Game Day Links: Stuck on a Losing Streak

Well, after putting together a nice little winning streak, the Flames have lost their past four games, falling to the Avalanche, Capitals, Wings, and Wild. As is typically the case in losses, they haven't looked too good doing it. Friday's game was probably the most complete effort of the four, but the team is still left searching for answers after scoring only nine goals in those games. 

Yes, frustration is beginning to mount once again in Flamesland. Jarome Iginla hasn’t scored in 34568 games and is again the subject of a variety of trade rumours circulating around the interweb; the rest of the forwards and the defence are serving up enough turnovers to put local bakeries out of business; and the goaltending tandem of Kiprusoff and Karlsson have allowed some soft ones to sneak past them that they’d probably like to have back. It’s been ugly for nearly everyone involved, and especially for the line of Niklas Hagman, Olli Jokinen, and Rene Bourque. If my math is correct (which is doubtful) this trio is a combined -75 in terms of Corsi over the past four games and -30 in terms of scoring chance differential. Ouch. Underwater is an understatement. To be fair, Brent Sutter has been partial to sending them out against the oppositions’ best in very tough circumstances in order to make things easier on Iginla and Co., which has yet to yield any real results, but as good a player as he is, Rene Bourque can’t carry this line on his own, and it’s starting to show. He needs some help. If the Flames don’t find some consistent solution for a Power vs. Power line that can at least play their competition to a draw, they’re going to be in tough most nights.

The Flames are in Denver tonight in hopes of avenging a 6-5 loss to the Avs at home back on October 28th, and will be hoping to build upon some of the positive aspects of Friday's game in Minnesota and come out with the two points. But with the Flames' recent successes (or lack thereof) against Colorado, you never know what could happen. 

News and links after the jump. 

Daryl 'Doc' Seamen, former part owner of the Flames and one of the men responsible for bringing the team to Calgary, was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame yesterday after passing away last year at the age of 86 [Flames] 

Former Flame Dustin Boyd was placed on waivers by the Canadiens yesterday; Boyd was traded to Montreal in the off-season, and has one goal in nine games for the Habs [Flames Insider]

Curtis Glencross will reportedly be a game-time decision for tonight’s contest after sitting out against the Wild with an unknown injury [The Calgary Herald]

Hit the Post hits the road [HTP]

Arik addresses the logistics of an Iginla trade [The 4th Line Blog]

An interesting comparison of NHL teams according to the height and weight of their players [PPP] 

Elliotte Friedman discusses the Joe Thornton suspension, HHOF inductions, and more in his weekly 30 Thoughts [CBC Sports]

DGB chimes in with his always humorous take on the most recent inductees [Down Goes Brown] As a side note, I'm beyond bummed that I missed him along with a few other notable members of Ottawa's sports media speaking at Carleton yesterday. I clearly need to check my school email account more often. 

Have a great day everyone, and see you in the GameThread this evening! Go Flames. 

by Hayley Mutch