She Ain't Pretty

High-fives all around tonight as the Flames got a much-needed win against the Minnesota Wild to keep pace in the playoff race in the Western Conference. Jarome Iginla was a key cog in tonight's win, and he appears to be catching fire down the stretch which should be a good omen for the Flames as they march towards the post-season. The other guy pictured in the photo to the left, Curtis Glencross, also had a goal tonight, and he has really turned in a fine season for the Flames. Glencross' goal came courtesy of an Iginla pass, but it wasn't your usual setup that notched Glencross' career-high 25th goal of the season. In fact, it wasn't a normal setup for the vast majority of NHL stars, especially one as good as Iginla.

Iginla has been deadly against the Wild in his career at the Xcel Energy Center, scoring 17 times in St. Paul. He has 35 goals against the Wild in his career, the most that any player has scored against the Wild in their short history. So it's no surprise that when the puck is on Iginla's stick, the Wild defenders take notice. This, of course, opens up other players on Iginla's line, but I'm not sure that any of them expected this pass.

Blowing a tire is one thing, but to pick up a point when you fan on a slapshot from the high slot while falling to the ice? That's pretty lucky. You've got to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good, I was told by a coach, and it seems that Iginla has that phrase down cold.

"Yeah, it was nice wasn't it? I was about to shoot, and at the last second I saw him and I fanned on it," Iginla said to reporters that prompted a laugh from the winger.

It reminds me of lyrics by Canadian rock band The Northern Pikes: "she ain't pretty, she just looks that way". Pretty much sums up Iginla's assist tonight, I'd say.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!