I still believe in the Flames…bad year it’s okay

I still believe in the Calgary Flames.  Every team has the right to have a bad year.  It’s like one of us having a bad day.  No matter how hard you try you just can’t get things done the quick easy way.  Calgary has all the essential tools to have a great year. Being in Calgary my whole life, I am beginning to get into the games and realize that the team feels deflated and lacks belief in their own abilities.  Coming from a girl, I can see the potential and the youth and the drive the team has.  In the end it’s like the old karate gym saying, “leave your ego at the door” and remember to have fun.

 The Flames have the goalies, the defence, and the scoring potential in the forwards and a coach that is trying to keep his cool among the interesting year so far. All Keenan has to figure out the right combination that sticks.  It’s like making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Sounds simple but sometimes you need to find the right ones that stick but don’t get stuck in the mouth after the initial bite.  Calgary will always be a hockey town that is something that the team doesn’t have to worry; the main worry would be in them.  They need to remove their bruised egos or not making the right plays, not taking it hard to the net, not making the right pass, not covering the lanes, not blocking the shots, not scoring and beating themselves down. 

The coach for Toronto has the right ideal.  KISS, keep it simple stupid.  Don’t try making the fancy moves, win the fights along the boards, drive hard to the net, and just shoot the puck towards the net.  The Flames have an awesome goalie in Kipper, no matter what others may say, he’s getting frustrated with himself but I can see that he is being more aware and challenging the shots by coming out more and getting into the action. But please Keenan; don’t be like Tortorella, where you keep using the best until the fail.  Yes Kipper is being paid high but he needs a break from time to time.  McElhinney has proven that when he needs to he can come and play.  He just needs more experience and since the Flames are on a down streak, it’s good to put him in and test it out the waters more.  God forbid but if Kipper is out because of a groin or hip injury it’s always nice to know the backup is worth it.  Like the Canadians, their rookie Goalie is stepping up and proving that he is worthy of the pick and can defend his net well.

The defence is okay. Not like how I viewed them in the 2003-04 campaign.  Blocking shots were known for Calgary.  Yes it hurts the body but if you’re not rubbing someone out of the play or if you’re not fighting along the boards, you have to be aware of the shooting lanes that power plays increase.  Being down one man really sucks but it amplified with a team like Columbus capitalizing on the weakness hurts more the ego than anything else.  It’s sad to say that there isn’t really a clear cut defensive pairing like Phaneuf and Hammarik was.  Phaneuf has Sarich but I don’t think he will be getting anymore one timers instead he will be acting the defenceward playing both sides when the opportunities come. It’s always exciting to see him jump on the play but unfortunately there aren’t too many strong defensive pairs with the Flames that stand out.  They will need to work on that and hope the injuries are a sign of bad things to come. 

Lastly are the forwards.  I hope Calgary won’t become one of the cynical fans like Leafs’ fans, where they jump on the band wagon to fire someone because they are not playing like what they expect.  But my theory is that Keenan believes in the team he has and is trying to fight the stereotype that he will blow up on the team. He’s calm and a determine coach.  I like his style and it’s just a matter of time where he will stop juggling his lines when things gel. 

Some of Keenan’s lines I liked seeing,

1.       Iginla, Langkow, Huselius

2.       Nystrom, Lombardi, Moss

3.       Conroy, Nolan, Nilson

4.       Iginla, Tanguay, Conroy

Unfortunately he shuffles the lines so much that it makes it hard to keep up with the changes. Some of the other potential lines I would like to see if they work is

1.       Iginla, Nystrom, Lombardi

2.       Moss, Huselius, Lombardi

3.       Conroy, Langkow, Smith

4.       Tanguay, Moss, Yelle

5.       Iginla, Yelle, Conroy

6.       Nystrom, Lombardi, Smith

For me if Keenan needs to shuffle, then he has his top line with Tanguay Iginla and Conroy but I think there is potential for the veteran knowledgeable players be matched up with the speed and youth the rookies or under 3 seasons.  The potential for each of the forwards to score at least 25-30 goals each is crazy but possible.  Some less but the goals are there for the taken.  With Lombardi or Conroy of scoring shorthanded or Iginla, Langkow, Huselius and Tanguay to easily pass 30 goals and other players that want to make a difference like Moss or Nolan, the drive to score is there.  It’s just the peanut butter jelly sandwich theory. What will work and not be too gooey or dry that nothing sticks. 

As a fan, we have to give them a break. Look at the Flyers, they were one of the worst teams and now they are gelling or even the Rangers with the slow start and trying to find the right combination, now are looking like a team. The Flames just need to psychologically remove themselves of “losing or playing catch up hockey” and remember that they just need to find the magic that kept the team in the top 8 for the playoffs.  The only kind of character Calgary needs like was like a player like Ville Nieminen, to annoy the heck out of the other team.  He had the Joker like smirk that would draw out penalties when it counted.  They have the enforcer of Godard or Phaneuf but no one like Simon that would get the team in the fighting mode of every game counts. 

I believe until Keenan starts his infamous ranting or call outs on his team.  He sees the potential in the team, whether or not they see it. 

  

~ by mymessydrawer on December 2, 2007.