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Sunday, October 10, 1999
Chin up, boys!
"Everybody tells us 'You've had a horse(bleep) start'," sighed Flames coach Brian Sutter yesterday, following a surprisingly punishing practice at the 'Dome. "I suppose it's the easy thing to say. Well, let me tell you, we've done a lot of good things in the last two games -- for starters, we gave up only eight and 11 scoring chances.
"We know we're not as bad as everyone's saying right now. That said, though, we know we should be better."
It's kind of hard to buy into the 'give thanks' mantra that'll be murmured around dining-room tables across the length and breadth of this land tomorrow. There are no holidays for the Calgary Flames these days. Not at 0-3. Not with the franchise at a decisive moment in its history.
Already this is drawing comparisons to the infamous '97 start that saw the team wait until Halloween to get its first victory.
Captain Steve Smith is a -5, worst on the team, tied with Doug Gilmour for worst in the league. Denis Gauthier, Phil Housley, Cory Stillman and Jeff Shantz -- important players all -- aren't fashionably better, at -4. They're averaging less than two goals a game and the team save percentage of .833 is the second shoddiest on the books at present.
Naturally, the Flames will heartily welcome right winger Jarome Iginla back into the fold. He practised yesterday, after spending a week at home outside Edmonton as his contract status was finalized.
"'Course we're happy to have Iggy back," said Sutter, who ripped his leading goal scorer of a year ago for the financial squabble not so long ago. "I'm his biggest booster."
There's a good possibility Rene Corbet (groin strain) might also return to face the 'Canes tomorrow afternoon.
Already, there's a defensive air around the dressing room and, truth be told, it is still very, very early in the season. Getting out of this losing funk, however, had better not take a whole lot longer.
"We've never had our whole team together yet," Sutter pointed out.
"The margin for error nowadays is so small. Even veteran teams can't make mistakes and still win."
Another problem has been allowing teams to wriggle out of striking distance.
"I don't mind being a goal behind," said Sutter. "Then all it takes is one shot. What's hurt us is the goal that gets us two behind. In San Jose, what really bothered me was the fifth goal. (Friday) night, the third.
"Two goals in this league today is a lot to make up. When did the Atlanta Braves win last night? In the 12th inning. They've got so many wins in the ninth inning, you couldn't keep count.
"But they give themselves a chance to win. That's the point."
QUICK HITS: C Jason Wiemer (knee) is scheduled to begin skating again this week ... Ex-Flame Gary Roberts has an injured shoulder and will not be in uniform on Thanksgiving, although he has stayed with the 'Canes on the trip. Roberts has yet to play against Calgary at the 'Dome ... The 'Canes are still without unsigned Keith Primeau.
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