Calgary Flames News

Holmstrom's late goal sinks Flames
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March 16
Calgary Herald
 
"Monday's mission was to pick up where they left off less than 24 hours earlier. Not on the scoreboard, where they lost 3-1 to the homestanding Vancouver Canucks, but on the ice where they mounted a fierce forecheck through the final two periods that allowed them to out-shoot the Canucks 27-8 and out-score them 1-0. Not an easy assignment considering the short turnaround and a fresh foe in the form of the Detroit Red Wings but the Calgary Flames got the start they wanted until grudgingly bowing 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings. It was the second time in a week that these two have played for the privlege of inheriting eighth place in the Western Conference. Now the Wings move three points ahead ..."
Hot Higgins on the hobble
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March 16
Calgary Sun
 
"Christopher Higgins got the boot. Not out of town. It was to help him leave the Saddledome. The Calgary Flames left winger didn't play in Monday night's clash against the Detroit Red Wings due to an undisclosed injury. However, a major clue is the fact Higgins left after the morning skate wearing a walking boot on his right foot. He didn't require crutches. Nigel Dawes dressed in his place against the Red Wings. Higgins, who has two goals and three points in 12 games as a Flames — all coming in the last five outings — played in Sunday night's clash against the Vancouver Canucks. He spent about five minutes on the ice Monday in an optional skate, went for treatment and then left the arena ..."
Ovechkin's hit 'dangerous:' Dawes
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March 16
Calgary Sun
 
"Nigel Dawes was one of the few Calgary Flames who caught the hit Alexander Ovechkin laid on Brian Campbell which resulted in the two-game suspension handed the Washington Capitals star. And Dawes clearly didn't like what he saw. "It's a dangerous hit. You never want to see players go into the boards like that," Dawes said. "I wouldn't say he ran him, but the way the play developed and the way (Campbell) went in (to the boards), it's tough to see plays like that." Most Flames didn't see the incident prior to Monday's morning skate because they were busy when it happened, preparing and then playing their own game Sunday night against the Vancouver Canucks. Dawes, a healthy scratch for that ..."
Flames loss huge in fight for playoffs
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March 16
Calgary Sun
 
"Insulted as the Calgary Flames might be at the thought of it, many people are now counting them out. Out of the playoffs for the first time since the lockout. Out of luck when it comes to giving their goaltender the kind of support he needs to win games. For the Flames to make the playoffs, Monday night's game against the Detroit Red Wings was key. They beat the Wings in Detroit last week to give everyone hope, but fell 2-1 at the Saddledome Monday in what turned out to be a massive swing the other way. Three points now separate the eighth-place Wings from the Flames, who followed up four straight wins with back-to-back losses to the Vancouver Canucks and Red Wings. And with 13 games ..."
Flat start in Vancouver douses Flames 3-1
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March 15
Calgary Herald
 
"Even lasers couldn't affect Miikka Kiprusoff the last time he played a National Hockey League match in this barn. But the Calgary Flames netminder, like every goalie, can be undone by his own teammates. And such was the case Sunday as the Flames turned in a turkey of a first period. Dominated everywhere on the ice during that inexplicably lopsided 20 minutes — and surrendering three goals — the Flames ended up being toppled 3-1 by the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place. "They were obviously a lot better than us in the first period," said Flames captain Jarome Iginla. "They had a really good first period. We came out and we weren't ready to go full kilter the way we have been lately. I mean, ..."
Staios blocks out shooting pains
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March 15
Calgary Sun
 
"Blocking shots in practice isn't something anyone would recommend. At least not with live rounds. Dion Phaneuf unintentionally broke bones in two teammates' bodies over the past couple of years during drills not even intended as blocking betterment. But Steve Staios did practise getting in front pucks while honing his skills with the Edmonton Oilers. "Mac T used to bring out the old sponge pucks," Staios said with a grin. "We used to work on it." While under the tutelage of former Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, Staios became one of the game's best at getting in shooting lanes."
White's problems 'stached away
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March 15
Calgary Sun
 
