Flames Drop The Ball

HUD That was the Flames hopes of winning the Northwest Division last night with the Canuckleheads winning in ot against the Blues. But that's where this story really begins it all depends on who you talk to when did it all go wrong for the Flames. Some say it was in the off season, some will say it was when the so-called cancer Olli Jokinen came over at the trade dead line. Some will say it was with Kipper playing so many games, but for me it was February 2 the first of two road games also the first of a four game losing streak all against teams the Flames should have beat.

That was it HUD from that point forward the Flames got stuck in a Regina size street pot-hole going 16-18 over the last 34 games. But that is only half of the story that's when the Canucks woke up sure until that point they were playing pretty good hockey but not good enough to keep pace. In the last 32 games they went 23-9 lead by the Sedin twins both had 82 points the Canucks also landed the biggest fish in the pond in Mats Sundin who had a lot of rink rust on him but still to have him on the ice was scary enough for other teams. With Vancouver take the Division they will play either Columbus or St.Louis in the first round of the N-H-L Playoffs the Blues will face the lonely Avs in Colorado tonight.

As we know the Flames will take on the young upstart Blackhawks with the first two get this in Chi-Town. That's what really pisses me off that the Flames could not even finish higher then the Hawks that's no knock against them but for the love of God the Flames should have and could have placed better then the Blackhawks.

But enough of the what went wrong talk all and all it was a good season 46 wins, Kipprusoff lead with 45 wins, Iginla had a other fine season 35-54-89 playing all 82 games this season. Mike Cammalleri set career highs for goals(39) and points(82).

On to the playoffs now is the time when the real bullets start to fly, the pace is faster, the hits are harder, and the intensity picks up. So here we go.