milestones for two of their players. Starter J-S Giguere got his 250th career win of his career and Mike Cammalleri (pictured) netted his 100th goal and 200th point.

"It was a good team win, and getting some milestones for the home crowd was a nice touch too." Said Coach Dave Fyvie of the team's efforts. "We're getting close to the playoffs and it's important to play tight and as a team. I think we did that tonight."

This was also the fifth straight game Cammalleri has registered a goal, as the young winger has caught a bit of lightning down the stretch.

For J-S Giguere, he now leads all Flames goaltenders in wins with 249 - one more than Mike Vernon. His first career win was with the Hartford Whalers in 1996/97.

The game was a back-and-forth affair. Phoenix veteran Keith Tkachuk started the scoring early at 00:48 into the game from Vermette and Koltsov. Langkow answered back with his first as a Flame at 4:28 from Oduya and Demitra. The Coyotes rattled off two quick powerplay goals. One at 17:02 from Harold set up from Briere, and the second at 18:39 from Kirill Koltsov from Briere again, and Vermette. Calgary answered back before the end of the first with a goal from Demitra at 19:13 from Boyle.

The second period was more of the same. Calgary tied it up at 4:26 from rookie Milan Michalek from Iginla and Cammalleri before Phoenix again took the lead. Shane Doan did the honours at 10:00 from Briere and Pominville. But the Flames tied it again. Mike Cammalleri, with his 100th goal of his short career, and 39th of his breakout season, got on the board at 17:18 from line-mates Iginla and Richards.

The third period tightened up as both teams smelled 2 critical April points but it was a hard-angled shot from Pavel Demitra that sealed it for the Flames. At 13:18 of the third, from Lydman and Langkow, for Demitra's 36th of the season.

Overall, Phoenix outshot the Flames 31-28 and the Coyotes went 2-6 on the powerplay to Calgary's 1-6.

Phoenix remains tied for the lead in the Pacific Division with the San Jose Sharks, but still sit 3rd in the Conference, with San Jose clinging to 8th making the points critical at this stage of the season. Calgary continues their strangle-hold on the Northwest Division as they lead the 5th place Canucks by 8 points with 6 games to go.

Mike Cammalleri will look to continue his goal streak as the Flames finish off their home-stand against the Wild on 7th of April. Phoenix heads home to face the Stars on 8th of April.

Iginla scores hat-trick in barn-burner
 

Iginla scores hat-trick in barn-burner
08.04.06 22:48MST

Captain scores 5 points in 6-5 win over Canucks

Attachment 691316

The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames were at it again tonight with an 11 goal assault that saw the visiting Flames take the season series 5 games to 3 with a score of 6-5 to solidify their position atop the Pacific Division.

Captain Jarome Iginla led the Flames with 3 goals and 5 points on the night and continues to dominate the scoresheet this season with career highs in goals (44) and points (110). Iginla also recorded his 350th assist of the night, and fellow power forward Todd Bertuzzi scored his 250th goal in the loss.

"Anytime we play these guys, it gets pretty intense." Said Iginla, who was the first star of the night. "It's a shame the goalies are the ones with the short end of the stick. Lot's of goals."

Brad Richards opened the scoring with a powerplay marker at 1:39 of the first from Iginla and Cammalleri. Iginla piled on the lead with an even-strength goal at 10:01 from Boyle and Cammalleri. Vancouver answered with two quick goals. Bouwmeester at 13:57 from Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and Henrik Sedin at 17:20 from Bertuzzi and Daniel Sedin to tied the score. Calgary regained the lead with a goal from Jarome Iginla, his second of the night, at 17:38 from Oduya and Zbynek Michalek to close out the first.

The Second Period was a bit quieter. Chris Clark increased Calgary's lead at 9:06 from Dominic Moore and Chris Simon to make it 4-3. Vancouver responded late in the period from Daniel Sedin at 19:57 from Bertuzzi.

