Newman

Calgary, AB • Canada • 29 Years Old • Male

And now, the end is near

“You're not, you're not good, Al. You stink.”

That was Ty Webb referring to Al Czervik’s golf game in Caddyshack.

He might as well have been referring to the 2009-10 version of the Calgary Flames as they all but sealed there playoff fate Thursday night on the Island with a 3-2 loss to the third worst team in the league.

With only eight games remaining and only one of those games coming against a non-playoff team, Flames fans might as well come to the realization that for the first time since 2003 their will not be a playoff game played in Calgary.

Their powerplay once again failed them when they needed it most, going 0 for 5 on the night. This, against an Islander team with the fourth worst penalty kill in the NHL. The Flames powerplay unit ranks 25th in the league with 16.5% of all chances finding the back of the net, which is worse than last year’s unit that finished 21st in the league with a 17% completion rate.

It was hard to imagine a powerplay worse than last years ‘No practice man-advantage’ unit, but I guess the Flames one upped themselves this time.

What is there to say really? Besides stating that last nights game was simply a microcosm of the entire season; at least the parts of the season that costs the Flames a birth of in the playoffs.

They weren’t able to find goals when they needed them. They were led by their fourth line and Eric Nystrom has emerged as the Flames offensive threat of late. No offence to the man formerly referred to as ‘Nyzerman,’ but he should not be the one counted on late in the season to provide the offensive support.

Jarome Iginla has one goal in his last eight games. A guy who his leaned on so heavily in this city to provide goal scoring simply did not come through when it mattered most. He did not step up to the plate and should hold some blame for this season as Captain and leader of this team.

The Flames have gone through Coaches like water in the last five years so its hard to imagine that Brent Sutter will be handed his walking papers. You have to figure the blames has to fall somewhere else this time.

The players? Definitely! But first and foremost the mastermind behind this whole operation must atone for his mistakes. My eyes are firmly planted on you Darryl.

At least now the Flames will be able to get tee times at Bushwood with Al, Ty, Danny and maybe even Judge Smails.

“Just be the ball, be the ball, be the ball. You're not being the ball Danny.”

The Flames clearly were having a difficult time ‘being the ball.’

This has been,

Newman on the Flames

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