Matchsticks and Gasoline Jan 22, 2015
Flames vs Ducks - Burn Down The Honda Centre
Burn it down, we're cursed. Four straight wins including two against San Jose and Los Angeles coming into this final night of the roadtrip; how would the Flames fare? Not good, friends. Not good. But hey, there are some legitimate positives to take away from this road trip. We got to see the emergence of Joni Ortio and then tonight's subsequent downfall heading into the All-Star break. Sean Monahan's continued sophomore play is one beautiful story to follow this season. Oh, and Mikael Backlund keeps doing everything he can. First Period - Right off the start of the game, future...
Fear The Fin Jan 17, 2015
Game 46: Sharks vs. Calgary Flames
In the second game of their lengthy homestand, the Sharks host fifth-place Calgary. Four of the Sharks' seven games on their current homestand will come against Pacific Division rivals, starting tonight with the Calgary Flames who are in town following their 4-1 trouncing of the Coyotes on Thursday. With top center Mikael Backlund healthy and back in the lineup, the Flames are slowly rebounding from a stretch that saw them lose eight games in a row beginning with a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Sharks on home ice in early December. Tale Of The Tape @ 23-18-3, 49...
Rotoworld Jan 16, 2015
Backlund's is on 4-game goal scoring streak - Mikael Backlund (C) Calgary Flames
Mikael Backlund found the back of the net in Calgary's 4-1 win against Arizona.
Matchsticks and Gasoline Jan 13, 2015
The ascension of Sean Monahan: His growth from sheltered rookie to two-way centre
With more being asked of him this season, Sean Monahan is making impressive strides, developing into a rather strong core player for the Flames along the way. The Flames have spent much of this season with Sean Monahan as their only veteran centre. While they started the season with Mikael Backlund, Joe Colborne, Matt Stajan, and Monahan down the middle, the first three all fell injured at the same time (Oct. 28, 2014 - the 2-1 shootout loss to the Habs), leaving the top centre position in the hands of a 20-year-old sophomore. While Colborne - who doesn't even always play centre - and...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Jan 8, 2015
Red Wings vs Flames - Backlund's Back, Alright! (Stats Recap)
Unlike Jesus, it took 29 games for Mikael Backlund to rise from his grave and attempt to trigger something. Subject to many questionable things last night and what-if's, the Flames unfortunately fell to Detroit. Detroit came into Alberta, burned Edmonton to the ground, and then came to Calgary and stole a couple points. It happens and we can move on now. That said, we did see some legitimate positives from last night's loss. Much like Ari's recap, much of the positives revolve around Mikael Backlund. You know that chronically hurt guy who happens to drive possession? Yeah he's pretty...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Jan 8, 2015
Calgary Flames vs Detroit Red Wings recap: Pick your own pun on Mikael Backlund being back and put it here
The Red Wings are an okay team, but also, did you know that Mikael Backlund just might be the greatest player of all time? And he's BACK. Having had the previous four days off, it was suddenly an eventful pre-game for the Calgary Flames. Not only was Mikael Backlund making his long awaited and all-too necessary return to the lineup, but the Flames' top scorer, Jiri Hudler, suddenly ditched the Saddledome during warm ups because his wife went into labour. That's great for the Hudlers, and great his former team, the Detroit Red Wings, whom the Flames were facing! But... less great for the...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Jan 7, 2015
Calgary Flames vs Detroit Red Wings game preview: Mikael Backlund is BACK!
The Flames are getting a massive boost down the middle as they look to get back in the win column. Once upon, the Detroit Red Wings played in the Western Conference. They threw multiple hissy fits about this fact, and when Winnipeg came along and messed up the old divisional format, they finally got their wish, and now we only have to see them twice a year, and it's great. Last season, the Calgary Flames dropped both games, although they were close, and one required overtime. Tonight, the first of these two meetings takes place. More importantly, though, tonight heralds the return of Mikael...
Matchsticks and Gasoline Jan 4, 2015
Who gets sent down when Mikael Backlund comes off the injured reserve?
The Flames need to demote a player when Backlund is activated from the injured reserve. There are two standout candidates: a prospect and an oft-scratched veteran. Mikael Backlund is close to returning to action, which is great news for the Flames. The 25-year-old Swedish centre is one of their best forwards, and part of the reason the Flames have had such disastrous possession numbers this season - they're 29th in the league at 44.1%, just a few decimal points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche, but a far cry from anything good - can be attributed to his loss. Backlund...