"It has its own Facebook fan page. Just last week it was trending on Twitter. Growing just as quickly as the hair itself is the legend of Ian White's moustache. "At least they're talking about that and not my turnovers or anything like that," White said while being interviewed for a funny Flames TV bit that will air sometime this week. "It's a good thing. It's all fun and games. I seem to feel a little better on the ice when I have it, I don't know why. "It works for me." Since the fall of 2008, the 'stache has somehow paid off for the defenceman who has resurrected his duster for the playoff drive. It all started with the Toronto Maple Leafs while sitting out the first 11 games last ..."
Red Wings are up for big game vs. Flames tonight
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March 15
Detroit Free Press
 
"The last time the Red Wings saw the Flames it ended a chance to win three straight games for the first time in three months and led to another round of introspection. That loss -- which came only last Tuesday, in Detroit -- weighs on the minds of the Wings tonight as, once again on a two-game winning streak, they take on Calgary in the hostile Saddledome. "The Flames have been playing good, and they beat us at home, and that was a game we really needed to win. So we need to get back at them right away, and this is a good chance," Johan Franzen said. "We need to play with the same hunger and desperation we've had the last few games.""
Healthy Conroy anxious to get new line going
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March 14
Calgary Herald
 
"There's rarely a time when Craig Conroy isn't fired up over a hockey game. And, at this time of year, the 38-year-old is oozing enthusiasm. Healthy or not. Playing or not. The veteran centre is healthy and finally playing again after missing 19 games with assorted injuries, so one can only imagine how excited he is as the Calgary Flames roll into Vancouver tonight for another huge challenge in their bid to secure a playoff berth in the National Hockey League's Western Conference. "Out of all the teams we play, that's always a special one because obviously it seems like it's turned into the biggest rivalry," the six-foot-two, 193-pounder said following Saturday's energetic practice at ..."
Big game, big rival for Flames
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March 14
Toronto Sun
 
"If every game right now feels like a playoff game, Sunday night's matchup with the Vancouver Canucks ought to seem like Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. It's just the latest biggest game of the season for the Calgary Flames as they strive to guarantee themselves a spot in the NHL playoffs. This one, though, comes against their grandest rival. "It's gonna be exciting. With Edmonton, we had a pretty good rivalry with them, too," said Flames defenceman Steve Staios, who has had his share of meetings with the Canucks as a member of the Edmonton Oilers but suits up against them for the first time with the Flames. "It's a three-team rivalry out in the west now. I don't think it's just the ..."
Gold ol' times in past
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March 14
Toronto Sun
 
"Cheers won't be raining down from the stands for Jarome Iginla when he steps on the ice this time. The Vancouver Games are over. Canada Hockey Place has reverted to GM Place, and Iginla is once again a hated rival. Back to the visitors dressing room for Sunday night's game against the Canucks, Iginla will be trying to score against Olympic teammate Roberto Luongo, not patting him on the back. "I wouldn't say there's any extra, there's always enough motivation there," Iginla said Saturday of facing Luongo after the two won gold together just a couple of weeks ago. "It's business." Since the two mined gold at Canada Hockey Place, they've gone in different directions. Iginla has been hot. ..."
Kiprusoff kicks aside off-form night at Olympics
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March 13
Calgary Herald
 
"At the conclusion of the Vancouver Olympics, Jamie McLennan refused to fret about the mental state of one Miikka Kiprusoff. Count him in the minority in Calgary. "Mentally, he's extremely strong," raved the Calgary Flames goaltending coach. "I can't say enough about his mental approach and just how strong he is mentally." Sure, Kiprusoff surrendered a whopper of a goal just two minutes into the Olympic semifinal between his native Finland and the United States. Sure, the Calgary Flames netminder let in more shots (four) than he stopped (three) and received the hook with a chance to compete for a gold medal on the line. And sure, some hockey commentators mentioned Kiprusoff in the same ..."
Kipper gets extra help from friends
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March 13
Calgary Sun
 
