Calgary Flames: The Less Bad, the Bad and the Ugly

Currently sitting at 7-10-0, fourth in the Northwest Division and 14th in the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames are off to a rough start.

No, a brutal start.

From lost leads to bad giveaways to scoring problems, the Flames are plagued game after game with the same issues.

The good? Pretty much nonexistent, excluding Miikka Kiprusoff of course.

The less bad, bad, ugly, pug fugly and ugly ugly? Take your pick—there are oh so many.

The Less Bad

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CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 1: Rene Bourque #17 of the Calgary Flames celebrates his goal with teammate Mark Giordano #5 against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period of NHL action on October 1, 2009 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Oh Flames, you have the uncanny ability to be down one or two goals and act like you're leading by five.

This "uncanny ability" of theirs is also the reason I've nearly had a stroke watching them the past few games, and the reason it's not "down by four or five" is Miikka Kiprusoff.

Other than him, the Flames are just plainly lacklustre. The sense of urgency appears to be nonexistent for this team. Is it because it's November? Are they all in a slump? Are there any answers at all?

Well, fortunately, there is a "less bad" side to all of this. The Flames may act like there's no need for urgency when down in a game, but once there's two minutes remaining in the third period, the urgency trigger is activated, and the Flames suddenly show they're able to score goals.

This periodically tricks Flames fans into thinking there's some hope for OT, but eventually time runs out, and the Flames just flicker.

While this enrages me to no end, the brief two minutes of hope the Flames tend to show could turn into something good, for lack of a better word, if they could turn it into AT LEAST a two-period effort. Actually, no—I want three full periods. Imagine that.

Fact is that the Calgary Flames do not have the scoring talent to pull moves like this. Waiting until the last two minutes to show up is not even strategy; it's lazy. We lack the Ovechkin/Stamkos/Crosby-ness to try to win games like that.

It's time for a new plan.

The Bad

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 09: Cody McLeod #55 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck against Cory Sarich #6 of the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center on November 9, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Flames defeated the Avalanche 4-2. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/G

The lazy plays of the Flames are absolutely killing them. Though I don't particularly like to point fingers, guys like Cory Sarich have been abysmal lately. The fact he's getting paid $3.7 million this year makes it all so much worse.

The blatant giveaways. The complete laziness. The lack of finish. The seemingly inability to skate. All of these problems have led to brutal goals against the Flames the past few weeks. 

No, it's not in your best interest to drop a puck at the blue line in front of an opposing team player.

It's also not in your interest to pass it to Wojtek Wolski in a "clearing attempt."

Flames, it's time to lift your heads when you're passing. This team may not be the fastest, but without some of these avoidable mistakes, and with Kiprusoff in net, the Flames could start winning some games.

The Ugly

Call it ugly, pug fugly or ugly ugly. There are a lot of all of those when talking about the Flames.

Cap space is pretty much nonexistent—UGLY!

Flames can't hold a lead—PUG FUGLY!

Flames have lost seven of their last eight games—well, that deserves an UGLY UGLY.

You want more? Captain Jarome Iginla only has three goals. Iginla is also at the centre of daily trade rumours. The Flames face the Blackhawks and Red Wings next. Olli Jokinen is suspended for three games for a cross-check to the face of Wojtek Wolski. The Oilers are only three points behind the Flames. Three.

Do I dare go on? I'd rather not. It hurts too much.

What's the future for this team? Complete and utter uncertainty. To be honest, it doesn't look good. It's downright Moe Szyslak-ugly.