The teams traded more goals in the 3rd. Vancouver tied it up early with a goal from Rob Niedermayer at 1:37 from Markus Naslund and Bryan Allen. Calgary regained the lead for good at 10:24 with Dan Boyle's 24th of the season from Iginla and Richards on the powerplay. Iginla scored his third from Cammalleri and Richards at 11:52 on another powerplay. Vancouver made it close at even strength with a goal from Todd Bertuzzi at 17:52 from Henrik Sedin and Dennis Seidenburg.

4 Flames registered at least 2 points in the game, to Vancouver's 3. Shots were 38 to 32 for Calgary who also registered 3 powerplay goals on 8 opportunities. Vancouver's powerplay unit went 1 for 7.

The second place Flames return home to face the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on 11th of April. Vancouver remains home to face the very same Ducks on 10th of April. Both teams have only 4 games left in the regular season.

Flames host Blue Jackets in first round
 

Flames host Blue Jackets in first round
22.04.06 12:00MST

Flames vs Blue Jackets begins 24th of April

Attachment 691525

After a successful 116 point season, the second place Calgary Flames will host the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is the first time in Columbus' relatively short history that the team has made the playoffs.

"They're a good team that had no problems playing us this season." Said Alternate Captain Robyn Regehr (pictured) on their first round opponent. "We went 0-3-1 against them this year, so we're going to have to change how we play them."

The Blue Jackets have built their team systematically through the draft in their first 5 years to accumulate a collection of exciting forwards Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Evgeni Malkin. Young American role-players like Ryan Kesler and R.J. Umberger round out the forward lines, along with former Flames foot-soldier Martin Gelinas, make this a team that can skate with anyone.

The only obvious weakness to the team is their relatively shallow blue-line corps that is absent of any big names. Frantisek Kaberle and Nick Shultz look to take on the big minutes along the blue-line with support from Anton Volchenkov and 19yr old Jack Johnson.

The Goaltending tandem of Manny Legace and Peter Budaj have performed admirably and make this team a challenge every night.

Calgary has been a strong team all year, with centrepiece Jarome Iginla enjoying a breakout season with 46 goals and 114 points. His line-mates Richards and Cammalleri have also enjoyed coming out seasons too. Brad Richards came in second in team scoring with 92 points over 79 games. Mike Cammalleri exploded in just his 4th full season of his career with 42 goals and 91 points. Newcomers at the deadline, Daymond Langkow and Pavel Demitra, add another dimension on the second line giving the Flames a lot of scoring depth upfront.

The Flames' Blue-line remains deep with Dan Boyle scoring 24 goals this season, and support from partner Robyn Regehr. The emergence of young rearguard Johnny Oduya, who has shown glimpses of being a top-4 defenseman in the seasons to come, means the Flames remain strong on the blue-line.

J-S Giguere, who has been adamant all season that he wishes to explore free-agency at seasons end, looks to start in net. The 28yr old has manned the crease for the Flames for 8 straight seasons with the last 7 being the undisputed number 1. Sadly, he is enduring his worst year to date with a career worst save-percentage despite the Flames being the second most stingiest teams in shots allowed. His Goals Against Average is also at a career high making his potential final year with the Flames a rather pedestrian one and could seriously impact his payday this summer.

Despite the 25 point difference in the standings, look for this first round to be a close one. The Flames failed to win one game against the Blue Jackets all year and will have to figure out a way to neutralise this exciting young team who are keen to make some noise in their first Playoff appearance.

Flames dispatch Blue Jackets in 5
 

Flames dispatch Blue Jackets in 5
02.05.06 23:00MST

Calgary outscores Columbus 24 to 9.

Attachment 691536

The Calgary Flames finished off the Blue Jackets in Game 5 by a score of 7-0. Leading the charge tonight was Flames centre Brad Richards who delivered a fantastic 4 point performance to finish off the 7th seed opponents.

"We didn't take them lightly. We wanted to play them hard." Noted Coach Fyvie of the quick series. "We went winless against them during the regular season and I think, more than anything, we wanted to prove to them who we were as a team."

The Blue Jackets boast a young and talented team but still has some holes as a franchise. The team's shallow defensive corps was on display as the Flames forward depth wrecked havoc in Columbus' zone all series as the Flames outscored the Blue Jackets 24 to 9 over the 5 game series.