"Miikka Kiprusoff's 34th shutout of his career came due to another startling number. The Calgary Flames blocked 30 shot attempts by the Ottawa Senators Thursday night for an ugly 2-0 victory. With Kiprusoff's 33 saves, the Senators took the majority of blasts at the net, but the Flames' first shot held up as the winner thanks to a total defensive effort. "It's a good thing guys are paying the price," Kiprusoff said. "We need to do that if we want to win these games." Mark Giordano led the charge with six blocks, while Cory Sarich took five off his legs, including two that required him to limp off. Jay Bouwmeester had three blocks, and Ian White stepped in front of three. Forward Eric ..."
Squad strikes balance on blueline
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March 13
Calgary Sun
 
"Giving up Dion Phaneuf was a gutsy move. By bailing on the franchise defenceman who is still only 24, the Flames realized they would be judged for months, maybe years, on a few levels. One, what they received from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the trade. Two, how Phaneuf plays now and in the future. Three, how the Flames defence performs without him. So far, things are looking good for GM Darryl Sutter's early returns. Not only has Matt Stajan blossomed with Jarome Iginla and Rene Bourque on his wings and signed up for four more seasons, Jamal Mayers has been a solid addition and both Niklas Hagman, and Ian White are meshing well. White has taken Phaneuf's jersey number and his spot alongside ..."
Flames plucky or lucky?
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March 13
Calgary Sun
 
"Turmoil and turnover followed up by a massive tease. If a fourth-straight win by the Calgary Flames hasn't convinced you they're a serious playoff contender — maybe even a team that has a shot against one of the top clubs they'll be up against in the first round should they qualify for the post-season — it's probably because you've seen this act before. The story of this topsy-turvy season has been aggravating inconsistencies. Solid stretches working Flames fans into a fever before the wheel falls off the cart and the bandwagon empties. With games against the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks all coming in a six-night span next week, we'll quickly ..."
Sens loss a 'pane' in the butt
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March 13
Ottawa Sun
 
"Playing the Flames turned out to be a pain, or pane, if you prefer, for the Senators. Trying to complete their first sweep of Alberta since 2003, the Senators were forced to deal with a 35-minute delay because of a broken pane of glass and then they couldn't break Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff in a 2-0 loss Thursday night at the Saddeldome. After picking up a 4-1 victory over the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday, the Senators came up empty on 33 shots as Kiprusoff recorded his 34th career shutout. It's the fourth time this season that Ottawa has been blanked. Jamal Mayers and Chris Higgins scored for the Flames. "We had a lot of good opportunities to score more than one or two goals," said ..."
Flames deserved a steal
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March 12
Calgary Herald
 
"I'm going to come right out and say it: The Flames stole Thursday's game against Ottawa. Finally. When you think of the number of times these redshirts have dominated visiting teams only to lose because they couldn't score at clutch times, it's nice to see the sheet start to balance. Ottawa is one scary hockey club. Great speed, move the puck quickly, generate quality scoring chances almost every time they hit the offensive zone. But the Flames got the job done and that's all that really matters. Big tip of the hat to Miikka Kiprusoff for standing on his head in a 33-save performance and another bow to the Flames as a whole for throwing their bodies in front of another 30 shots. Seemed ..."
Kipper shuts out Sens as Flames win fourth straight
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March 12
Calgary Herald
 
"Miikka Kiprusoff, 33 saves. The Calgary Flames, 30 blocked shots. In a nutshell, that sums up the bottom line to Thursday night's 2-0 victory over a swift crew of Ottawa Senators at the Pengrowth Saddledome. In a game in which the redshirts were often boxed in by the explosive Senators, the Flames persevered for a fourth straight victory and a third straight win on what has often been unfriendly home ice to remain eighth in the wicked Western Conference playoff race. The result enabled the Flames to maintain a one-point lead over Detroit, which downed the Minnesota Wild 5-1 earlier in the evening. In fact, depending on a late game at San Jose, the Flames had a chance to move into a share ..."
White wouldn't mind staying with Flames
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March 12
Calgary Sun
 
