"It's great when you see things going exactly according to plan," boasted Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster, after the team's exhilarating loss on Tuesday to the Edmonton Oilers. "When you see the Flames play a game like that, you get a clear glimpse into the future. It's brilliant!"
The game started off on a sour note, with Flames defenseman Scott Hannan accidentally putting a long, lazy shot past Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk. "That's just the way things go sometimes," admitted the regretful Hannan after the game. "I was aiming for the far corner, but missed." By the end of the 1st period, the score was tied, but it was obvious the Flames were working their plan to perfection, as they were outshot 17 to 7.
By the end of the 2nd period, the Oilers were outshooting the Flames 34 to 11, and were up by four goals. "After that second period, I knew I had to pull Kipper (Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff)," stated Head Coach Brent Sutter. "He was the only thing keeping us in the game, and I had to put a stop to it. Sometimes Miikka has a mind of his own out there."
In the 2nd period, the Flames were clearly out-chanced and outplayed by Oilers, most notably Sam "8 Hands" Gagner, Taylor Hall, Ales Hemsky and Jordan Eberle. Ryan Smyth, who was celebrating his 36th birthday on Tuesday, also scored in the 2nd period after a Play-of-the-Week pass from Gagner.
Feaster was unimpressed by the Oilers play. "I watched them skating, and skating, and skating circles around our team, and I kept asking myself WHO DOES THAT? I mean, why put so much effort into trying to win a silly hockey game? The Oilers coaching staff should be ashamed for putting their players through 60 minutes of hell like that."
Hall, in particular, played like a madman the entire game.
"I feel for the Flames, because I know what it's like to be on a team filled with so many huge losers," said Hall. Hall went on to add that even Eric Belanger even managed to get a goal in the game, and that, more than anything else, indicates the Flames future of failure has already begun.
"Belanger is a sniper. He use to light us up all the time when he was in Phoenix," responded Sutter. "We're use to seeing him play like he did tonight. I think he had six goals against us in one game last season. It doesn't matter though, because the Oilers don't control our destiny. We know where this team is headed in April, and we'll hold our head high no matter if we're at Pebble Beach or St. Andrews."
By successfully losing to the Oilers, the Flames dropped into 9th place in the Western Conference, one point behind the LA Kings.
"The Kings are a much, much better, vastly superior team than us, thankfully," explained Feaster. "When we step up to the podium to select 14th overall at the NHL Draft in June, we'll know how close we came to making the playoffs, and we'll feel tremendous pride because of it. We're not some lame team that thinks they need to tank first before succeeding in the future. Success, like utter failure, is for losers."
"Every time I see players like Hall on the Oilers, I feel like losing my lunch," Feaster continued. "I don't want to be the type of GM who ever makes drafting that easy on my scouting staff. We have a proud tradition of just missing the playoffs in Calgary, and it's my job as GM to make sure that tradition continues."
Post Game Notes
- Earlier in the day, the Flames tried unsuccessfully to trade the Sedin Twins for Tyler Seguin. "How was I suppose to know the Flames can only deal players from our own team? It works all time when I play NHL 2012," proclaimed Feaster.
- Sutter was dismayed when Flames defenseman Chris Butler was injured on a play when he skated into Kiprusoff. "I told him to hurt Kipper, not himself," said Sutter.
- There was buzz around North America on Twitter that Flames play-by-play tandem Rod Kerr and Charlie Simmer would be nominated for an Emmy after their brilliant work during the game. "That was the best game coverage I've ever heard. Left me speechless," quipped Larry King.
- Rumors were swirling after tonight's performance that Feaster will be moving the Flames three remaining decent players under the age of 35 to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday for Scott Gomez.
"Don't listen to what some fat, unemployed, naked blogger from his parent's basement says about the Flames trying to get players like Rick Nash or Jeff Carter. I'm telling you straight, the Flames love Gomez and are willing to do whatever it takes to land him!"
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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