Rested Flames to take defensive, caring approach

Avalanche Ryan Smyth, front, gets knocked to the ice by Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf in an Oct. 28 game in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Complaints of fatigue and little practice time will no longer fly in Flames-land with an eight-game, 13-day road trip and a subsequent four days of rest and workouts in the books.

Starting Tuesday against division rival Colorado (7:30 p.m. MT), Calgary would like to put a tough seven-game stretch in the past and get back to what keyed a six-game win streak in October.

"We needed those practices," Flames centre Craig Conroy told reporters on Monday. "We changed some things defensively. We'll see if you see the differences."

Steady defensive play was at the forefront of that winning run but has been noticeably absent of late, with Calgary allowing six goals in three of its past five games.

A renewed commitment to defence has been the rallying point the last few days.

"When we had the [six-game winning streak], it was all about our defence," Flames head coach Mike Keenan told reporters Monday. "It's about the consistency, the work ethic and the due diligence you need to stay on top of that part of your game.

"When you don't have the practice time or as much time as you'd like, you might get off that a bit."

Calgary's record has slipped to 9-8-1 in a 2-5-0 funk during which the Flames have yielded 31 goals.

But perhaps the arrival of the Avalanche will help them turn things around. Calgary has won both meetings between the Northwest Division squads this season — 3-0 on Oct. 28 and 5-4 two weeks earlier.

The back end of the home-and-home set goes Thursday in Denver.

"The guys in this [dressing] room have to be upset, care a little more," Flames left-winger Rene Bourque said. "We care, but some of the stuff we're doing on the ice wasn't showing it."

The last time these teams met, Colorado was riding a five-game win streak. This time, the 8-8-0 Avalanche are seeking a fourth straight win after prevailing by a goal in each of their previous three starts.

Trailing third-place Calgary in the Northwest, Colorado is looking to build on Saturday's 3-2 shootout victory over Edmonton.

"We didn't play our best game," winger Darcy Tucker, who netted the winning goal, told reporters. "[Edmonton] played a pretty good hockey game for the most part and we just found a way to win it."

Of late, the Avalanche have been carried by goaltender Peter Budaj, who was defeated twice in Calgary earlier this season. He has compiled a 0.96 GAA during the win streak, but has won only four of 13 career appearances with a 3.96 GAA versus the Flames.

Kiprusoff gets rest from Guite, Sakic

Budaj's Calgary counterpart, Miikka Kiprusoff, is 5-1-1 in his past seven starts against Colorado, but just 2-4-0 with a 4.91 GAA overall in his six most recent starts.

He won't have to face Avalanche forwards Ben Guite (rib injury) or Joe Sakic, whose 40 goals and 103 points against the Flames are the most he has compiled against any opponent.

Colorado's captain stayed home to rest a sore back that has cost him three games. Sakic skated over the weekend after an MRI last week did not reveal any structural disc problems.

Calgary, however, will have to defend a pumped-up Paul Stastny one day after the 22-year-old centre signed a five-year, $33-million US contract extension that kicks in next season.

"I think it'll be easier to play," he said, "not having to think about it anymore this year or for five years after that. It's kind of like a mindset at ease."

Stastny, who topped the Avalanche in scoring last season, leads the way in 2008-09 with 15 points, including 12 assists.

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Rested Flames to take defensive, caring approach

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