Calgary will have to wait until the remaining series conclude before knowing their fate. As it stands, Detroit and St Louis both hold commanded leads other their respective rivals, Anaheim and San Jose. The 5th place Vancouver Canucks have already managed to sweep Nashville in 4. If St.Louis holds on and wins, along with Detroit, Calgary will face the Canucks, and the Red Wings will host the Blues.

In the East, only top seeded Buffalo has advanced with a 4 game sweep of the New Jersey Devils. Carolina and Pittsburgh remain tied at 2 wins apiece, as well as the Rangers and the Islanders. Ottawa leads the Habs 3-1.

Flames to host Canucks in Round Two
 

Flames to host Canucks in Round Two
06.05.06 13:30MST

Divisional Rivals set for exciting second round

Attachment 691537

The stage is set for an exciting match-up between the two top teams in the Northwest Division as the Flames will host the Vancouver Canucks in round two.

Led by the emerging dynamic duo of the Sedin Twins (pictured with Naslund), Vancouver has an abundance of weapons amongst their forward ranks. Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Patrice Bergeron compliment the two Sedins, making the Canucks a formidable opponent.

Vancouver's blue-line is also stacked. 22yr old Jay Bouwmeester leads a corps of solid veterans like Ed Jovanovski, Adrian Aucoin, and Mattias Ohlund that make up perhaps the best blue-line in the league.

In net, Vancouver's enigmatic Russian starter Ilya Bryzgalov keeps reporters busy with his unusual quotes. He has talent and is a fierce competitor, but may be the weakest link on the team.

Vancouver had a very sluggish start this season and didn't find consistency until after Christmas. This slow start, coupled with Calgary's very quick start, gifted the Flames the division, but Vancouver's play since the new year has been solid as the team finished the season with 102 points making the round a tough one to predict. The Flames won the season series 5-3 and are an encouraging 3-1 against the Canucks since Christmas when Vancouver found their game.

Flames win overtime thriller to put away Canucks
 

Flames win overtime thriller to put away Canucks
18.05.06 23:57MST

Oduya sends Canucks to off-season

Attachment 691603

The Calgary Flames beat the Vancouver Canucks in a thrilling Game 7 overtime and will face the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Final for the second straight season.

Johnny Oduya (pictured) was the hero as he scored the game winner. "It was a very emotional series. They are such a good team. I feel we laid it all on the line to win the game and the series." Noted the young defenseman, who in just his second full season has developed into one of Calgary's better rearguards.

The series was a tough grind as the final 3 games went to overtime. "I felt like each team took their turn with the momentum." Said Coach and GM Dave Fyvie. "You just didn't really know when it would swing.. and then it would and you're out of luck. Both teams played their hearts out."

Vancouver's special teams reigned supreme in the series versus the Flames' anaemic powerplay. The Canucks powerplay scored when they needed the big goal, and in overtime in game 6 managed to kill off a 2 minute 5 on 3.

For the Flames, scoring depth and 5v5 team play carried them to the slim victory. J-S Giguere also dug deep and performed heroics in the final two games of the series as he faced a heavy workload.

The Flames now look ahead to the dangerous Detroit Red Wings as they look to exact revenge on the very same team that eliminated them in the third round last season.

"We'll be ready." Said Captain Jarome Iginla, who shares the team lead in points with 13 with Brad Richards and Pavel Demitra.

Flames face rematch with Red Wings
 

Flames face rematch with Red Wings
19.05.06 12:00MST

Top seeds face-off in Western Conference Finals

Attachment 691615

Nicklas Lidstrom (pictured) and the Detroit Red Wings will host the Calgary Flames in the Conference Finals for the second year in a row. This time the Flames are the no.2 seed in the conference making this a clash of the titans in the west.

The season series this year was a tight affair with Detroit again claiming the edge going being the Flames 3 times, twice in regulation.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg again lead the team for Detroit, with longtime veterans Chelios, Fedorov and Bondra in support. Detroit has had little trouble in the post-season thus far as both of their previous rounds were concluded in 5 games each.

Calgary had a slightly tougher route to the Conference Finals as the Vancouver Canucks took the Flames to 7 games.