"His good friend Matt Stajan has already inked a long-term deal. Defenceman Ian White hopes he can do the same this summer. Both former Toronto Maple Leafs came to the Calgary Flames as part of the Dion Phaneuf deal with expiring contracts and the uncertainty of joining a new NHL team for the first time in their young careers. Stajan enjoyed his time here enough to put his signature on a four-year extension a few weeks back. White is set for restricted free agency July 1 but should follow in Stajan's footsteps when the time is right. "I would hope they'd want to keep me around here," said White, of Steinbach, Man. "I love being out west. I love playing for Calgary. I love everything about ..."
Flames have home-ice advantage in reach
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March 12
Calgary Sun
 
"After Thursday's practice session at the Saddledome, Zak Stebner and a handful of his Calgary Hitmen teammates headed to a screening of Alice in Wonderland. You can't blame Stebner if he feels like he's living in a wonderland of his own these days. The smooth-skating defenceman is getting an opportunity to see how the other half lives in the Western Hockey League. After an early playoff exit with the Kamloops Blazers last season, Stebner and his new battery-mates can clinch home-ice advantage throughout the post-season with a victory Friday over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. "I've obviously never been in this position — to be going into playoffs like this," Stebner said. "We were 0-8 ..."
Flames' blue-collar effort burns Senators
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March 12
Ottawa Citizen
 
"If it isn't one thing, it seems to be another for the Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome this season. Never mind the fact that opposing teams have won almost as many games as the Flames in what is supposed to be their domain, the maintenance crew up and threw a curve at them Thursday night. A protective pane of glass was broken during the pregame warmup and do you think they could find one that fit? No! So they cut a new one and, 30 minutes after the game was scheduled to start, the redshirts were finally able to roll up their sleeves and get to work against a peppy and often dangerous group of Ottawa Senators. Well, nothing was going to throw them off their mission on this night."
Kiprusoff, Flames burn Senators
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March 12
Ottawa Citizen
 
"As long as the Calgary Flames have Miikka Kiprusoff, they have a chance to make the playoffs. Great goalies can do so much to make mediocre teams look good. Kiprusoff helped his teammates get two points they probably shouldn't have on Thursday with a 2-0 win over the Ottawa Senators, his fourth shutout of the season and the 34th of his career. The loss kept a streak of bad luck intact for the Senators. They haven't won in Calgary since Jan. 9, 2003. The Senators had defeated the Flames 3-2 in Ottawa in February. Jamal Mayers and Christopher Higgins scored for the Flames. Kiprusoff faced 33 shots, while Brian Elliott faced 25 for the Senators. Ottawa's best chance of the night - other than ..."
White, Regehr form dynamite duo
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March 11
Calgary Herald
 
"No one was quite sure what was going to happen when the Calgary Flames traded one No. 3 for another No. 3, when they swapped Ian White for Dion Phaneuf. And then put White in Phaneuf's old spot alongside the grizzled Robyn Regehr. My, my, the comparisons never seemed to end. Was it better, was it worse? Imagine trading a young, hard-hitting prospect for a slightly older and considerably smaller player. Well, the reviews are getting better all the time. In fact, after Tuesday's performance at Detroit, they might be downright four-star. Regehr and White each emerged from the 4-2 victory with a plus four, a couple of hits, three blocked shots and a couple of takeaways. It doesn't get much ..."
Flames goal for it
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March 11
Calgary Herald
 
"Head coach Brent Sutter says nothing has really changed as his Calgary Flames mount a big push to capture a Western Conference playoff spot, but there is a strong indication his players may have altered their way of thinking. After scoring three straight wins against tough foes and, more notably, piling up 14 goals in the process, the Flames have suddenly rediscovered their scoring touch. They have scored four or more goals in three consecutive contests for the first time since Games 8, 9 and 10. Why the sudden turnaround, the sudden success at the opposing goal? "We came in with the focus of being a very good defensive team and we did need to improve on that and we have, but it's not the ..."
Flames winger pays it forward
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March 11
Calgary Sun
 
