FLAMES LOOK TO HEAT UP
The Flames couldn’t have asked for more puck luck than they received Saturday in Edmonton. And, to their credit, they took advantage, securing a 5- 4 win in the dying seconds. Even with their slow start, the Flames have time to turn it around and make the
1. NO. 12 WITH A BULLET
When RW Jarome Iginla left Calgary, he was atop the franchise charts in many categories, including games played ( 1,219), goals ( 525), points ( 1,095), gamewinning goals ( 83), power play goals ( 161), shots ( 3,992) ... With stops in Pittsburgh, Boston, Colorado, he’s increased his career totals, elevating himself into some very elite company ... With 1,403 games, Iginla is 35th overall. In reach by season’s end is Doug Gilmour, who’s 20th ... With 593 goals, he’s 19th all- time. Jari Kurri, with 601, is one rung up. After that are Dino Ciccarelli ( 608) and Bobby Hull ( 610) ... With 641 assists, Iginla is tied with Gary Suter for 65th. Bobby Orr is only four helpers away ... With 1,234 points, he sits 38th. Within striking distance? Peter Stastny, Jean Ratelle ... With 94 game- winning goals, Iginla is tied for eighth with Steve Yzerman ... The 38- year- old is committed to the Avs through the 2016- 17 campaign ... He has eight points, including four goals, in 11 games this season.
2. SWAP SHOP
Colorado’s roster is dotted with former members of the Flames ... What does Calgary have to show for these departed gents? ... For RW Jarome Iginla, traded to Pittsburgh in March 2013, the Flames got RW Ben Hanowski ( cut loose, currently playing in Germany), LW Kenny Agostino ( AHL Stockton, four points in six games), and a first- round pick ( LW Morgan Klimchuk, AHL Stockton, zero points in four games, currently injured) ... For LW Blake Comeau, traded to Columbus in April 2013, the Flames got a fifth- round pick ( D Eric Roy, since released, currently playing in ECHL) ... For LW Alex Tanguay, traded ( with D Cory Sarich) to Colorado in June 2013, the Flames got RW David Jones and D Shane O’Brien ( bought out) ... For G Reto Berra, traded to Colorado in March 2014, the Flames got a second- round pick ( RW Hunter Smith, AHL Stockton, zero points in five games) ... For D Brad Stuart, signed as a free agent by Los Angeles in July 2007, the Flames got nothing.
3. ABOUT THE AVS
Colorado didn’t exactly shine during the first month of the regularseason schedule — or on the first day of November, falling 4- 3 to San Jose. Apparently, though, the team isn’t as bad as it seems ... “I get it,” said Avs coach Patrick Roy. “We don’t have the result to support what we’re doing. And that’s all that’s missing right now. It’s just a frustrating situation right now. We do a lot of good things out there. We just can’t get rewarded with it.” ... Added LW Gabriel Landeskog: “We’re still not getting the job done, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters — whether you get the two points or not.” ... Offensively, the Avs are 19th. Defensively, they’re 24th ... Special teams are decidedly middle of the pack — power play and penalty killing are 16th ... C Nathan MacKinnon, with 10 points, and Landeskog, with nine, top the Avs ... LW Cody McLeod, with 36 penalty minutes, is one minute behind NHL- leader Ottawa RW Chris Neil. Calgary LW Brandon Bollig is third with 35 PIM.
4. WHEN LAST THEY MET
March 23, 2015 — the home- ice Flames prevailed 3- 2 on goals from RW David Jones, LW Lance Bouma, RW Jiri Hudler. G Karri Ramo registered the victory, while C Sean Monahan won 21 of 27 draws ... “We got caught in our own end a couple of times, but they’re a talented team and it’s tough to keep them at bay when they start wheeling around the zone,” says Jones. “It’s a little bit of a circus when ( Colorado) starts ( moving the puck), but they’ve got a lot of talent up there offensively. It was nice to come out with two points.” ... In 2014- 15’ s three games, Jones and Colorado C Ryan O’Reilly each picked up five points. With four apiece were Bouma and LW Alex Tanguay ... Ramo and G Semyon Varlamov worked the season series, in which the Flames were 2- 1- 0 ... All- time, Atlanta/ Calgary is 69- 56- 27 against Quebec/ Colorado ... The teams have split their last 10 meetings, 5- 5- 0, the most recent five being one- goal decisions ... At the Pepsi Center, the Flames 6- 3- 1 in their last 10 visits.
5. ODDS ' N’ ENDS
Colorado and Calgary are 1- 2 in the NHL in blocked shots, with 209 and 199, respectively ... Kris Russell leads the league with 43 in 12 games ... Calgary, with a 4.08 GAA, is 30th. Tied for first? Pittsburgh and New York Rangers, at 1.82 ... The Flames’ attack is ranked 22nd. Most dangerous? Boston’s, believe it or not, with an average of nearly four goals per night ... For five- on- five goals ratio, Calgary and Anaheim are tied for last. The Rangers rule the roost in that department ... The Flames are 29th in faceoffs. Only Nashville is worse ... On the weekend in San Diego, AHL Stockton lost 3- 2 twice — once in a shootout ( in front of 7,152 fans), once in regulation. Scoring for the 2- 3- 1 Heat — D Oliver Kylington, C Bill Arnold, LW Bryce Van Brabant, RW Austin Carroll. G Jon Gillies handled the goaltending duties ... After seasons in Finland and Russia, former Flames G Leland Irving, 27, is ninth in the AHL with his 1.96 GAA, on behalf of Iowa, Minn.’ s top affiliate.