Expect a tight affair in this round but Calgary will be without the services of Detroit native David Legwand who is out nursing a sore achilles tendon. Kyle Brodziak is expected to slide back into the 3rd line centre role and attempt to shutdown Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

In the East, first place Buffalo and second place Carolina face-off in a mirror image of the West in a battle of top teams.

Detroit hosts the first game tomorrow, 20th of May.

Detroit sweeps Flames and return to the Finals
 

Detroit sweeps Flames and return to the Finals
27.05.06 23:45MST

Red Wings stamp ticket to Stanley Cup for third straight year

Attachment 691813

The Detroit Red Wings continued their post-season dominance and easily dispatched the Flames in 4 straight games this evening with a game 4 score of 6-2. The Flames had no answer for Detroit's elite players Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom.

Hardly able to contain his disappoint, GM and Coach Dave Fyvie addressed the media. "We tried a few things for sure, but when you're down a key guy like Legwand who is so important to your team, it's hard. Detroit just doesn't make any mistakes and feasts all night on yours."

The Flames trailed in every game in the short series and looked listless at times. J-S Giguere, a pending free agent, was the lone shining light in the series for the Flames at times that saw the Flames offensive depth appearing ineffective throughout the 4 games.

The Flames face a few questions this off-season. Giguere and Toni Lydman are both key players that have refused to discuss any contract extensions with the Flames front-office and appear eager to test the Free-agent market. Their absence will test the depth of the Flames depth chart going forward.

For Detroit, this is the 3rd straight year they have made the Finals, winning a Cup in 2004. Signs point to a Carolina opponent as the Hurricanes lead the Sabres 3 game to 1 as of tonight.

2006/07 Season Preview - Calgary Flames
 

2006/07 Season Preview - Calgary Flames
20.09.06 12:00MST

Two-time Western Conference Finalists try to get over hump

Attachment 691852

The 2005/06 edition of the Calgary Flames saw the team jump in the standings to once again reign supreme over the Northwest Division with 116 points, one point shy of their 117 point 1989 season which saw them last raise the Stanley Cup. And again, the Flames found themselves battling in the Western Conference Finals with the highly touted Detroit Red Wings. And sadly again, the Flames failed to get over the hump and make it to the finals.

Now of course we know that the 'hump' isn't just something to roll over. In this instance, it is a well-oiled machine that ultimately won Lord Stanley's cup for the second time in 3 years and is led by the generational talent that is Niklas Lidstrom. For the Flames to beat the Wings, they need to get better. The question is, did they?

In short, no. The Flames lost two critical members of last year's squad to free-agency. J-S Giguere, the team leader in Goals Against Average, Career wins, and Save Percentage refused to entertain remaining with the Flames and signed a lucrative deal with the St.Louis Blues. Toni Lydman, longtime #3 d-man signed a 3 year deal with the re-building Dallas Stars and was named Captain upon arrival.

In their place the Flames have looking internally. Marty Turco, a longtime minor league Goalie has inherited the number one role and has yet to prove he can take on the workload. The Flames front office is confident he can manage the role and with GM Fyvie in his last year of his current contract, may well put his job on the line with this gamble.

Johnny Oduya, a second round draft pick in 2000, has been tabbed to fill in Lydman's longtime role on the second defensive pairing with Zbynek Michalek. Oduya's game doesn't resemble Lydman's in any way, but his offensive awareness and superior mobility add a dimension that was always missing from the second pairing and compliments Michalek's game in a way Lydman never could.

The Forward ranks largely remain the same. After the acquisition of Demitra and Langkow, who were both on expiring contracts, Fyvie re-upped the tandem to affordable contracts cementing the team's offensive depth for the foreseeable future. This is the second year in a row that Fyvie's deadline deals turned out to be long-term solutions as Brad Lukowich was acquired and thus signed longterm shortly thereafter.

The Flames are deep upfront with speed, grit and skill. They posses a solid blue-line that strikes a balance of puck-movers and crease-clearers. It is ultimately the Goaltending that is the question mark. Will Turco manage to handle the workload, or will the Flame be forced to win in spite of their man between the pipes?

