How Jarome "Iggy" Iginla Got His Groove Back

If it were up to Jarome Iginla, the NHL regular season would always start sometime in November, as the Flames captain is notorious for struggling in October.

Let's face it, he will never be considered the Reggie Jackson of hockey.

After scoring just four goals and five assists in the first 12 games this season, Iggy popped in three goals and an assist in his last two games since October rolled into November.

It's baffling to hockey observers why Iginla struggles, but it's become as constant in the hockey world as Mike Keenan landing a coaching gig.

Who knows, maybe Iginla is distracted by NBC's new fall lineup? Or possibly he was preoccupied trying to land U2 concert tickets? 

Whatever it is, the Flames captain just doesn't seem to produce in October, no matter how well he plays. At times he was like watching an old episode of Arrested Development; you wonder how something that good just can't catch on.

However, his season's edition of the Calgary Flames seemed to go through October unfazed by Iginla's inability to find the back of the net, as they finished 7-4-1. Which is a sign we may not have seen just how good Brent Sutter's club actually is.

In any case, the new calendar month is usually a blessing for the Flames captain—and their fans for that matter—as a hot Iginla generally means a better Calgary squad.

A Jarome Iginla who is constantly moving his skates, hitting everything in sight, and shooting the puck is an Iginla in a groove. There is little doubt he will keep it up.

He is just that damn good!

Yes, we as sports reporters—and more importantly, fans—can get on Iginla's October struggles year after year. But before we do, maybe we should think back to a saying from another great athlete.

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." — Michael Jordan

I guess time will only tell where the Flames inevitably end up this season, but if history tell's us anything, it's that Jarome Iginla's struggles this season are over.