“Players have to execute”: Brian Burke on Flames’ woes
Posted Nov 7, 2016 12:36 pm.
Last Updated Nov 7, 2016 12:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
What’s wrong with the Calgary Flames?
The team sits with a record of 5-8-1 this young NHL season, coming off a rough road trip that saw them drop games in Chicago, Los Angeles and Anaheim. The team allowed 14 goals over those three meetings, while scoring only two.
“My view on it is very simple,” Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke told 660 NEWS on Monday. “I don’t think coaches are at fault here. Our players have to execute. We’ve got to get better puck security and we’ve got to get our special teams in gear.”
Right now, the Flames have the NHL’s third worst power play (8.3 per cent) and second worst penalty kill (65.2 per cent).
AUDIO: Brian Burke on 660 NEWS
“There are times you want to protect your players and there are times you can’t do that,” Burke said. “Our players are criticized daily, nightly, hourly. When they don’t play well, that’s the nature of the game. Sometimes it’s fair and sometime it’s not. The fact of the matter is, any criticism that’s being leveled right now is fair. We’re not getting the job done and we’ve got to fix it.”
The Flames are back in action on Thursday when they welcome the Dallas Stars to the Saddledome. It’s part of a two-game homestand. The New York Rangers are in town this weekend.
