A Case of the Mondays: Living on a Prayer

by Hayley on Mar 28, 2011 2:25 PM PDT in A Case of the Mondays

Being a Flames fan is kind of depressing these days. After Saturday's close call against the league's worst team in the Edmonton Oilers, the team has just five games remaining to right the ship, and barring a perfect record in those games, a playoff position is extremely unlikely. I think it would be less depressing if the team had remained in 14th place all season rather than doling out false hope for two months only to come crashing abruptly down to their rightful place in the standings as a perfectly mediocre hockey club.

As much as I'd like to fit in with the cool, level-headed analyst crowd by saying I'm not surprised by the Flames' fall to the position where everyone expected them to finish the season, the likelihood of missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season still stings. As a fan, as much as you try and prepare yourself for failure, you just can't. Leafs fans have to go into every season hoping that the drought will end just like Boston Red Sox fans prior to 2004 had to believe the Curse of the Bambino would be lifted. Failure is part of sports and sports fandom, but expecting it shouldn't always be.

As much as you know that the product management is putting on the ice before your very eyes is inferior and not good enough to compete with eight other teams for a playoff spot, there's always that little part of you that hopes you're wrong, that they're all wrong. That something, anything will happen that will clear the path for your team to rise to the occasion and exceed expectations. And when it doesn't, and that little bit of hope is extinguished and the team crumbles, well, that 's the part that hurts the most; that's what it feels to be a Flames fan right now. For me anyways.

Links after the jump.

The Flames got some good news today as Brendan Morrison skated prior to practice this morning after sustaining a knee injury that looked to keep him out for the rest of the season, but there is still no timeline for his return because of swelling [NHLFlames]

AZR has some harsh words for Flames management, brought on by none other than...Eric Francis? [Dome Beers]

An assortment of musings on Miikka Kiprusoff, Jay Feaster, and the future [Flames Nation]

With multiple pending UFAs on their roster including forwards Curtis Glencross and Alex Tanguay and defenceman Anton Babchuk, the Flames' final five games could prove to be crucial to Feaster's off-season decision-making [The Hockey Writers]

Former Flame Theo Fleury managed to enrage some overly-sensitive Canucks fans via Twitter this weekend on the subject of the team's playoff chances, resulting in some highly insensitive responses to the retired star, whose struggles with addiction and abuse are well known [The Globe and Mail]

Lisa McRitchie recently scored an interview with top prospect Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who could potentially be an Oiler come June [The Copper & Blue]

Comparing Jordan Eberle's 20-year old season to that of other present and past NHLers [Oilers Nation]

Canucks defencemen Dan Hamhuis is being forced to ponder his future in the NHL after leaving Sunday's game with the fourth concussion of his career [The Globe and Mail]

That's all for today, happy Monday everyone and as always, have a great week!

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I think it would be less depressing if the team had remained in 14th place all season rather than doling out false hope for two months only to come crashing abruptly down to their rightful place in the standings as a perfectly mediocre hockey club.

This pretty much says it all for me :(

by Colin S on Mar 28, 2011 2:47 PM PDT reply actions

I can’t agree with this. As much as it stinks if the Flames finish 9th or 10th, there have been some hella awesome hockey games over the past 2 months. As much as it sucked watching Calgary suck for the first 40 minutes of the Edmonton game, that last 10 minutes and Tanguay’s shootout goal were awesome.

If I was simiply watching the Abbotgary FlHeat for the last 2 months and evaluating draft scouting reports, that would not have been better.

by CalTach on Mar 28, 2011 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Let me clarify. I absolutely have enjoyed the games over the last few months. The result of it all is what is more depressing to me.

by Colin S on Mar 28, 2011 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions

resulting in some highly insensitive responses to the retired star whose struggles with addiction and abuse are well known

Stay classy.

That Hamhuis his was pretty brutal to watch.

We know two things: Shitty Hockey and Booze.
Go Flames Go!

by Justin Azevedo on Mar 28, 2011 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

I’m definitely in the “it’s better to have loved and lost than never loved at all” crowd. It may not have lasted, but I was on the top of the world as a Flames fan for a couple months.

As for the Canucks, I don’t think they’re as good as their record indicates. They’ve got a bit of a cushion that comes with being the only NW team in the playoffs. And they aren’t going to have an easy first round match up, if they face Chicago or Anaheim. Either of those teams has the potential to upset higher seeds.

by ngthagg on Mar 28, 2011 6:13 PM PDT reply actions

The NW division might be the worst in the entire league. The Canucks’ record against divisional opponents? 16-2-2.

We know two things: Shitty Hockey and Booze.
Go Flames Go!

by Justin Azevedo on Mar 28, 2011 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed. I just don’t have faith in their D, or the Sedins ability to put up points against consistently solid competition.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by ArikJames on Mar 28, 2011 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions

I’m definitely in the "it’s better to have loved and lost than never loved at all" crowd. It may not have lasted, but I was on the top of the world as a Flames fan for a couple months.

This is me too. I mean, on one side it would be great to get a 2nd/3rd overall pick, but on the other side it’s been great watching hockey games where you never feel like your team is out of it.

At the beginning of the year, the first goal against was enough to make me want to turn off the TV. I had no confidence at all in the teams chances to come back. Now even down 4-1 I feel we still have a chance. That’s a HUGE difference, and I wouldn’t want to change that.

by Avalain on Mar 29, 2011 7:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Me too, I am also very happy with the last part of the season. It was great sustained and exciting hockey. As a fan it was awesome to get into that zone.

Savour the victories, forget the defeats.

I have always felt it is better to end the season strong rather than start strong and end weak. Really the Flames were missing just a handful of wins and they would have been in the playoffs. If you review their 2011 numbers they are impressive. #1 in GF, #3 PP in the NHL since the all-star break. These are strong positives.

Glass half-full, I am not down at all about next season and will operate with the assumption the team will carry it over.

by Mitch Smith on Mar 30, 2011 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Man oh man I sure hope Theo is proven right. Chicago’s or Anaheim’s chances against Vancouver are way better than Calgary’s.

by sure mojo on Mar 29, 2011 7:03 AM PDT reply actions

I can actually get almost as pumped for cheering against Vancouver as I can cheering for Calgary. Can’t wait for playoffs.

by Colin S on Mar 29, 2011 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions

its over

2 years now Calgary, get it together!!

by mattyboy9 on Mar 29, 2011 5:18 PM PDT reply actions

lol

We know two things: Shitty Hockey and Booze.
Go Flames Go!

by Justin Azevedo on Mar 29, 2011 6:16 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

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