Road Music: 02/15 @ Calgary Flames

How appropriate - to end a losing streak at the same place it began. Of course, that's just one game. Bad habits are easy to fall into, and the Blues will need to prove themselves each shift of every game. If they let up again, then we're back to square one again. But, if the Blues play their game: possession hockey, strong forechecking, not allowing shots on goal ... there's no stopping them. Whatever sparked the team in the second period in Detroit needs to continue against a lesser opponent tonight. If they do they're

Back In The Saddle Again / Aerosmith

After 13 games last year, the Blues had 32 team goals. This year, they have 43. It's that noticeable increase in scoring "pop" that keeps me optimistic when our boys fall behind.

The Enemy: The Flames have a lot to worry about themselves. Franchise goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has gone down with a sprained MCL. Thus begins the Leland Irving era in Calgary. Irving enters this game with a 2-1-1 record and a stat line of 2.93 GAA and .895 Save Percentage. Their most talented forward is Jarome Iginla, but he is notoriously a slow starter, and so far this year has only 1 goal and 7 assists. In fact, Calgary's goals leader so far is old friend Lee Stempniak with 5 (tied with Curtis Glencross). Lighting the lamp lately, though is Mike Cammalleri. He had a hat trick against Dallas in their last game, and has 7 points in his past two games.

This game features the top two Power Play units in the league (STL at 34.7% and CGY at 27.5%), but both teams are in the lower third of the league in Penalty Kill.

Further Reading:

Matchsticks And Gasoline

Final Verse: Now the Blues are in the Mountain time zone, so tonight's action doesn't start until 8 PM St Louis time. The TV coverage is back to FoxSports MW, and the radio call is on KMOX 1120 AM. The GDT should drop shortly beforehand.

Try to keep up with this video about this past offseason, from the perspective of some Flames fans:

Flame On! (via theOGkim)

LGB!

-CrossCheckRaise