Mark Giordano News

Brantt Myhres never did keep a log of his many fights. But going back to his wild junior days, the former NHLer figures he dropped his gloves about 300 times before former Edmonton Oilers enforcer Georges Laraque ended his career with a smashing left hand in a 2005 pre-season game at the Saddledome in Calgary.

Obviously, Darryl Sutter must have the damnedest aptitude for time management. A two-day window, 48 hours, to sign the most enticing free-agent defenceman in this, the summer of 2009, before the rest of the National Hockey League could break down Jay Bouwmeester's door waving all manner of enticements? C'mon. Stop it.

For the past six NHL seasons, the Jay Bouwmeester show has been playing almost exclusively on the Sunshine Network.

Brent Sutter knows it won't be easy for his brother to get Jay Bouwmeester's autograph anytime soon.

For one week, at least, the moaning in Calgary drowns out the moaning in Edmonton .

Flames captain Jarome Iginla shakes hands with Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin following Chicago's 4-1 win last night.

Miikka Kiprusoff looks down in his crease in the final minute of Calgary's season.

This won't be easy, evaluating this bunch. Were the Calgary Flames an elite team undone by injuries? Or were they over-rated? Overwhelmed? Over the hill? At any rate, here are letter grades for your two dozen heroes in red.

Some random thoughts and observations on the Blackhawks ousting the Flames in six: * The veteran-heavy Flames were supposed to have the edge in grit, but it was the young Hawks who established the physical tone throughout the series.

Let's face it, part of the NHL playoffs, a big part, is the injury factor. Certainly, the Flames wrote their demise in their six-game loss in the best-of-seven playoff series, but their shorthanded situation played a part.

Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane scores on Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff in the first period of Game 6 at the Saddledome Monday, April 27, 2009.

C Dustin Boyd scored his first NHL playoff goal in the 5-1 Game 5 loss. Boyd drove hard to the net to beat Hawks G Nikolai Khabibulin.

The Bulin Wall showed signs of crumbling, with the 36-year-old surrendering nine goals in two games.

So the Calgary Flames think the fresh-faced Chicago Blackhawks struggle to cope with the crashing, banging brand of hockey.

Calgary Flames centre Wayne Primeau is skating again. Tuesday morning with D Mark Giordano and conditioning coach Rich Hesketh, he hit the ice for the third time since his operation nearly 10 weeks ago.

Calgary At Chicago 7 P. M., United Center Tv: Tsn Radio: Fan 960 Three Things P. P.--r. i. P.: there are only so many ways to say it.

It's not exactly a buyer's market out there for excuses in Flames Nation. And the Calgary Flames know they've got to get back to the old A-B-C sales pitch in playoff hockey: Always Be Closing.

No word on how much of Mike Keenana s wrath that Michael Cammalleri faced. The Calgary Flames winger was possibly facing extra discipline from the league after he hit Chicago Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat with his forearm in Game 1 of their opening-round series , but didna t receive any.

Mike Keenan says Anders Eriksson is not along for the ride in the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Calgary Flames.

Calgary Flames, Jarome Iginla, during practice at the Dome in prep for their first round tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks.. DARREN MAKOWICHUK/SUN MEDIA 15th April 2009, 11:43am Calgary Flames, Dion Phaneuf, during practice at the Dome in prep for their first round tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks.. DARREN MAKOWICHUK/SUN MEDIA 15th April 2009, ...