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Saturday night could not come at a better time for the Calgary Flames and their 9 game losing streak. The Flames have recored a dismal record of (0-6-3) over their past 9 games. A mark that had been the worst losing streak in team history since going 11 games without a win in the 1986 season.
Even with this going through the head's of many Flames players Saturday, they knew that they would still have the upper hand going into Saturday nights game as they were facing an injury-plagued Edmonton Oilers squad who came into the matchup being the only team having a worse losing record. The Oilers had not recorded a win in 12 games while going (0-10-2) over that time and (1-17-2) in their last 20.
After twenty minutes of play, the Flames held a 2-1 lead going into the dressing room. But, it was in the second period that the Flames offence broke the game open by scoring three unanswered goals. Dustin Boyd lead the second period scoring assault by driving a turnover from Oilers defencemen Sheldon Souray high over Edmonton Oilers goaltended Devan Dubnyk at 6:48. A Dion Phaneuf slapshot off a Jamie Lundmark onetimer then found the back of the net 44 seconds later before captain Jarome Iginla fired a Mark Girodano rebound home on a 2 man advantage later in the period.
Iginla then scored his second of the night in the third period by sneaking one past the Oilers netminder Devan Dubnyk off a Jay Bouwmeester slap pass from in the slot. Rene Bourque also scored for the Flames, who hammered home the puck after Jay Bouwmeester set up an amazing rush on the delayed penatly call. Jarome Iginla had an assist on the goal, registering his 900th career point. He was also credied with a Gordie Howe hat trick after taking on Oiler defencemen Sheldon Souray in the third period. Souray fractured his hand on the fight.
Sam Gagner was the only Edmonton Oiler able to beat a red hot Miikka Kiprusoft as he stoped 27 shots in the game, to lock up the two points for the Flames who now move back infront of Detroit for the eight spot in the Western Conference.
The win for the Flames signified a perfect year against the Oilers as they have won all 6 matches in the Battle of Alberta, as this was the last meeting between the two clubs for the year. This was the first time in the 29 years that the Battle of Alberta existed that one team has swept the other.
The Edmonton Oilers have only managed to ripple the mesh seven times in the past seven games. They sit last overall in the NHL, seven points behind both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers are now one loss away from the longest losing streak in club history, which was 14 set back in 1993. The longest losing streak in NHL history was 17 straight games without a win set by the Washington Capitals in 1974-75 and the San Jose Sharks in 1992-93.
Will the Oilers ever win a game? How long will this streak continue, and what moves will be need to be made by the Edmonton Oilers? Stay tuned to www.checkingfrombehind.com for all the info and updates.
Adam Reid
adam_mapleleafs@hotmail.com
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According to TSN:
The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced 2 trades today. Both are considered strong trades that have rocked the foundation of the club, including a blockbuster 7 player trade in the process.
