Watching the Calgary Flames lately, I’m reminded of Shooter’s famous line from the movie Hoosiers: “Don’t get caught watching the paint dry.”

The Flames are guilty of this in a number of ways. The most recent example is seeing defenceman Chris Butler blow another assignment, then watch as the trailer moves in to score the winning goal in the loss to Detroit. Then there’s Mikael Backlund, another paint watcher on that goal and the winner in a 1-0 loss to San Jose two games ago.

Two home losses in a row took away from the successful three-game road trip in which the Flames gained five points. But these two examples are but a microcosm of a Flames season spent mostly spectating drying paint.

Credit must go to general manager Jay Feaster for maintaining key assets at hometown discounts and for bringing in new and younger blood in the off-season and through the first half of the season. So why is none of this working with any consistency? Why are the Flames, with a lineup well-stocked, with proven scorers, not gaining any traction on the scoresheet?

Maybe it has something to do with the system the team is playing. This is Year 3 of coach Brent Sutter’s defence-oriented approach and it’s still not sinking in or making a difference in the win column.

Yes, we know in theory offence can be generated from working hard defensively and causing turnovers, but Calgary is 27th in goals scored.

From where I sit, it’s looking more and more like the Flames will also get caught watching the paint dry this season when it comes to coaching. The team and management have remained loyal to Sutter, endorsing him and his approach.

So what does management think when it sees Western Conference rivals St. Louis, Los Angeles and Anaheim all make coaching changes after horrible starts, then surge in the standings? Does management want to make a fifth-inning decision and go to a Randy Carlyle or Marc Crawford, two available coaches with Stanley Cup credentials?

I’d like to see what this veteran lineup can do with another man at the helm with a new blueprint. Very few coaches have survived three consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, so why the affinity towards Sutter? It’s time to save the season and stop watching the paint dry.