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HEAD COACH
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Brian Sutter
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ROSTER
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C- Andrew Cassels, Clarke Wilm, Cory Stillman, Jeff Shantz,
Steve Dubinsky, Eric Landry; LW- Rene Corbet, Bob Bassen, Ed Ward,
Jason Wiemer, Dave Roche; RW- Valeri Bure, Jarome Iginla, Martin St.
Louis, Rocky Thompson; D- Tommy Albelin, Cale Hulse, Derek Morris,
Todd Simpson, Steve Smith, Phil Housley, Denis Gauthier, Chris
O'Sullivan, Eric Charron; G- Ken Wregget, Fred Brathwaite.
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INJURIES
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Rocky Thompson, rw (concussion Jan. 16, indefinite); Bob
Bassen, lw (back spasms, indefinite); Derek Morris, d (separated
shoulder, indefinite).
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TRANSACTIONS
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Recalled Eric Charron, d, from Saint John (AHL).
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GAME RESULTS
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3/09 St Louis W 7-4
3/12 Carolina L 2-1
3/13 Washington W 5-4 OT
3/16 Nashville W 4-2
3/17 Chicago L 3-1
3/21 N.Y. Islanders W 2-1
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STANDINGS
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Northwest Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
Colorado 70 35 26 9 79 197 178
Calgary 70 27 32 11 65 187 196
Edmonton 70 26 33 11 63 194 193
Vancouver 70 20 39 11 51 167 216
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TEAM NEWS
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by John Alsedek, Calgary Correspondent
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Here at LCS Hockey, there is one journalistic ideal that we hold
above all others. It's not honesty, or clarity, or even source
integrity. Nope, it's laziness.
I took on the job of Calgary Flames correspondent in the expectation
that the team would deal off Theo Fleury and Andrew Cassels, not be
able to score again before the end of the season, and miss the
playoffs, thereby letting me wrap up the Flames column for the
season in late April.
But darned if Brian Sutter and the boys aren't doing their best to
screw up the best-laid plans of LCS Hockey correspondents. Calgary
has just wrapped up a seven-game road trip -- including a stretch
of four games in seven nights -- with a wizard record of 5-2-0.
Granted, the opposition was less than stellar -- five of their
seven opponents are likely to be on the outside looking in come
playoff time. Still, 5-2-0 is 5-2-0, and the Flames will take their
points where they can get them.
If GM Al Coates dealt Fleury as early as he did in order to find out
what his youngsters could do, he must be pretty pleased with the results. In
the nine games since THE TRADE, the Flames have gone 6-3-0, and the Kid
Flames have been playing with - pardon the pun - fire.
Rene Corbet has four goals and two assists in the last six games;
Cory Stillman has six points in the same period. Hnat Domenichelli
has two tallies, and guys like Jarome Iginla, Jeff Shantz, and Andrei
Nazarov also have scored (Nazarov deserves bonus points, both for his
game winner against St Louis, and his newborn baby - congrats,
Andrei).
But, out of all the Young Guns, the most pleasant surprise has been
Pavel Bure's little brother, Valeri. Over the last six, he's racked
up a half-dozen goals, including two against the Islanders, who were
courteous enough to interrupt their fire sale to take a whole eleven
shots against Ken Wregget in a 2-1 loss.
Of course, it hasn't just been the kids contributing. The defense
has been tight, and the goaltending tandem of Wregget/Brathwaite
has generally been outstanding. Wregget's save percentage over the
past six has been around 93%. Mention should also be made of
veteran blueliner Phil Housley, who has two goals and five assists
over the last six.
At this point, the destiny of the Kid Flames is in their own hands.
Four of their final 13 games are against their arch-nemesis, the
Edmonton Oilers -- who also just happen to be Calgary's closest
challenger for the last playoff berth. Talk about the Battle of
Alberta! In fact, the Flames have a pretty tough schedule to close
out the season. Other than two games with the Canucks -- which are
as close to 'gimmes' as there are anyplace in the West -- and one
with Montreal, the Flames have their work cut out for them. Of
particular note should be the last home game of the season, with
Calgary hosting... yep, the Avs. It just doesn't get any easier for
the Flames, but my prognosis is this: eighth in the West, and a
real scare for the Stars in the first round -- maybe an upset, if
Ed Belfour plays down to his potential.
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