Calgary Puck

The Flames just keep on winning.

In the past two weeks they haven’t iced a single classic, sixty minute, coast to coast, work of art type game that would leave a city or hockey culture talking. They win, but they do so in a madly inconsistent fashion.

Tonight at the Saddledome the struggling Florida Panthers were spotted a two goal lead 21 minutes into the game before the Flames got serious about their craft and took the game back, scoring four straight goals including an empty netter before the Panthers made it close with a wrap around goal in the final minute.

It’s coming … last night’s effort was closer to 45 minutes, but they still have some work to do.

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James Neal isn’t scoring in Calgary, this isn’t news to anyone.

But why?

Some obvious reasons come to mind;

*he’s playing on the third line and not the second
*he’s somewhat snake bit
*the quality of his linemates are likely down a notch from the past two seasons in Nashville and Vegas
*or he’s in a quick decline due to too much playoff activity.

But what do the stats say?

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Yikes talk about a trap game. Start the car!

Flames win three of four on the road, and you just know that game coming off a trip is going to be a tough one. No problem you’ve got the tired Avalanche coming in, a struggling club that lost last night in Winnipeg despite out shooting their hosts 40-21.

Yet big problem indeed. The Avalanche out shoot the Flames by more than a 2-1 margin, but lose the game by two as the opportunist Flames, a solid night by David Rittich, and some solid collapsing down low pave the way to a 5-3 Flames win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Take it. Enjoy it. Don’t talk about it. Move on.

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A road trip full of sketchy efforts with good results, the Flames were sleep walking their way through what looked to be a disappointing loss to an inferior opponent when a late Sean Monahan powerplay goal in the second, set the stage for a dominant third period from Calgary.

In the end the Flames out last Chicago with a 4-3 victory taking six of a possible eight points on their four game road trip and likely causing head coach Bill Peters a boat load of stress and anxiety.

Time to clean it up boys.

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Good teams win games when they’re not firing on all cylinders.

Tonight the Flames had a terrible powerplay, kicked the Flyer first goal into their own net, and had a goalie gift wrap the other Philly marker, but found a way to come back and tie the game, and then win it in overtime on a goal by TJ Brodie.

The standings won’t remember how it went down, just the facts, as the Flames record win number 26 on the season and a 2-1-0 record on their four game road trip with the final game coming Monday night in Chicago.

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