All in all, the Flames should still remain a contender to win the division, as both Edmonton and Colorado have begun over-due rebuilds. Minnesota can perhaps challenge for a playoff spot which leaves the formidable Vancouver Canucks as Calgary's only threat within the NorthWest Division.

Flames grab pair off of waivers
 

Flames grab pair off if waivers
03.10.06 12:00MST

Roloson and Sutton join Flames for 06/07 season

Attachment 691853

The Calgary Flames announced a pair of waiver acquisitions today on the cusp of the regular season. Eager to upgrade his goaltending tandem, GM Dave Fyvie plucked veteran and former Flame draft pick Dwayne Roloson (pictured) from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stay-at-home defenseman Andy Sutton, recently signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs was plucked off the wire as the Leafs attempted to sneak the veteran down to the minors.

"(Roloson) is a legitimate talent. He and Turco really solidify the position for us." Noted Fyvie. "And Sutton fits in well with what we are looking for. He adds some sand-paper in front of the net."

The Flames are coming off their best pre-season in recent memory as they went 7-0-0 and are excited to play for keeps. The season for Calgary starts against the rival Oilers in Edmonton October 5th. Their home-opener comes shortly afterwards against the same Oilers October 7th.

Iginla scores 4 in rout over Vancouver
 

Iginla scores 4 in rout over Vancouver
9.12.06 23:00MST

Flames pile on Canucks in 7-1 drubbing

Attachment 692553

The Vancouver Canucks were left to lick their wounds tonight in Calgary as Jarome Iginla and the Flames pounded them into submission. The Captain led the way with a 4 goal affair that set the tone for the evening.

"This was a fun game. They're right behind us in the standings, so we had to give them our best." Noted the Captain who leads the Flames with 17 goals and 31 points just 27 games.

For the Canucks, this was their second game in as many nights. They hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 win the previous evening and flew to Calgary for tonight's tilt first thing this morning. "We can't blame fatigue tonight. We just weren't ready." Said longtime Canuck Todd Bertuzzi.

Jarome Iginla opened the scoring tonight on the powerplay at 8:26 of the first from Oduya and Boyle. He doubled the lead just over a minute later at 9:38 from Demitra.

The second period was a quiet one as Iginla finished the hat-trick at 13:48 from Zbynek Michalek and Richards to make it a 3-0 game.

The Flames scored 4 more in the 3rd. Langkow got his 9th at 8:53 from Lukowich. Iginla got his 4th of the night at 13:18 from Lukowich and Demitra. And Kyle Brodziak chipped one past Henrick Karlsson to make it 6-0 at 14:09 from Lukowich. Patrice Bergeron got the Canucks on the board at 15:14 from Yip and Jovanovski to make it 6-1 before Dominic Moore got a short-handed break-away goal from Regehr and Milan Michalek at 17:42 to ice the game.

For Calgary it was another game were the dramatically out-shot their opposition. This time the margin was 35 -20 against a formidable Canucks team. Calgary went 1 for 2 on the powerplay and the Canucks went 0 for 2 with the man-advantage.

Calgary currently sits first in the Northwest Division with 36 points. Vancouver remains second with 34. The Flames have 3 games in hand.

The Flames host the Wild December 12th and hope to extend their winning streak to an even 10 games. The Canucks return home to host the Phoenix Coyotes December 12th.

Iginla nets 3 in Boxing Day bout
 

Iginla nets 3 in Boxing Day bout
26.12.06

Calgary pounds Canucks 7-3

Attachment 692755

Call it a late Christmas present, or a Boxing Day deal, but either way Jarome Iginla will take it. The Calgary Flames Captain led the way tonight over the Vancouver Canucks with 3 goals and 6 points.

"This is the new rivalry right now." Said Iginla. "We're fighting for the division, we played a rough series last year in the playoffs. We're neck and neck and it's only December."

The Flames opened the scoring with none other than Iginla at 15:07 of the first period from Demitra and Boyle. Brodziak doubled the lead later at 18:59 from Steen and Legwand for his 4th of the season.