"Signing a lucrative contract hasn't done anything to slow down speedy Rene Bourque's appetite for success. Hitting the 20-goal mark for the second straight season, the Flames winger is proving his breakout campaign of a year ago was no fluke. Flames GM Darryl Sutter believed in Bourque enough to encourage him to forego unrestricted free agency this summer and sign a six-year deal after the Olympic break. Bourque believes he can earn the $20-million payday by continuing to give maximum effort every time he steps on the ice. "They put a lot of money into my future here the next six years. I'm not gonna change the way I play, but I definitely need to show them I deserve this," said Bourque, ..."
Goal-oriented ... as usual
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March 11
Calgary Sun
 
"It's been nearly five months since the Calgary Flames have strung together three games as exciting as their current winning streak. Scoring 14 times in victories over the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings, the Flames are showing the kind of offensive spark not seen since a 16-goal output over three contests back in mid-October. Questions came fast and furious at head coach Brent Sutter Wednesday afternoon at the Saddledome. What has changed to ignite the offence? "Our work ethic," Sutter said, dismissing suggestions he's loosened the reins on his forwards or changed his approach to the game. "You don't get much in this game unless you do work hard, unless there is a ..."
It's sink or swim for Flames
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March 11
Calgary Sun
 
"Successful people learn from their own mistakes. Very successful people learn from the mistakes of others. The Calgary Flames are in a prime position to do both. On the heels of back-to-back road wins in Minnesota and Detroit which put them back in a playoff spot — plus gives them a three-game winning streak for the first time since early January — the Flames have returned to a point where they've struggled. It's up to them to heed past lessons. All season long, we've watched a Flames team wrestle with success."
Flames find triple threat
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March 11
Calgary Sun
 
"The Calgary Flames returned home from Detroit Wednesday morning with two things they haven't had in awhile: A playoff spot and what appears to be a first line. It's not a coincidence. Having gone years without having a bona fide top trio capable of breaking open games, there are signs the team may just be on to something here. Something big. Perhaps just in the nick of time. Having paired Matt Stajan with Jarome Iginla since the former Maple Leaf arrived last month, Brent Sutter's incessant tinkering landed Rene Bourque on the line's port side three games ago."
Flames rebound to top Red Wings
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March 10
Calgary Herald
 
"Jarome Iginla picked a fine time to end his 19-game goal-less streak against the Detroit Red Wings. With the Calgary Flames trailing in the third period, the captain notched the equalizer and then set up Rene Bourque's go-ahead goal in a 4-2 triumph in National Hockey League action Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena. Chris Higgins added an empty-net tally. Iginla hadn't collected a goal against the Wings in the regular season since March 2004. Yes, pre-lockout. More importantly, with the win, the Flames leap-frog the Wings and move into eighth spot in the Western Conference. The Wings now drop back in ninth. Making it a rare sight — the high-and-mighty Wings scrambling for their playoff ..."
Shantz resurrects career with Flames
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March 9
Calgary Herald
 
"David Shantz says he feels like he's getting a second chance to show off what he can do between the pipes. Since being drafted by the Florida Panthers in the second round (37th overall) in the 2004 draft, the 23-year-old goaltender spent most of his pro career lost in the Florida farm system before being cut loose last summer. That's when Calgary Flames director of player personnel Duane Sutter offered to resuscitate his career. "A number of us got let go this summer and when that happened Duane Sutter, who was with Florida for awhile when I was there, was the one who really provided the opportunity for me to come in and re-establish myself again," says Shantz. "Any player looks for the ..."
The Gospel according to Sutter: Flames coach preaches positivity
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March 9
Calgary Herald
 
