Calgary Flames

By Greg Wyshynski • Don't let the dropped gloves and landed punches fool you -- the following altercation between Andre Roy of the Calgary Flames and Alexei Semenov of the San Jose Sharks isn't a fight. According to the referees, it's a roughing: • Colorado Avalanche Francois Giguere is a sad clown because o...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. EST; TV: CN8, CSN). Hockey is so much better with animosity. The Capitals and Flyers don't get along much, including an interesting bit of back and forth between the coaches today. Japers has the preview for your review.

By Greg Wyshynski • Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Rick Nash, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski and Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward walk into a bar ... oh, wait, no: They've actually been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending Jan. 4. Got it. [NHL]

By 'Duk Though the aesthetics and result of the Pittsburgh-Buffalo scrape gave the league all the snow it needed for a decent fight, it was Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks that packed it tight, took aim and hit the unenlightened mob smack dab in its kisser. The event has already become as...

By Greg Wyshynski Dishonorable Mention: Two stinkers in a row for the Nashville Predators, following a 5-2 loss to Edmonton with a 5-1 defeat at the Colorado Avalanche. Cody McLeod scored the first two goals for the Avs, and Peter Budaj made it stand up with 25 saves. ... The Wild have scored 11 goals in their three...

By Greg Wyshynski • Mats Sundin is making Vancouver Canucks fans feel like winners, buy Sundin jerseys and (gasp!) dream about a Stanley Cup. All because he promoted Internet poker? [Province] • Colin White will miss the New Jersey Devils' next game. [Fire & Ice]

By Greg Wyshynski • Through snowblower accidents and other malarkey this season, Colorado Avalanche fans deserve the go a little overboard after defeating the Detroit Red Wings, right? [Jerseys and Hockey Love] • Looking at Dion Phaneuf's up-and-down season for the Calgary Flames. No, this has nothing...

By Ross McKeon Speaking of first career hat tricks, we present Rene Bourque as Exhibit B. Bourque enjoyed the first three-goal game of his career to help the homestanding Calgary Flames beat the fragile Ottawa Senators and improve to 4-0-3 in their last seven games. Bourque scored a pair of even-strengt...

By Greg Wyshynski When we bugged the NHL about how Winter Classic jerseys for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings were selling, we also inquired about sale figures for this year's crop of third jerseys. There are 18 teams with alternate sweaters this season, and all of them were on sale in time for th...

By Greg Wyshynski • Defenseman Sami Salo of the Canucks will miss a month with a broken rib. [CBC] • It's DC vs. Philly weekend, and Bruce Boudreau said there's "not a lot of like" between the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers. [Capitals Insider]

By Greg Wyshynski What an interesting mix of players: Wade Belak, then of the Toronto Maple Leafs; Donald Brashear, then of the Montreal Canadiens; Stu Grimson, then of the Los Angeles Kings; and then you've got stars like Bernie Nicholls and Ryan Smyth.

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSW). What a spot for the Oil: coming off a 9-2 curb-stomping at the hands of the Blackhawks, and then turning around to face the Canucks on Trevor Linden Night. They claim they're ready.

By Ross McKeon The team captain did all of the leading necessary Tuesday night, scoring two goals and adding two assists to match a career-high four points. Jarome Iginla scored the game's first two goals, and once the host St. Louis Blues crept back to within a goal in the second period Iginla was there whe...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues (8:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSW, FSMW). Interesting story from the Calgary Herald about how Mike Keenan "nurses a power play." It involves a male breast pump. Kidding. But he does chew up food and spit it into the power play's mouth like a mama bird. Also, it wasn't...

By Greg Wyshynski • One-time Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore and current Calgary Flames winger Todd Bertuzzi met with a mediator on Monday in order to deprive us of an incredible sports-related trial filled with drama and juicy revelations on an OJ-scale. [CBC Sports]

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: RDS, SUN). The last time the Bolts lost 10 games in a row was in 2001, although there are a couple of overtime losses in this current nine-game skid. This matchup has lost its magic now that there aren't 10 billion Vinny-to-t...

By Greg Wyshynski • LCS Hockey has a new addition of their radio sitcom, "The Bettmans," featuring Gary's meeting with Sean Avery. [LCS Hockey, .mp3 file] • Earl Sleek and Mike Chen face off in a segment of "it's about damn time" in preparation for tonight's showdown between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim...

