[GDT] Flames Vs Preds 6:00 03/23/2017

[BigFlameDog]

Pretty sure that even with a blowout loss tonight Johnson won't need any emergency counseling to regain his "confidence". He's not an 18 year old kid ffs.

[tremorchrist]

Originally Posted by Muffins

When you find a stranger in the alps?

Hmm I always thought it was something else...probably just my filthy mind.

[Sylvanfan]

Hopefully the team can put forth a good effort. I don't mind going with Johnson, given that in a 9 day stretch the Flames go from Calgary to Washington to Nashville to St.Louis and back to Calgary to play games. You have to get the other guy in there in one of those.

This is really a stupid road trip. What a dumb schedule.

[tsquared1967]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Johnson's last five games:

0.871 SP = L
0.947 = W
0.826 = L
0.939 = W
0.750 = L

Based on this I would expect a big game from him tonight. I think it is important to have the #1 goalie in a groove, rested and ready to go heading into the playoffs. It is also important that the backup gets a few touches without too many gaps in between, and hopefully a couple of wins.

Johnson will be fine tonight.

Two games before the above:

0.750 pulled in first period
0.810 = L

Chad's last 7 starts.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I'm turning 32 tomorrow, so 3-2 win tonight!

So young. Enjoy it while you can.

[polak]

With Chad confirmed I'm going to say 5-2 loss.

Weak one early shakes the teams confidence and they can't get anything going after that.

Prove me wrong Chad.

[bigrangy]

For the sake of my fantasy team I wish Moose was starting (playoffs are on the line here!), but Johnson still gives this team a good chance to win. He needs to get some reps in before the playoffs anyways.

[Wolfman]

Wouldn't be in the playoff picture if it wasn't for Ocho. Period.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by tsquared1967

Two games before the above:

0.750 pulled in first period
0.810 = L

Chad's last 7 starts.

Yes.

I don't see how this has any bearing on the point I was making.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by polak

With Chad confirmed I'm going to say 5-2 loss.

Weak one early shakes the teams confidence and they can't get anything going after that.

Prove me wrong Chad.

[Otto-matic]

Most Goals on #Flames Since 2013-14:

Monahan - 104
Gaudreau - 71
Backlund - 70
Giordano - 58
Hudler - 58

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

False.

Johnson did have a poor showing in his last game, and he has been really streaky of late, but he was fantastic in his last two wins. Looking at his game log, I wonder if his poor showing in his last start had more to do with the time off: Between 7–24 Feb he played three games in 17 days and won two of them. His next start was not until 15 March—a full 20 days in between. I think Gulutzan is being smart here by not allowing Johnson too much time off from starts.


There are no games that are "must wins" at this point. This game should be treated no different than any other game on the schedule. A big reason for the Flames' success right now is how the coaching staff has the team approaching the schedule: All games are equal; all opponents are to be treated the same; all results are inconsequential to the next game on the schedule. The Flames are all about playing every game the same way, and it is working.

I love that you say my post is "False" simply because you disagree with it....You're simply cutting him slack for being erratic when that means absolutely nothing at this juncture.

Making things even worse is the fact that in his last dozen starts, he's failed to register a SV% better than .910 (far below a quality start) eight times. There is no reason to run him out there against a direct opponent in the standings when the obvious starter has only played roughly half the games this season.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

They had pretty much no choice but to put Chiasson on the top line with Ferland out. It wasn't to jump start anyone.

They swapped Bennett and and Stajan before Ferland and Tkachuk were out, that's more what I was referring to. Even now, I would put that 4th line back together.

[Mathgod]

Johnson with a bounceback performance. 4-2 Flames.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Most Goals on #Flames Since 2013-14:

Monahan - 104
Gaudreau - 71
Backlund - 70
Giordano - 58
Hudler - 58

I was interested to see who was further down the list. The results were somewhat surprising.

Joe Colborne - 37
David Jones - 32
Matt Stajan - 32
Michael Frolik - 31
Sam Bennett - 29
T.J. Brodie - 27
Mike Cammalleri - 26
Lance Bouma - 26
Dennis Wideman - 25
Dougie Hamilton - 23
Curtis Glencross - 21
Micheal Ferland - 20

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I love that you say my post is "False" simply because you disagree with it....You're simply cutting him slack for being erratic when that means absolutely nothing at this juncture.

I was suggesting that your notion that "Johnson has not been very good for quite a while now" is false. Johnson has played a couple of excellent games quite recently. I don't think I am cutting him slack so much as I am expecting him to perform better than his last start.

Making things even worse is the fact that in his last dozen starts, he's failed to register a SV% better than .910 (far below a quality start) eight times. There is no reason to run him out there against a direct opponent in the standings when the obvious starter has only played roughly half the games this season.

This is the reason to play Johnson tonight:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

...it is important to have the #1 goalie in a groove, rested and ready to go heading into the playoffs. It is also important that the backup gets a few touches without too many gaps in between, and hopefully a couple of wins...

Moreover, I would also argue that it is important for the team to continue to be successful they need to also persist in the same mindset that has gotten them this far. The Flames need to play all their games the same way, and they need to not allow the results of their last game to affect their approach to the next one. Playing Johnson on occasion helps with instilling the notion that it doesn't matter who is in goal—regardless of who it is the Flames should play every game like they are going to win.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

They swapped Bennett and and Stajan before Ferland and Tkachuk were out, that's more what I was referring to. Even now, I would put that 4th line back together.

That was really just a half game line juggle, either to send a message to Bennett or get him away from Versteeg and Brouwer. Chiasson wasn't put on the top line in that game, which is what you said that I was responding to.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by polak

With Chad confirmed I'm going to say 5-2 loss.

Weak one early shakes the teams confidence and they can't get anything going after that.

Prove me wrong Chad.

Chad doesn't care what you think.

And, since you proposed the premise of the game, it's up to you to "prove" it.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by polak

Too early to rest goalies for no reason.

Playoff spot not clinched and valuable positioning still to be determined.

Positioning isn't that big of a deal, and the playoff spot is secured in all but theory.

It would take such an epic collapse to miss at this point that it's not something you prepare for. You prepare to succeed in the playoffs.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Chad doesn't care what you think.

And, since you proposed the premise of the game, it's up to you to "prove" it.