The Second was a more back-and-forth affair as the Canucks got their feet moving. Daniel Sedin potted his 23rd of the season on the powerplay at 3:30 from brother Henrik to get the visitors within one. Demitra scored a powerplay goal of his own from Iginla and Boyle at 5:06. Iginla then scored his second of the night, on the powerplay, from Richards and Cammalleri at 8:21. Vancouver then fought to get back within one with two quick goals. Bertuzzi from Ohlund and Jovanovski at 12:16, and Jussi Jokinen from Bouwmeester and Aucoin at 14:05. But that's as close as Vancouver would get.

The Flames powerplay went to work in the 3rd to seal the game. Mike Cammalleri scored his 15th and 16th on two seperate powerplays at 9:11 and 12:07 from Richards and Iginla (2). Jarome then iced the game at 15:03 for his third of the night from Richards and Boyle.

Calgary outshot the Canucks 46 to 26. The Flames man-advantage went 4 for 8 whereas Vancouver's powerplay went a respectable 2 for 5.

With the win, Calgary has tied the season series at 2 wins apiece. Iginla, for his efforts, has scored 7 goals and 3 assists in the 4 games.

The two teams get to do it all over again tomorrow night in Vancouver, making this round one in a Holiday Season special.

Flames sweep Home and Home series
 

Flames sweep Home and Home series
27.12.06

Cammalleri scores 3 in 6-4 win over Vancouver

Attachment 692768

For the second night in a row, the Calgary Flames defeated the Vancouver Canucks in a heated division slug-fest. Mike Cammalleri (pictured) took his turn to lead the Flames in the victory with an impressive 3 goal performance to grab the first star selection.

"To be able to win against this team on the road is a big deal." Noted the pint-sized forward. "These games mean so much down the stretch. They're a contender but we like our chances against them."

This was the second night in a row that the two teams faced-off against one another and like the previous night, Calgary counted themselves as the winner with a phenomenal individual performance from one of their top players.

Tom Preissing got the ball rolling in the first with his 3rd of the season from Iginla and Lukowich at 2:22 of the first. Mike Cammalleri doubled the lead with his first of 3 on the night at 13:52 from Milan Michalek and Langkow to close out the first.

The second period was a bit more even as both teams traded goals. Henrik Sedin got his team on the board on the powerplay from brother Daniel and Jussi Jokinen to make it 2-1. Cammalleri answered back with a powerplay goal of his own at 10:39 from Iginla and Boyle. Legwand piled on with his 5th of the year at 12:40 from Brodziak to give the visitors a 3 goal lead. Vancouver responded at 17:33 from Aucoin with a point shot assisted by the Sedin twins to close out the second.

The third was more of the same. Iginla scored his first of the night from Andy Sutton at 6:08 of the third period. Naslund answered back at 7:25 to keep the Canucks within 2 from Bergeron and former Flame Derek Morris. Vancouver scored again at 9:22 to get the game within one as Henrik Sedin scored his second of the night from Jokinen and his brother Daniel. Cammalleri sealed the game with his 3rd of the night from Boyle at 12:43 to re-establish the 2 goal lead. The Canucks pushed hard in the late moments but couldn't complete the comeback handing the Flames their second win in as many nights.

Tonight the Canucks led the shot count, outshooting the Flames 42 to 38. Vancouver went 2 for 5 on the powerplay whereas the flames went 1 for 5.

This was the fifth meeting between the two teams with the Flames holding the slight edge with 3 wins and 2 losses. Vancouver still remains atop the division with 45 points to Calgary's 44, but the Flames have 3 games in hand.

Vancouver's next game is against the Oilers in Edmonton December 30th. Calgary's next game is against the Los Angeles Kings in Calgary, December 29th.

Cammalleri scores 5 points in BoA
 

Cammalleri scores 5 points in BoA
13.01.07 23:00MST

Flames down Oilers 6-2

Attachment 692976

The Flames won another edition of the Battle of Alberta thanks to the contributions of Calgary's topline of Iginla, Richards, and tonight's first star selection Mike Cammalleri (pictured).

"We've won the last three against these guys since losing the first two, so we're happy." Said the diminutive winger. "I think we're peaking at the right time and taking pride in our game."