"Now is not the time for moaning. For griping. For blubbering about points lost last month. Or even last night. Because if you do? You'll be mucking around in your own misery —wasting even more opportunities. Which is something the Calgary Flames cannot afford. "If you keep dwelling on where you're at, it becomes a very weight-bearing thing," said Flames coach Brent Sutter on a quiet afternoon at Joe Louis Arena — only a handful of his lads took to the ice Monday. "And mentally it's such a struggle. You can't think about it like that. "You don't worry about where you're at. You focus in on . . . where you want to get." Which, in the immediate future, means swapping spots with the Detroit ..."
Sutter opts for experience over young legs
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March 9
Calgary Sun
 
"Mikael Backlund wasn't happy about not being in the lineup. But that didn't have him upset enough to smash a stick or two over the decision made by head coach Brent Sutter. "It's up to the coaches who play. I can just do my best when I get the chance," Backlund said Monday after partaking in an optional skate at the Joe Louis Arena. "I get they want to play more experienced guys in the harder situations. But I want to play and want to get back in." That chance could come Tuesday when the Flames face the Detroit Red Wings. Likely not, though. Sutter said the decision to dress Craig Conroy over Backlund in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild had nothing to do with the rookie's play but ..."
Eighth would be great for Flames
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March 9
Calgary Sun
 
"Six months ago, a showdown for eighth place between the Calgary Flames and the Detroit Red Wings wasn't expected at this time of year. Yet, that's where the teams are heading into their Tuesday clash at the Joe Louis Arena. "I'm sure it's weird for guys who have been here longer than I have," said Red Wings defenceman Brad Stuart of his club's tenuous hold on eighth place in the NHL's Western Conference. "We've got a good club and want to get in the playoffs, and that's all that matters. We feel we have a good enough team to have a chance (for the Stanley Cup) again. "For this team, this is the time of year where you're near the top of the standings, resting guys a bit and getting ready ..."
Iginla leads by example
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March 8
Calgary Sun
 
"Jarome Iginla doesn't get much credit for his defensive play, but anyone who saw the Calgary Flames' second goal in Sunday's win had to credit the captain for the type of textbook effort coaches dream of. Displaying the type of leadership many questioned before No. 12 starred at the Olympics, Iginla not only saved an early game-tying goal by breaking up a sure snipe on a Minnesota Wild two-on-one, he then hustled all the way up ice where he set up Mark Giordano's goal seconds later to put the visitors up 2-0. Iginla may not possess the same sort of flash and dash as he did when scoring 50 goals, but he still has the ability to single-handedly turn a game around in so many different ways. ..."
Iggy in the zone -- in both zones
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March 8
Calgary Sun
 
"The three-goal, four-point performance Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla racked up against the Minnesota Wild was a sight to behold. Probably the most crucial play Iginla made in Sunday afternoon's 5-2 victory, however, was about 180 feet away from the opposition net. Just a couple of minutes into the clash, the Flames were on the verge of losing the lead they claimed on Rene Bourque's goal just 19 seconds into the affair. Minnesota's Guillaume Latendresse was driving to the net and poised to redirect a cross-ice pass, but Iginla backchecked with all his might and lifted the Wild forward's stick at the last second to squash the chance. The Flames immediately went to the other end and ..."
Kipper gets nice company
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March 8
Calgary Sun
 
"Since Miikka Kiprusoff joined the Calgary Flames in November 2003, no other goalie has faced the Minnesota Wild. Vesa Toskala was the perfect man to end that streak in Sunday afternoon's 5-2 win by the Flames. Toskala, who the club acquired at the trade deadline in the hopes of finally finding the battery mate to play caddie for its star netminder, played for the first time since Jan. 30 -- when he was still with the Toronto Maple Leafs -- and stopped 27 shots. "I was pretty calm," Toskala said of the starting assignment he found out about the day before. "I was focused not to overdo anything. I'm a pretty laid-back guy. It was just one game, but it was a good win. "I started to feel ..."
Wild-killer Jarome Iginla gets third career hat trick against Minnesota
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March 8
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"It was just a matter of time before Jarome Iginla broke through against the Wild. The all-time leader in points against the Wild, Iginla had been limited to three assists in the previous 10 meetings between his Calgary Flames and Minnesota. In fact, he was a minus-1 in a 4-0 loss to the Wild last Wednesday night in Calgary, the first time in 44 games he was a minus. But Sunday, Iginla came out with fire in his eyes and recorded his third hat trick against the Wild, giving him 30 goals and 53 points all time against Minnesota and sending the Wild's 400th consecutive sellout crowd home disappointed. "I resigned to the fact that I was going to shoot as hard as I could," he said. "I'd be lying ..."
Staios solution to scoring woes?
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March 8
Calgary Sun
 
