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INDEPTH: NHL 2006 | After the break
Calgary Flames
By Malcolm Kelly, CBC Sports Online | Last updated Feb. 28, 2006
Dion Phaneuf (l) has quickly become one of the NHL's premier defencemen and will be crucial to Calgary's playoff hopes.
(CP Photo/Jeff McIntosh)
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Record: 33-17-7 (73 points)
Third in the Western Conference (as a division leader)
First in the Northwest Division
Home record: 20-5-3
Away record: 13-12-4
Goals for/against: 153-144
Power play: 18.3 per cent (11th overall)
Penalty kill: 82.4 per cent (14th overall)
Top scorers: Jarome Iginla (25g, 19a, 44p); Dion Phaneuf (14g, 23a, 37p); Daymond Langkow (18g, 19a, 37p)
Top defenders: Marcus Nilson, forward (+12); Stephane Yelle, centre (+9); Jordan Leopold (+8)
Key trades: Kristian Huselius, forward (34 pts) acquired from the Florida Panthers for Steve Montador, defence, and Dustin Johner, forward (Dec. 2); Mike Leclerc, forward (22 pts) Brian Boucher, goalie (3.66 gaa) acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes for Steven Reinprecht, forward, and Phillpe Sauve, goalie (Feb. 1).
Season recap: Perhaps the simplest way to explain the Calgary Flames is through two statistics. Jarome Iginla leads the team in scoring at the Olympic break with 44 points, which puts him in a tie for 67th overall. Centre Byron Ritchie had the worst plus-minus on the team at -6, which on some clubs is better than half the roster.
The Flames can stop 'em, but they can't score on 'em. And they win doing it.
Calgary got off to a tough start, going 4-7-2 in October and giving up a lot of goals while not scoring enough themselves.
It's almost as though coach and general manager Darryl Sutter decided since they weren't going to score, then they'd have to make sure the other team scored less.
And off went the Flames through November, winning eight straight on the goaltending of Miikka Kiprusoff (sixth in NHL goals against) and attention to detail, allowing only 14 opposition goals in that stretch.
December was almost as strong (9-3-1), and suddenly the Flames were back to their Stanley Cup final quality of two years back.
In the new year, Calgary stayed consistent (10-5-3) and came into the break with a strong shot at home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Key Injuries: Byron Ritchie (knee), should be back after the break. Roman Hamrlik (hand) may be back in early March. Bryan Marchment (knee) is out indefinitely.
Looking ahead: Calgary opens after the break with the final five of a seven-game home swing and on a three-game win streak. That's followed with a tough wring of eight out of nine on the road, including seven straight from March 16-24, in which the Flames play Edmonton, Minnesota twice, hot Nashville, Dallas, Columbus and St. Louis.
The acquisition of Kristian Huselius in December and Mike Leclerc in February has given a shot to the offence, but the whole lineup will have to pick it up offensively to bring a bright looking regular season strongly into the playoffs.
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