Cammalleri's Flames are on a good run and have won 9 of their last 10 and currently lead the Northwest Division by 3 points over the Vancouver Canucks. Many around the team credit the special teams for improving the Flames' fortunes.

The Flames opened the scoring in the second period with a powerplay goal from Dan Boyle at 12:52 from Demitra for his 10th of the season. Cammalleri scored his first of three shortly afterwards from Richards at 12:56 to double the lead.

The Third Period began with the Oilers answering back. Longtime Oiler Ryan Smyth buried his 15th of the year, and 600th point of his career, from Moen and Versteeg at 3:27 to close the lead to one. Richards responded shortly afterwards with a powerplay goal at 4:01 from Cammalleri. Versteeg responded with a powerplay goal, his first of the season, at 6:04 from Ebbett and Nummelin to keep the Oilers within one. Then the Flames piled on. Cammalleri, from Richards and Demitra at 9:54 made it 4-2. Sutton from Iginla and Cammalleri at 10:46 made it 5-2. And Finally Cammalleri completed the hat-trick and 19:01 from Iginla and Richards finished the scoring at 6-2.

Calgary's top unit combined for a whopping 11 points between the 3 players. Coach Fyvie was encouraged by the results. "I decided to reunite them a few games ago and send (Demitra) back to Langkow's line. It's worked out really well for everyone to be honest. They're familiar with each other and makes us a dangerous team." Said Coach Fyvie.

The Flames outshot the Oilers 28-25 and went 2 for 5 on the powerplay. Edmonton went 1 for 6 with the man advantage.

Calgary next plays the first place Predators in Nashville January 15th. Edmonton travels to Minnesota to face the Wild, January 16th in another divisional matchup.

Playoff Preview: Kings vs Flames
 

Playoff Preview: Kings vs Flames
13.04.07 12:00MST

Los Angeles visits the Flames in Round One

Attachment 693658

The Opening round of the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs begins tomorrow night between the second seeded Calgary Flames and the seventh seeded Los Angeles Kings. The story of this matchup surrounds who's missing in the lineup between these two teams.

The Flames lost their number one defenseman with a fractured cheekbone in the last Battle of Alberta, and second last game of the season. The injury has Boyle on the sidelines from at least another two weeks ensuring that the Flames will have to make do without him. In his stead, GM Fyvie has promoted prospect defenseman Matt Niskanen from Omaha to fill in. Niskanen plays on the right side and is adept at running a powerplay, but keep expectations low five on five as he is only 20 years old.

For Los Angeles, their number one centre Sidney Crosby is out indefinitely with a torn elbow ligament. The future, and present, face of the franchise has been sidelined since March 21st. The injury deeply impacts the Kings' depth down the middle and may allow the Flames to better contain Los Angeles' speedy wingers.

Calgary held an edge all season against the kings, defeating them in all 4 regular season matchups. Both teams are quite similar on paper with quick wingers up and down the lineup and a solid blueline. Both teams also have short-comings in net.

Turco has received exceptional team defence this season illustrated by his stingy Goals Against Average of 2.28 which ranks second in the league. His meagre Save Percentage of .906 tells a different story. No matter how tight the Flames have played this season, Turco continues to allow his fair share of soft goals.

On Los Angeles, Cam Talbot and Jason Bacashihua show a lot of promise but seem too overwhelmed by NHL shooters at times suggesting that both goalies are over their heads and should both be in the AHL for further seasoning.

As goaltending looks to be both teams achilles heel, this matchup could be an exciting one, but the Flames seem to have the overall edge in depth.

Flames roll over Kings in four
 

Flames roll over Kings in four
20.04.07 23:45MST

Flames bring out the brooms in LA

Attachment 693672

The Calgary Flames continued their dominance over the LA Kings this evening as they defeated the home-side 7-0 to cap a one-sided opening round of the playoffs. "Nobody thought it would be easy and it wasn't. The games were a bit closer than the scores indicated." Said alternate Captain Robyn Regehr (pictured). "We played hard and got a bit of time off before the next round. We'll take it."

