5 Calgary Flames Players to Watch in Week 4

The Calgary Flames play against Edmonton, Colorado and Washington next week.

Here are five players to keep an eye on heading into Week 4 of the NHL schedule:

Rene Bourque needs to elevate his game.

Jay Bouwmeester is a very slow starter.

Jarome Iginla—is he on the way down?

Miikka Kiprusoff needs to steal games.

Brendan Morrison leads the Flames in scoring.

Rene Bourque Needs to Elevate His Game

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

UNIONDALE, NY - MARCH 25: Forward Rene Bourque #17 of the Calgary Flames skates against the New York Islanders during an NHL game at the Nassau Coliseum on March 25, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

A head injury has Rene Bourque listed as day-to-day, but he should be back in time for Week 4. Last season Bourque dominated the Oilers, scoring six goals and six assists in six games, including two game-winning goals.

One goal and just seven shots in three games this season is not good enough.

Bourque also scored five goals and seven points against the Avalanche last season, so Week 4 should be a great week for Bourque to get on track.

After scoring 27 goals and recording 215 shots last season, Bourque needs to elevate his game if the Flames are going to do anything this year.

Jay Bouwmeester Is a Very Slow Starter

Mike Ridewood/Getty Images

CALGARY, CANADA - APRIL 6: Jay Bouwmeester #4 of the Calgary Flames tries to keep Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks away from goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff #34 in the first period of NHL action on April 6, 2010 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary

Can we finally admit that Jay Bouwmeester will never be an elite offensive defenseman? Yes, he may skate like Bobby Orr, but he sure doesn’t have the same offensive flare as Bobby Orr.

Bouwmeester is a proven slow starter, as he has never scored more than six points in the month of October and has zero through five games this season.

Bouwmeester scored more points against the Oilers last season than against any other NHL team, but this is a totally different Oilers team.

The question is when will Jay-Bo finally score his first point of the season?

Jarome Iginla—Is He on the Way Down?

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 18: Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames fights against Jared Boll #40 of the Columbus Blue Jackets as linesman Mark Pare intervenes on December 18, 2007 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Ima

Jarome Iginla is an ultimate leader and power forward who can score a timely goal or drop the gloves to spark his team. Iginla has seven career Gordie Howe Hat Tricks (goal, assist and fight in one game).

However, have we seen the best that Iginla has to offer? At the age of 33, is he on the downside of his career?

Iginla has seen a drop in goals, points, power-play points and shots in each of the last two seasons. It might be time to consider trading Iginla to restock the farm system while he still holds value.

Since 2000 Iginla has recorded 23 goals and 57 points in 57 games against the Oilers, so you know he gets pumped up for the "Battle of Alberta."

Miikka Kiprusoff Needs to Steal Games

Dave Sandford/Getty Images

DETROIT - APRIL 21: Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff #34 of the Calgary Flames makes a glove save against the Detroit Red Wings in game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena April 21, 2007 in Det

Where has Miikka Kiprusoff’s game gone? Last season Kipper’s win totals dropped by 10 despite recording a better goals against average (GAA) and save percentage (SV%). Kiprusoff allowed 46 fewer goals, yet the Flames struggled to find wins and missed the playoffs.

Kiprusoff was perfect against the Oilers last season and finished with a very low 1.98 GAA and .933 SV% in five games. Once again, this is a different Oilers team, and in two starts this season Kiprusoff’s GAA is almost double at 3.51 GAA, and his SV% is below 0.900.

The Flames scored 50 fewer goals last season, and the offseason additions are not going to make up those extra 50 goals, so Kiprusoff is going to have to steal a lot of games in order to make the playoffs.

On a side note, the Washington Capitals have not beaten Kiprusoff since March 12, 2008.

Brendan Morrison Leads the Flames in Scoring

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 19: Defenseman Cody Franson #4 of the Nashville Predators and center Brendan Morrison #8 of the Calgary Flames watch the puck go in behind Predators goalie Pekka Rinne #35 for the game winning overtime goal on October 19, 2010 in

The lone bright spot so far this season has been the play of Brendan Morrison. Morrison has points in three of five games and has two multiple-point games.

Morrison looked great last Saturday against the Oilers, playing with a lot of speed and creating several scoring chances.

Morrison won’t finish the season leading the Flames in scoring but will provide great secondary offense. He will return to the 55 to 60-point mark this season and prove to be the best offseason acquisition by the Flames.