By Greg Wyshynski Yes, Robert Lang had two goals and an assist playing with Alex Tanguay and Alexei Kovalev. But D'Agostini scored the game-winning goal in the Habs' 4-1 win over the visiting Calgary Flames, and it was a critical one. Montreal led 1-0, but the stellar goaltending of Miikka Kiprusoff kept the...

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Eric Staal scored the backhand winner in the third, off a nice feed from Sergei Samsonov, in the Carolina Hurricanes' critical 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Ray Whitney had two goals in the win, and Michael Leighton stopped Alexander Ovechkin on a penalty shot. ......

By Greg Wyshynski • Defending the Toronto Maple Leafs' honoring Wendel Clark, and why they weren't "the stuck-in-the-mud Leafs" throwing "a bash in the trailer park for one of their unwashed heathens." [The Hockey News] • Finally, good scrap from a couple of days ago between Brandon Prust of Calgary and Ca...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSW, FSW). Erik Ersberg gets the start of the Kings, as Lubomir Visnovsky returns to Staples Center. According to the awesome Goalie Post, we should see Mathieu Garon start.

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSPT, FSD). Here's what Mike Babcock had to say about his Red Wings today after practice: "Who's the hardest-working team in the National Hockey League? ... Well, in the past I've been able to say without any question, here. I don't th...

By Ross McKeon No. 3 star: Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames The Flames' captain was very good in a supporting role, adding two assists to the Calgary offense. Iginla cranked off five shots and was a plus-2 with a takeaway while winning three of six draws during 19:19 of ice time during a road win.

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. EST; TV: RSW). The Kings have won just one of their last 11 games in Calgary. Erik Ersberg will be between the pipes, and Derek Armstrong is supposed to get into the lineup, according to Inside the Kings. Matthew Lombardi could be up on the top li...

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Jiri Hudler scored two impressive goals in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-3 win at the Edmonton Oilers; the Wings were 3-for-5 on the power play. ... Crosby had at three-point night in leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 victory at the Atlanta Thrashers. ... Radio analyst Sherry...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. EST; TV: RSW, ALT). It'll be Miikka Kiprusoff vs. Peter Budaj again tonight, as these two teams meet after the Flames absolutely pummeled the Avs earlier this week. No Joe Sakic again, which suits Calgary just fine.

By Greg Wyshynski • Icethetics does it again, with clear shots of the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators third jerseys. The front of this SNES tribute is a fail. [Icethetics] • Darren McCarty was placed on waivers yesterday by the Detroit Red Wings, but Ken Holland said he'll remain in the r...

By Greg Wyshynski Peter Budaj ended up making 47 saves for the Colorado Avalanche, as the Flames played much of the game in his end of the rink. But this was a 1-1 contest in the third period when Aucoin controlled the puck, skated into the slot and blasted a shot that went over the Avalanche goalie's glove for th...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: FPPV, CSBA). A rematch from last year's Western Conference quarterfinals, the Flames will see Brian Boucher between the pipes for San Jose. Dion Phaneuf's partner Jim Vandermeer will miss six weeks with a broken ankle.

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSN, RSW). The Leafs haven't played in Western Canada for nearly three years, which is a joke. The Flames vow to keep their eyes on Ryan Hollweg, which will be difficult unless they're in the back of their heads.

By Greg Wyshynski Doug Gilmour: Killer came up with the St. Louis Blues wearing No. 18 in the 1983-84 season as a rookie. But it was all about the nine: Gilmour switched to No. 9 in the following season, and then kept that digit alive through the '39' years with the Calgary Flames and the '93' years with the Toronto M...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: New York Islanders at Atlanta Thrashers (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, SS). This could be a fun little game between two aggressive teams. That said, the Thrashers are right now the worst team in the NHL because LA has a game in hand. And yet Waddell's checks still clear.

By Greg Wyshynski • Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla is struggling, and Kent has a theory: "Iginla is getting 'Tanguay'd' by Keenan so far: so-so linemates, tough competition." Something to watch, for sure. [Five Hole Fanatics] • Seems as though Los Angeles Kings fans are fed up with "Rinkside View." [Insi...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. EDT; TV: RSW). After being named second star of the week, Peter Budaj's many supporter(s) are rallying behind the Colorado keeper. Wayne Primeau thinks he has it all figured out for the Flames: "You've just got to get pucks to the net, c...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Dallas Stars at New York Islanders (7 p.m. EDT; TV: KDFI, MSG). The Stars limp to the Island after a 5-0 loss to the Devils last night, as Sean Avery is taking a beating from the Jersey media for clamming up. Great news for the Islanders: Chris Campoli is expected back on the ice tonight. An...

