it's gonna feel like summer...

i'm not suggesting that whomever was in charge of the NHL schedule this year didn't have their work cut out for them (what with the olympics n' all), but after playing eight games in just over two weeks the flames will now have a mini-holiday with just five games in a three week period. seems kindof ridiculous....

it's gonna feel like summer all over again and i ain't talkin' about the weather....

i only semi-watched the game on friday against the canucks but i liked what i saw, for the most part. the flames were dominant and it didn't seem like a fluke; they were skating hard, battling in the corners, and coming out with some big goals and even bigger defensive moves.

1. dion phaneuf actually hit the ice to prevent a goal against: he was on all fours in the crease and cleared a scoring attempt with his glove... this suggests that he is *ahem* learning, and was presumeably shown some video of the game against the 'hawks, where bolland got three tries at scoring and dion only attempted to win a stick battle.

2. brian mcgrattan put a gordie howe hat trick into the books and all i could think was "what the hell is the over/under on this ?!?" ;) i don't want an enforcer just for the sake of being an enforcer but it looks like mcG might actually be a hockey player, if not a bonafide NHLer.... late in the first period, i couldn't believe my eyes.... big #10 denied darcy hordichuk a pugilistic rematch, and stuck with the play (leading to an assist on the boyd goal). it appeared that mcgrattan had CHOSEN HOCKEY over dropping the gloves: that HE KNEW calgary had all the momentum, so there was no need to let vancouver's brawler spark some life in the visiting team... only later did i find out that he turned down the fight simply because his hand was taped up from the previous tilt, and he didn't want to get the ol' match penalty:

47.15 Match Penalty - Any player or goalkeeper wearing tape or any other material on his hands (below the wrist) who cuts or injures an opponent during an altercation will receive a match penalty in addition to any other penalties imposed including for fighting under this rule.

[A match penalty involves the suspension of a player or goalkeeper for the balance of the game and the offender shall be ordered to the dressing room immediately.]

the bottom line is that mcgrattan was smart enough to not fight in this situation, but unfortunately i overestimated the reason behind it...

3. dustin boyd has been a bit of a revelation this year and had a helluva game v. the orcas. aside from not actually putting rubber into twine in most games, he's been pretty sharp (to say the least). still, let's not get ahead of ourselves --he's making the most of his fourth-line minutes against fourth line opponents. perhaps this will turn into some top line opportunities but for now let's just be glad that, no matter the rotation, our bottom three players are consistently league elite 9-12 guys....

that's pretty much it for today (lazy, lazy sunday).... i went to the stamps/riders game yesterday and was pleased it came out in a 44-44 tie. anyone who knows me should realize how totally typical and fully unbelievable that score is....

i will be in attendance on tuesday when the flambés get a second crack at les vestons bleus, in as many weeks. it sounds like david moss is on the slow trail back and might just be in the lineup when DUNCAN hits the 'dome for the avs game next week !!!
:)