Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames, Game 59 Breakdown

Edmonton Oilers
@ Calgary Flames

Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012, 7:00 PM MST
Scotiabank Saddledome

Matchsticks and Gasoline

Net Management - FlamesNation
This weekend's recall of goaltender Henrik Karlsson and subsequent assignment of Leland Irving to Abbotsford had many wondering what exactly the Calgary Flames were thinking. Over the past months since Karlsson's injury in Vancouver, Irving has proven himself more than capable as an NHL backup and has given the team a consistent chance to win, something Karlsson hasn't done as consistenly. There is little argument Irving gives the team the best chance to win when Miikka Kiprusoff needs a rest, so, why has he been demoted to the American Hockey League?

Odds and Ends and Questions - FlamesNation
I was thinking about the first Olli Jokinen trade the other day and it's impact on the Calgary Flames since it occurred. I mean, how many moves in the past 3 years have had some relation to it? Obviously, if the first trade doesn't happen, then Calgary probably keeps their first rounder, Brandon Prust and Matthew Lombardi. The Flames don't have that insane salary crunch late in the year when the injury bug hits, and that maybe allows them to stay in 3rd going into the playoffs. They have more forward depth (and we never see Warren Peters) in the first round, and they play against lesser competition. Maybe they win that round or they go long enough to see Mark Giordano and Robyn Regehr get a little healthier. (Worth noting that in my opinion the 08-09 team prior to the Jokinen trade was probably the 3rd best Flames team ever constructed.)

2012 NHL Trade Deadline: Utter Blasphemy (Or Why I'd Take Jeff Carter Over Rick Nash) - Matchsticks and Gasoline
With both Columbus stars theoretically available at the trade deadline, the talk has shifted from "I'm not sure I'd want Jeff Carter" to "WOWEE DO I SURE WANT RICK NASH", seemingly without regard to actual production and future production. While that reaction shift is certainly entertaining, it's also off base for several reasons: production, contract, "reputation", and value of draft picks.

The Tardy Version Of Whatever The Hell It Is I Do Around Here (Last Decade) - Matchsticks and Gasoline
I thought hard about it though, and I feel he's worthy of the spot. Tommy Boy played 3 games this week on the second line , a role he's likely never played in his 10 year NHL career. Thrust into second line service from some pretty debilitating injuries from the team's core, Kostopoulos didn't look too out of place most of the time on a wing with Mike Cammalleri, who suddenly seems to be finding his game, and the also kinda new to bigger minutes Blake Comeau.

Ryan Smyth -- Shawn Horcoff – Ryan Jone
Taylor Hall – Sam Gagner – Jordan Eberle
Magnus Paajarvi – Anton Lander – Ales Hemsky
Ben Eager – Eric Belanger – Lennart Petrell

Ladislav Smid – Jeff Petry
Ryan Whitney – Tom Gilbert
Andy Sutton – Cam Barker

Devan Dubnyk

G59 Oilers at Flames - Lowetide
Ales Hemsky is an outstanding talent, and the truth is that he has miles and miles to go.

Kevin Lowe On The Success Of The Detroit Red Wings, The Failings Of Ilya Kovalchuk - Cult of Hockey
One of the managers he interviewed was Kevin Lowe, who built the 2006 Oilers team that came within a single win of a Stanley Cup. There’s a lot to the book and I’ll undoubtedly be referencing comments made by Lowe and others, but I wanted to start today with Lowe’s take on the Detroit Red Wings and what makes them successful. I’ve split the following quote into parts to make individual points stand out, but aside from that it is entirely as presented in Farris’ book:

Today's Frustrated Edmonton Fan: OilOnWhyte

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