The core of this team remains the same: Miikka Kiprusoff remains the corner stone of this franchise, Jarome Iginla leads by example, and the punishing blueline is still centered on phenom Dion Phaneuf and defensive specialist Robin Regher.
What has changed is that the 2006-07 Flames are an offensive force. They currently sit seventh overall in goals-for with 165 markers in just 52 games (3.17 goals-per-game). That is a far cry from the 05/06 Flames who ended their regular season 27th in goals-for with a lowly 216 goals in 82 games (2.63 goals-per-game).
The difference is night and day. With that noted, the stat that compliments their offensive prowess this season is that the Calgary flames remain a stingy defensive team, ranking eighth overall in goals-against allowing just 130 goals in 52 games thus far (good for 2.50 GAA).
Stats aside, this is a different and superior Calgary Flames squad. Nothing echoes that louder than newly (re)acquired Craig Conroy's first observation about this squad upon returning for his second tenure with the team: There is so much more skill. And that skill is coming from many different areas, all clicking in harmonious unity as of late:
The emergence of Kristian Huselius
Last year, Flames GM Darryl Sutter acquired Kristian Huselius from the Florida Panthers for Steve Montador and Dustin Johner. As each game goes by, that deal looks more and more like grand larceny.
Huselius is on pace for 40 goals, and will surpass his previous career best season any game now. He is nothing short of a wizard with the puck. Slowing the play down to whatever pace he decides, he is able to show control and passing ability unlike anyone in the league today. His recent penchant for shooting has opposing teams on their heels and he currently is making anyone he plays with better by association.
When the Flames lost captain Jarome Iginla for the month of January, Huselius began a point streak that currently has him pegged as the league's hottest player. With 18 points in his last 12 games (8 goals, 10 assists), Huselius boasts the leagues current longest scoring streak. If he continues his current level of play down the stretch, he will affirm himself as a legitimate superstar in the new NHL.
The addition of Alex Tanguay
Need offense? Enter Alex Tanguay. In another trademark move, Darryl Sutter sent defensemen Jordan Leopold and draft picks to the Colorado Avalanche for the playmaking winger at last year's draft. As it turns out, the move has paid dividends.
In light of Huselius' stellar performance, Tanguay gives the Flames one of the league's best one-two punches at left wing. Both have been interchanged between the top two lines, and everyone around them has benefited. Flames fans have been treated to witnessing some of the prettiest passing plays the team has seen in decades as Tanguay has bolstered the play of Iginla and Matthew Lombardi, just to name a few. On pace for 80 points and a plus-25 season, Tanguay has played an instrumental role in transforming the face of this Flames Team.
Daymond Langkow the No.1 Center
The lack of a true No.1 pivot in Calgary has dogged the team in criticism for over a year. But like a lack of scoring, that is another criticism that can be put to rest with the stellar play of center Daymond Langkow this year.
On pace for 35 goals and upwards of 85 points, Langkow currently sits 12th in scoring among centers, and is on par with all of the names that rumor mills have had Calgary seeking in the last year. Adding to the Flames overall system is Langkow's plus-23 rating, good for second overall among NHL centers.
Guess who's back
The re-acquisition of Conroy gives the Flames tremendous depth down the middle. Add his infectious dressing room personality and veteran leadership to the chemistry he boasts with Iginla, and the versatility the Flames have in their forward lines has gotten that much better.
Same old, same old
To say Iginla is back to his old self is an understatement. Despite missing the month of January to a knee injury, the league's premier power forward has played this season with a vengeance. He has fed off the stellar play of his linemates and is on pace for a 100-point season.
Iginla sits second in the NHL in points per game, second only to Sidney Crosby. Backed up by current Vezina winner Kiprusoff and lead on defense by the brilliant sophomore Phaneuf, the core of this team is like a rock.
Moving forward, the Flames need to turn their attention to road games, which has been their only weakness as of late. Improving their record away from home (where they are a league best) and bringing consistency to special teams will see this squad move from one of the better teams in the West to an outright powerhouse.