The Flames outscored the Kings by a hefty 25 to 7 over the four games which saw various Flames taking turns being the hero. Daymond Langkow had enormous games 2 and 3 (missing game one due to a suspension from the regular season). Brad Richards dialled in a phenomenal 4 point performance in game 4 to ice the series.

"We used our depth. I decided to try something in game 2 when Langkow came back and paired up all the scorers with playmakers up and down the lineup. It worked." Said Coach Fyvie. Iginla remained with Richards and was joined by two-way winger Steen on the left side. Cammalleri, Legwand and Michalek formed the second line. Langkow, Demitra and Rene Bourque formed the 3rd line which combined for 11 points in game 2.

The Kings had little answer for the Flames depth. Coach Ed Olczyk was proud of his team however. "We were up against it. Just fighting to make the playoffs took a lot out of us. When you're missing your top centre it affects the entire team and has everyone playing out of position a bit."

The Flames now can sit back and watch the remaining teams battle it out. Every one of the remaining series sit at 2 games to 1 meaning Calgary has at least a week until they find out who they'll play next.

Flames host Blues in Round Two
 

Flames host Blues in Round Two
27.04.07 12:00MST

Familiar face returns to Calgary as Blues take on Flames

Attachment 693673

J-S Giguere and the St.Louis Blues arrived in Calgary this morning in preparation for tomorrow night's game one in the second round of the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the host Calgary Flames. "It's all quite strange for him, I'm sure." Noted Blues Captain Chris Pronger (pictured). "He had to face former teammate Marty St.Louis last round, and now he's got to go through the rest of the team this round. He can't escape." Said Pronger with a chuckle.

The Blues and Flames faced-off 4 times this season and the teams battled it out to a 2-2 record. The Road team won all 4 games during the regular season, making this series an intriguing one.

J-S Giguere was the big free-agent acquisition for the Blues during the off-season as they pried him away from the Flames, but Giguere's numbers weren't much better than the much maligned Marty Turco this season. However, both netminders outperformed their regular season numbers thus far in the playoffs.

Chris Pronger continues to prowl the blueline in St.Louis as one of the more dominant players in the league. The 32yr old has been battling injuries as he's only played in the the Blues last two games so far this post-season.

Upfront, the Blues enjoy throwing their weight around. Handzus, Hartnell and Mike Richards feature heavily in their attack and enjoy making a lot of body contact ensuring the Flames' blueline will get its fair share of bodychecks.

The Flames enjoy an edge upfront, but it is seen as a wash on the blueline. If Turco can outperform his previous partner in net, the Flames stand a good chance in dispatching the Blues in this round.

Elsewhere in the West, Detroit will be hosting the Vancouver Canucks. In the East, Buffalo hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Islanders host the Ottawa Senators.

Blues defeat Flames in Seven
 

Blues defeat Flames in Seven
10.05.07 23:47MST

Handzus send Flames packing in Overtime

Attachment 693769

The St.Louis Blues defeated the Calgary Flames in game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-finals this evening in front of a sold-out crowd at the Saddledome tonight. Michal Handzus (pictured) ended the game in overtime on a breakaway going five-hole on Marty Turco to send his team to face the Detroit Red Wings in the Conference Final.

“it was a close one.” Said Handzus. “We blew a two-goal lead and I think we thought we were going to go home empty handed at one point.”

For the Flames, the loss was devastating as the Flames were down after 2 periods by two goals. The top-line of Cammalleri, Iginla and Richards went to work and produced two goals to tie the game with just minutes to spare in the third.

“We came up short. It was a great series. They’re a big strong team, and we’ve got the speed. Ultimately we just couldn’t produce on the powerplay and I feel like that cost us in the end.” Said Coach Fyvie of his team’s effort in a tight series that saw all but one game decided by one goal.

The series was at best described as a defensive effort. Both goaltenders played well and scoring was low as no team managed to score more than 3 goals in a game.

In other news, the Flames have advised the press that there will be a press-conference in the coming days and many speculate it could mean that long-time GM and Coach Dave Fyvie will be stepping down. Fyvie is in the last year of his contract and has piloted the ship in Calgary since the 2000/01 season.