It’s the Only Game in Town

CALGARY, Canada —  The Calgary Flames have reached a level of importance rarely enjoyed by a sports team.

They prompt leaders of government to take a break. They cause the wheels of justice to grind to a halt. And they will bring a city to a standstill tonight, when they play Tampa Bay in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals.

These are heady days in Calgary, where Flame flags fly from nearly every car. Even Canada’s Prime Minister Paul Martin is on board. He dropped by the Pengrowth Saddledome Friday to have a chat with the fellas.

“We think it was great,” defenseman Robyn Regehr said. “When we first heard about it, we sat around thinking up things to quiz him on. We have to keep him on his toes.”

Martin will have to take it. At this point, he would probably find it tough to beat Regehr in an election and would likely get creamed by Flame star Jarome Iginla in the popular vote.

It is into this hysteria the Lightning wanders tonight, fresh from a 4-1 victory that tied the series, 1-1. So dominating was the Lightning that the game deteriorated into message-sending moments, resulting in 122 minutes in penalties, including four misconduct and two game-misconduct penalties.

Unable to handle the strength and speed of Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards among others, the Flames decided to manhandle them.

“In the playoffs, I believe to win you have to hate them because you have to be able to do the physical things that fans don’t notice,” St. Louis said. “It’s easier to do those things if you hate the team. I think you saw that last night. I am sure they hate us a little bit more too.”

No worries there.

“It’s about time some guys decided they are upset about who they are playing against,” Iginla said.

That will play well to Calgary fans, who have been whipped into a frenzy over the Flames for nearly two months. In Tampa, Fla., a few Canadian flags and a handful of fans in Flame jerseys were scattered throughout the crowd. There isn’t likely to be much Lightning paraphernalia in the Saddledome tonight.

“It will be exciting to come out on the ice and feel the energy,” Flame defenseman Andrew Ference said. “We certainly enjoy the support. It has made this fun. But I’ve found by experience that once the game starts, it’s going to be about who plays the game.”

Still, it is hard to ignore the obsession.

Calgary police answered a complaint about youngsters causing damage while playing street hockey Wednesday. Instead of breaking up the game, police picked up sticks and joined in for about 10 minutes.

A Calgary judge suspended deliberations in a theft trial and un-sequestered the jury for one night, fearing that jurors might rush a decision so they could go home and watch Game 1 Tuesday.

The Flames sold out the Saddledome for the first two games in Tampa. Fans watched the games on the screens in the arena, then commandeered 17th Street in the downtown area.

“I think it’s fabulous,” Flame Coach Darryl Sutter said. “It tells you how our city and how Alberta is excited about it and wants to get out and have a good time. Heck, my wife was down in 17th Street last night. Lucky I beat her home, eh?”

The Flames, though, are not the only ones excited about the buzz in the city.

“It’s the Stanley Cup finals and we’re playing in a Canadian city,” said Richards, who is from Prince Edward Island. “It is going to be fun playing in front of all those fans.”

The fun part may be knowing that while the Flames enjoy the support of a raucous crowd, they have struggled at home in the playoffs with a 4-5 record. Calgary did eliminate Detroit and San Jose with victories in the Saddledome.

“I think we have dealt with the situation throughout the playoffs,” Regehr said. “The first couple of home games, I think we were a little bit tentative. I see no reasons we shouldn’t come out and be on our game.”

Something the Lightning believes as well. Tampa Bay is 5-2 on the road in the playoffs and is in a position where it has to win at least one game in Calgary.

“Enjoy it or not, you have to go on the road and win games,” St. Louis said. “You can’t just count on your home ice to get some wins. I hope we come out [tonight] and do the things we have done on the road this year.”