"Maybe Steve Staios was the tonic for the Calgary Flames scoring woes. Even if he's a defensive defenceman. When Staios arrived at the trade deadline from the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames had an offence as dry as the Sahara Desert. In two games, he's witnessed the Flames rack up a pair of victories in which they scored five times, including Sunday afternoon's 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. "I hope that continues. That would be great," Staios said. "The type of goals we get and the team we are, we have big bodies and play a tough game in front of their net, and then we have a guy like Jarome Iginla, who can break open a game at any point. We're just trying to put together a good 60 ..."
Toskala eager to pad stats
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March 8
Calgary Sun
 
"Maybe it was the pair of late goals against the New Jersey Devils that tarnished a potential romp. Maybe it's just the idea that no goalie can play 75 games and start for his country at the Olympics and still be fresh for the playoffs. Either way, most would agree Miikka Kiprusoff needs some rest. And soon. It could come as early as Sunday afternoon with his Calgary Flames visiting St. Paul for a matinee against the Minnesota Wild."
Iginla ignites offence as Flames prey on Wild
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March 8
Calgary Herald
 
"You won't find this anywhere on the scoresheet. Sure, there's the plus-three. There's the hat trick. Four points in all. Ten shots at the net, six of them reaching the target. One blocked shot. Three hits, too. But before all of that came one of Jarome Iginla's biggest contributions. Early in the first period, Mark Giordano stepped up to make a hit, allowing a two-on-one for the Minnesota Wild. Andrew Ebbett threaded a feed directly to Guillaume Latendresse. On the verge of rapping in the puck, Latendresse's stick was lifted. Yes, by Iginla. A tremendous defensive play. The cherry on top? The Flames roared up ice and Iginla fed Giordano for the afternoon's 2-0 goal, kick-starting his ..."
Higgins hopeful season's on rebound
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March 8
Calgary Herald
 
"Things could admittedly be going better for Chris Higgins. The 26-year-old American, a first round draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens in 2002, proved to be a bonafide 20-plus goal scorer for three straight seasons as he gathered steam in the National Hockey League. Big, quick and smart. Then the wheels started to fall off. Just 12 goals in 57 games and then 14 more strikes in 55 games after being dealt to the New York Rangers. And now, after eight games with the Calgary Flames following an early February trade, one assist. "I think I've gotten some good opportunities to score this year . . . I've just had a lot of bad luck," sighs one of the eight new players recently gathered by the ..."
Flame's game speeds up at centre
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March 7
Calgary Herald
 
"Put two and two together and you'd have to think one of the reasons Dustin Boyd was recently shuffled to the Nashville Predators for a fourth-round draft pick is because Eric Nystrom has taken to playing centre like a duck to water. General manager Darryl Sutter did say, after all, that Boyd simply was pushed out. "No, no, no," said Nystrom when it was suggested his emerging proficiency as a pivot may have been a big reason for Boyd's trade. "I don't think that's the case at all. Boyder could play all the positions, so I don't think that's the reason behind any of that stuff. "Who knows?" Deny it or not, there's no taking away from the fact Nystrom has stepped up his play since moving ..."
Toskala poised to give Kiprusoff breather
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March 7
Calgary Sun
 
