from Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun,

It could be a loooonnnngggg winter in Calgary.

That's not the latest prediction from the Farmer's Almanac, it's simple math based on the Calgary Flames' record so far this fall -- a miserable 2-7-0 mark.

The last time the Flames had only four points to show for their first nine dates on the calendar was the 1997-98 campaign, their worst in franchise history.

Led by Theo Fleury, Cory Stillman and goaltending tandem of Rick Tabaracci and Dwayne Roloson, the Flames collected just 67 points during that dreadful season. If this current cast doesn't snap out of this funk (and fast), they'll be closer to challenging that dubious club record than punching a return ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"I don't think it's too late at all," said Flames captain Mark Giordano after Monday's 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders in Brooklyn. "But, in saying that, we have to chip away and chip away starting now. You can't wait 15 or 20 games into the season and think you're going to come back and make a huge run. You've gotta chip away at our segments ...

"But it's definitely not too late. It's early in the year, but we've gotta start chipping away right now."

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