By Greg Wyshynski Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs allowed just four shots to the Anaheim Ducks in the second period, after going down 2-0 in the first, and then held Anaheim without a shot in the third period. Yes, Anaheim is struggling offensively and was missing Ryan Getzlaf due to some dental issues; b...

By Greg Wyshynski • Michael Russo drops a bombshell for Minnesota Wild fans: "According to an NHL team executive, Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough has been actively shopping Gaborik around the league and over the weekend offered Gaborik to his team in a trade." He goes on to report that Risebrough has h...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. EDT; TV: CSBA, KDOC). So either the San Jose Sharks' preposterously hot start or the Ducks' preposterously awful start with continue or end tonight. How's that for a preview, eh? Bottom line is that the Ducks need the goal-less Ryan Getzlaf an...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. EDT; TV: CSP, ALT). And we have an Andrew Raycroft sighting. The Avalanche, seeking their first win, will turn to the former Toronto Maple Leafs keeper tonight, as Rayzor takes his turn in goaltender hell. The Flyers, at 0-2-1, will t...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. EDT; TV: TSN). Two teams looking for their first win, and in Colorado's case its first point in the standings. Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper was in the Flames locker room today, allegedly giving the team a pep talk despite bei...

By Greg Wyshynski Philadelphia Flyers Edmonton Oilers Calgary Flames Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche San Jose Sharks Los Angeles Kings Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens Vancouver Canucks St. Louis Blues Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs New York Islanders Atlanta Thrashers

By Greg Wyshynski • You can count on one finger the number of captains in the NHL who can score 50 goals and knock down a tough player like Willie Mitchell of the Vancouver Canucks with one left hook. Take a gander at this Jarome Iginla fight for the Calgary Flames from Saturday night's loss to the Canucks. [Five H...

By Greg Wyshynski It was an interesting contrast in emotions last night: The Detroit Red Wings come out flat after celebrating their 2007-08 Stanley Cup title. The Vancouver Canucks honor fallen teammate Luc Bourdon with a pregame tribute (video), and manage to remain composed and focused in a 6-0 win. The...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks (10:30 p.m. EDT; TV: CBC). Todd Bertuzzi once again returns to Vancouver, skating with the Flames for what has to be last chance No. 3. The boys at the Kurtenblog will be doing a live blog of all the action. Make sure to stop by and say hello when either Ke...

By Greg Wyshynski 1 * Philadelphia Flyers 3 * New Jersey Devils 5 New York Islanders Northwest Division 1 * Calgary Flames 2 * Edmonton Oilers 3 * Colorado Avalanche 4 Minnesota Wild 5 Vancouver Canucks 1 * Anaheim Ducks 2 * Dallas Stars 3 * San Jose Sharks 4 Phoenix Coyotes 5 Los Angeles Kings

By Greg Wyshynski • Are the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes and the Detroit Red Wings the teams in the running for Brendan Shanahan if the New York Rangers have turned the page on him? [Snapshots] • The odd NHL journey of hockey fighter Brandon Sugden has come to an end with the New York Islanders. At lea...

By Greg Wyshynski • Coach Craig MacTavish calls the performance of his Edmonton Oilers "dismal" as they're run out of the building by the rival Calgary Flames. A shutout with no Miikka Kiprusoff? Ouchy. [Sun Media] • Philadelphia Flyers prospect Claude Giroux will likely start his season with the AHL Phant...

By Greg Wyshynski • The Montreal Canadiens have a new goal song from Simple Plan, replacing "Vertigo" from U2, which obviously wasn't French Canadian enough. And obviously Avril was too punk. [Eyes on the Prize] • Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens is a beast. [THN]

By Greg Wyshynski • Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood ... what a card. After hearing Matt Millen was fired by the Detroit Lions today, he said he'd consider taking over as general manager; adding the job to a wish list that includes spokesmodel for Bowflex. "I've got so much I want to accomplish before I'm 40." [...