Flames Notebook is a recurring series here at Hockey or Die; it runs every Monday morning and takes a look at the last week from the perspective of the Calgary Flames.  We will be reviewing both mainstream and blogger views, and if there is a good site that’s been overlooked, let me know at jonathan dot willis at live dot ca or in the comments section below.

The Big Story: The Playoff Chase

This is almost certainly going to be the big story until the Flames are either eliminated from post-season contention or clinch a playoff spot; not even Jim Playfair throwing a tantrum can unseat it as the most critical story in Calgary.  The Flames did themselves a favour by beating Phoenix, a huge favour by beating Colorado, and got some second-hand benefit from the McElhinney/Toskala trade as the former beat Colorado for the Ducks.  Unfortunately, a loss to Chicago while the Avalanche beat San Jose undid a lot of that good; they’re now two points back and the Avalanche have a game in hand and the tie breaker.  Before last night, the Flames had a one in four chance of unseating Colorado; now, those odds have dropped to little better than one in 20.

Related: [Flames Nation|Hockey or Die]

The Notebook: Kiprusoff for Hart, The Calgary Curse, And The Remarkable Cory Sarich

Of course, the playoff chase would have been a non-story if not for the spectacular play of Miikka Kiprusoff, who won’t get Hart consideration but might deserve a mention at least. [Calgary Herald]

Is there such a thing as a “Calgary Curse”?  Based on the success of some ex-Flames following their departure from Calgary, one might be tempted to conclude that there is.  Take Curtis McElhinney as an example: in five games with the Ducks, he has four wins and a sparkling 0.933 SV%. [Matchsticks & Gasoline|Flames Nation|4th Line Blog]

Speaking of ex-Flames, NHL players have voted Dion Phaneuf the league’s most overrated player. [Calgary Herald]

A look at the recent success of Mark Giordano and Cory Sarich, who have some pretty spectacular statistics: as of Sunday morning, the pairing had seven points and was a combined plus-26 over their last 15 games together.  More remarkable is the fact that Sarich is doing this despite being held together with duct tape and bailing twine. [Calgary Herald|Flames]

Should the Flames do something with captain Jarome Iginla?  More specifically, should that something involve sending him somewhere else or taking his captaincy away? (Just for the record, my answer to those questions is no, and no, and I’m not alone.) [Matchsticks & Gasoline|4th Line Blog|Calgary Herald|Calgary Sun]

It isn’t just us bloggers who enjoy a little Photoshop; apparently the Leafs do as well. [Hit The Post]

Which North American amateur prospect is the Flames’ best?  Arik at 4th Line Blog takes a look at the contenders before naming the winner. [4th Line Blog]

Ed Stelmach is one of the least popular premiers in Canada, but that unpopularity doesn’t extend to the Flames, who were more than happy to cough up a little money for the provincial Conservative war chest. [Globe & Mail]

Flames prospect David Van Der Gulik has been named the American Specialty/AHL Man Of The Year for the Abbotsford Heat, thanks to his involvement with the community. [Flames]

Finally, while everyone’s seen the vide of Jim Playfair going ballistic, most probably haven’t heard the audio track that goes with it: