Wednesday’s Games and Picks

Tonight’s Picks

FLA @ BUF: Take PANTHERS

MIN @ NYI: Take WILD

OTT @ CAR: Take HURRICANES

CGY @ PIT: Take PENGUINS

SJS @ CHI: Take SHARKS

ANA @ COL: Take DUCKS

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CALGARY CUP REAL POSSIBILITY

It was back in 1994 when Coach Mike Keenan last lifted the Stanley Cup at Madison Square Garden in New York when he was the coach of the Rangers.

It was his only motivation when his old friend and current General Manager Darryl Sutter came calling to coach this Calgary Flames team.

Keenan took the job last season to win a Stanley Cup but this is the first season of the two that they are legit.

The Flames are sitting behind Western Conference leaders Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks who have gone through long winning and some short losing streaks this season.

Calgary in 3rd with a 42-24-6 record have played like Cup contenders ever since the trade deadline where Sutter made some vary savvy maneuvers landing Olli Jokinen to play on the top line along with defenceman Jordon Leapold.

Keenan who has coached in the NHL for the better part of three decades with a fist full of teams none more likable to Keenan’s coaching style than the current Flames roster.

Just like in New York, Keenan with Mark Messier has a solid working relationship with his star forward and captain Jerome Iginla and a shocking relationship with his goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff where he just leaves him alone to tend the net unlike Keenan’s past rep with his tenders.

I love the way the Flames compete and battle under Keenan playing the exact style you will need to play to get out of the very tough Western Conference.

The Flames have the right roster make-up with the right amount of what it takes to win a cup.

The only real concern in the Western Conference is with so many great teams that play that same style of bruising hockey the team that is left standing in the Cup final against the East will have gone through a war.

Detroit the skilled team with great team speed along with the Sharks who have a very similar amount of grit and style as the Flames are the Western favorites.

Don’t count out the Canucks who with their goaltending and somewhat grinding style along with their skilled Swedes will be a tough opponent come playoff time.

The West will be won with heart, passion and down right nasty played hockey, who is willing to go through all of that on a nightly basis will come out on top.

The Flames are getting career years from some people but none more effective then that of Mike Cammalleri who at the moment has 36 goals good for 75 points. He has also added the all important power play numbers that have seen him lead the team with 19 PPG.

Keenan has said over the years that his highest paid players are the easiest to motivate because those players have the will to be the best players every night. None more than Iginla want to win a Stanley Cup in Calgary but this year he has all the right tools thanks to the late season trades.

Jokinen has put up outstanding numbers for Keenan who having coached him before in Florida has been an obvious advantage for the Flames. Jokinen-Iginla- Cammalleri are dynamite as a line providing the Flames a line that can go head to head against any teams best.

Then there is the injured big man Todd Bertuzzi who will be back and fresh for playoffs who has potted 15 goals. Bert will help the team in so many ways but not the least of which he is a big winger that can play any way you want but has a clear nasty side to him needed in playoffs.

The surprising upside of Jamie Lundmark (6-7=13) has had since being re-called from the AHL minors has given the Flames some much depth help which will be instrumental against Detroit and Sharks of the West.

So if you like mean nasty hockey and your favorite team in Toronto or Ottawa has bit the big one this season then jump on the Flames bandwagon- which is sure to grow in Canada as the playoffs start.

The Keenan led group- with Sutter up top lead this cast of characters that want to taste the Cup championship as bad as their loyal Western fans, who will make the Flames playoff building a very tough place to play as always proven by the (24-9-4) Home Record.

Canada’s best chance at a Stanley Cup rests this season with the Calgary Flames so start hating those Red Wings and Sharks now !

For Hockey God I’m Dave Frost

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