Calgary Flames Are Suddenly Hot

I cannot contain my excitement.  My team, my babies, are on fire.  Of course, I’m talking about the Calgary Flames!  They are first in the perpetually tight NW division and are #5 in the league overall!

So, what’s going on?  Why are they good all of a sudden?  Let’s talk about it!!!

Coaching Has Improved Since Last Year
Gawd almighty it was tough to sit through Jim Playfair’s coaching last season.  I was in pain, physical gut-wrenching pain, over his inability to lead the team.  Even with Daymond Langkow, Kristian Huselius and Alex Tanguay having incredible seasons, he wasted that talent with poor line choices and created confusion and frustration for the club.

Mike Keenan has brought back that hard-working, hard-ass style that Calgary was known for under Daryl Sutter and it is looking good.  He has a quiet confidence, doesn’t look frazzled or panicked and, best of all – he’s scary as hell.  I like it.

Offensive Players are Stepping it Up!
Jarome Iginla is showing why that "C" is on his shoulder.  The Flames captain has 60 points (only 2 behind leader, Vincent Lecavalier), 32 goals (second only to Ilya Kovalchuk who has 34) and 28 assists.  That is monstrous!

Kristian Huselius (47 points, 20 goals and 27 assists), Daymond Langkow (39 points, 16 goals and 23 assists) and Alex Tanguay (33 points, 10 goals and 23 assists) are playing well and the chemistry between them is really improving.  Even defenceman Dion Phaneuf has an incredible 29 points, 6 goals and 23 assists!!!  This is incredible!

Mediocre Goaltending
What?!?!?  Why is this listed as a good thing?  Well, it’s bad for my baby Miikka Kiprusoff who, despite being 2nd for most wins (Evgeni Nabokov is first) has a GAA of 2.83 and a save % of .896!   Ugh, I didn’t even know he had this in him and I’m not sure what’s going on!

BUT it has been good for the team.  They have had to rally and become better players without relying on him to save the day as they have in recent years.  In the past, when the team was doing well, people would say "it’s just because they’ve got Kipper" but now they can’t say that.  Now the credit must be given to the Calgary Flames as a whole – they are finally playing like a "team" again!