"Maybe it was the pair of late goals against the New Jersey Devils that tarnished a potential romp. Maybe it's just the idea that no goalie can play 75 games and start for his country at the Olympics and still be fresh for the playoffs. Either way, most would agree Miikka Kiprusoff needs some rest. And soon. It could come as early as Sunday afternoon with his Calgary Flames visiting St. Paul for a matinee against the Minnesota Wild. Head coach Brent Sutter won't divulge whether or not it will be his starter or newly acquired backup Vesa Toskala who will tend the twine in the Twin Cities, but the bench boss says the other Finn will get his shot, and the fact he just joined the team at the ..."
Flames have revenge on mind
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March 7
Calgary Sun
 
"Impressive. Five goals against the tight-checking New Jersey Devils. Their first post-Olympic win, and a feel-good night that saw almost every element of their game come together at times. So what will the Calgary Flames do for an encore Sunday afternoon on the road against the Minnesota Wild — a team that trounced them 4-0 at the Saddledome just days ago? "They embarrassed us on home ice," said Flames forward Christopher Higgins. "So hopefully we can do the same to them." It'll take a lot more of what they did against the Devils, and none of what they showed against the Wild in their previous outing to get that done."
Aging Iginla needs his crew
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March 7
Calgary Sun
 
"Jarome Iginla has spent years carrying the Calgary Flames. He can't do it any more. Not by himself. Iginla still must remain a star player for the club while its flickering playoff hopes remain alive, but it's become obvious he needs the supporting cast more than ever in order for the Flames to win on a regular basis. As much as fans may want to believe the captain remains the same player who was so instrumental in the thrilling journey to the Stanley Cup final of 2004 and a trip to the playoffs every season after, Iginla can no longer be that player every night."
With NJ Devils struggling to win back-to-back games, Zach Parise can't enjoy 30th goal
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March 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"It should have been a night for Zach Parise to celebrate. The Devils' left winger scored twice Friday night to reach the 30-goal plateau for the fourth straight season. However, they came in a 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. "It's at a point right now where we just want to win. It's getting to be that time of the season where we have to start winning," Parise said. "On a personal level, I guess it's nice (to score 30 again). It sounds like a cliche, but it's not about that. We have to win." Parise, who scored a career-high 45 goals last season, is watching the standings. The Devils, who have 19 games remaining in the regular season, haven't won two straight since Jan. 9-12."
NJ Devils5-3 loss to former coach Brent Sutter, Calgary Flames
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March 6
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"There may not have been any bad blood between the Devils and their former coach, but there was monetary incentive from Brent Sutter Friday night for his players to win the game. "I won't say how much," Sutter said with a laugh. Whatever it may have been, a struggling Flames team scored five straight goals and held on for a 5-3 triumph over the Devils at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Sutter said he took no special satisfaction from this win. "No. My focus has been to win hockey games," he said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone in that organization. This was a game (in which) we needed to play well to have success." The Devils, who started the road trip with a victory in San ..."
Devils burned by the Flames, 5-3
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March 6
Bergen Record
 
"The Devils were right. Before facing Brent Sutter's Calgary Flames Friday night, they said they had more important things to worry about than trying to beat their former head coach. Several of those things were on display in their 5-3 loss to the Flames Friday night at Pengrowth Saddledome. After a strong first period in which Zach Parise scored to give the Devils a 1-0 lead, the Flames scored five consecutive goals to build a 5-1 lead. Three of those goals came in yet another sloppy second period. But the biggest concern has to be the continued struggles of goaltender Martin Brodeur, who gave up five goals on 25 shots. Four of the five goals came on rebounds. "It was a tough game," ..."
Brent Sutter feels heat with Flames
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March 6
Bergen Record
 
"When Brent Sutter took over as head coach of the Devils in 2007, he knew there were some changes that had to be made and he met some initial resistance. The transition went a lot quicker and smoother, however, than what Sutter has encountered in his first season behind the Calgary Flames' bench. The Flames entered Friday night's game against the Devils at Pengrowth Saddledome one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference and the pressure has been building on Sutter and his general manager brother, Darryl. If the Flames don't reach the playoffs and get beyond the first round - something they haven't done since 2004 - both Sutters might not have the option of leaving their jobs ..."