While one key contributor looks to be returning to form, another was sidelined for a while in a topsy-turvy week in Flamesland.

Captain and star forward Jarome Iginla finally got the monkey off his back, scoring his first goal of the year in the Flames fifth game, a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. The win was key as it came over a Northwest Division rival, and on the heels of a shutout loss to the lowly Buffalo Sabres.

Rome has fallen

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Over the past half dozen years, the Calgary Flames have switched up their front office personnel, their bench personnel and their on-ice personnel. No matter what they try, the result remains the same: They're on the outside looking in come playoff time.

It may just be the silly season for the men's hockey team, but this September 11 and 12 at the SAIT Eye-Opener there were serious bragging rights on the line.  The three collegiate and university teams in the city (Mount Royal, SAIT and the Dinos) compete in the tournament, where coaches and players prepare for the upcoming year and make roster decisions.  

Here we are again, the unbridled bliss that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. For the next two months, Canadians and a minority of Americans will be glued to their televisions, taking in more of this nation's favourite sport than deemed healthy. As two "unhealthy" individuals, we feel it necessary to tell you what we think will transpire.

Western Conference

Dallas Stars (1) vs. Edmonton Oilers (8)

Rothbauer: Stars in six, Bailey: Oilers in seven

B

If I could give marks as compensation for lack of coverage, the Dinos women's hockey team would get an A--but I can't, so they get a B.

Much thought went into this decision as there were many factors to consider. First of all, they only placed fourth out of the six teams in the ACAC. However, that is a significant improvement over winning only one game last year--especially since they no longer have a locker room to call their own.

B-

To say the Dinos men's hockey team fulfilled all their goals throughout the course of this season would be a stretch of the truth rivaled only by CNN's journalistic views on the war. However, to say that none of their goals were accomplished would be a flat-out lie.

Tonight's 5–4 overtime Flames victory over the New Jersey Devils was strange, considering the two teams are heading in completely opposite directions.

Simply put, it was a war. And when the clock hit zero and the air cleared, the good guys walked away from the first round victorious. 

The first round of the Canada West playoffs offered high intensity hockey, good goaltending, and a slough of powerplay goals; one for every girl with missing teeth cheering for the Pronghorns in the stands. 

After digesting a pair of tough losses the week before, the men's hockey team redeemed themselves this past weekend with a series sweep of the lowly UBC Thunderbirds. The Dinos sent the Thunderbirds back to the coast with more than just their egos bruised. 

The U of A delivered a Bear-ass whooping to the men's hockey team this past weekend.

After coming off a so-so effort the week before, the Dinos ran into the red hot Golden Bears offence last weekend, and had no answer.