37. Calgary Flames at Boston Bruins. I Love You Jarome Iginla

I fucking love the Flames.

I know they suck, but I don’t care.

You know how everyone seemingly has an Eastern Conference team and a Western Conference team that they cheer for? Well for me, it’s all about Calgary. I think it begins and ends with my undying love for Jarome Iginla. Seriously, there is nothing this guy can do wrong which would include slapping my wife and playing for the Canadiens. He’s a fantastic hockey player. Every trade deadline there’s rumors that Iginla is going to be traded somewhere and every trade deadline I hope that it’s Boston. Yes, he’s getting up there in age, but the man can still play.

Calgary as a team, though, sucks the big one. They’re currently 12th overall in the West with 41 points and a wonderful 18-18-5 record. They have a goal differential of -4 (while the Bruins have a league leading+60) and they are 8-13-2 on the road. It’s a shame too because there is talent on this Calgary roster.

Iginla is currently ranked 39th overall in total points with 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 41 games. He’s the only top 40 scorer on the team. Olli Jokinen ranks 41st overall with 32 points as well, though he has12 goals and 20 assists. Those are your top two scorers in Calgary. Health (and brains) is also an issue in Calgary. Rene Bourque just seems to elbow everything in sight:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vLgXNqxriQ&w=420&h=315]
This also marks the second time this season that Bourque has been suspended. Bourque was first suspended for 2 games in December for a hit on Brent Seabrook and yesterday was suspended 5 games for thepreviously shown elbow to Backstrom. I bet Bourque was gunning for Ovechkin though, which is okay by me.

Like I mentioned earlier, health is also an issue for the Flames. Calgary has played in 41 games this season. They currently have 7 players that have played in every game this season, 1 player who has played 40games and the rest trickle down from there. Not to mention that their one of their best defensemen, Anton Babchuk, has only played 11 games because he’s been on IR for a good chunk of time.

I also hope that Iginla scores tonight because it will be career goal 500 for him. I’d love to see that done in Boston.

The Flames will start rookie goaltender Leland Irving in net tonight. Irving has played in 3 games this season, posts a 1-0-2 record with a GAA of 2.23 and a SV% of .942. Jesus fucking Christ Brent Sutter, whydon’t you just marinate the kid in BBQ sauce and tie him to a tree in the woods? What’s the difference? The only possible saving grace is that the Bruins are coming home from a road trip and may, may, be tiredbut that’s even a stretch.

This poor bastard. Watch, how he gets a fucking shutout.

waffle

After the jump, more preview!...

Projected Lines

Milan Lucic – David Krejci – Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Tyler Seguin
Beniot Pouliot – Chris Kelly – Dick Peverley
Danny Paille – Greg Campbell – Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara – Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg – Joe Corvo
Adam McQuaid – Andrew Ference

Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas

Media

Puck Drop: 7pm EST
TV: NESN
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
Online Feeds: Here