Should Johnson or Elliott Start Game 4?

[BurningSteel]

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Southside

Gillies may be the popular fan choice, but I would bet money on Elliott starting, Johnson on the bench and Gillies in the press box.

I would like to see Gillies as much as anyone, but with our backs against the wall in the playoffs, I think you're taking a big developmental risk and asking way too much of a young guy that's only played one game in the NHL.

Sink or swim.

If they play Elliot, I see that as management giving up on the season.

[Southside]

Originally Posted by DJones

Sink or swim.

If they play Elliot, I see that as management giving up on the season.

Not arguing. Just stating what I think will happen.

[8sPOT]

I'll take Johnson's questionable glove over Elliott right now. We are in a pickle either way, we have the worst goaltending in the playoffs.

This is do or die. Elliott has played 3 games and hasn't really done much other than left in some soft goals, lots of juicy rebounds, and just overall not in the zone.

Johnson or Gillies. That should have been the last time Elliott wears the jersey.

[Huntingwhale]

Put in Gillies and ride to him a cup win in 8 weeks time.

But realistically, it will probably be Elliott. Hopefully he comes out with something to prove and has a stellar outing, and I think that's what the coaching staff is banking on.

[polak]

If you want the best chance to win, it's Elliot.

He's let in some bad goals but he's also made some big saves this series.

Do you remember how Chad Johnson has been in the last 3 months? Rather play Gillies.

[The Big Chill]

Elliott for me.

[CSharp]

I think Hathaway should start instead of Brouwer. Put Lazar in and take Stajan out. No goalie will stop shots that are tipped in by their own players. Flames players like to mill around in front of their own net - GTFO of the way FFS! That was a s**t show from everyone on the Flames team after 15 minutes in the second period. They were playing like the sh***y team that everyone knew at the beginning of the season.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DJones

Sink or swim.

If they play Elliot, I see that as management giving up on the season.

That's nonsense. Like it or not Elliott still gives the team their best chance to win.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I start Elliott. He gives the team the best chance to win. He got them to this place, he played well in Game 1, a fluke bounce beat him in Game 2 and bring him back to redeem himself for the mess of Game 3.

Johnson hasn't been very good for awhile and is coming off injury. Who knows where his head is at. If November-December Johnson were here, I would say sure.

Gillies-Should not be given a start as some kind of "let's see what we got in him" plan. That's ridiculous.


The chances of a comeback are very slim to none. That's not lost here, but throwing in a 1 game(meaningless game to boot) rookie in a must win game in the playoffs is throwing in the towel. What does that say to your fan base, what does that say to your players. Playing Gillies should not be considered.

The players want to pull off the miracle and will be motivated to do so. You have to ice your best possible team. Elliott is better than Johnson and Gillies, he gets the crease.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

That's nonsense. Like it or not Elliott still gives the team their best chance to win.

I think he just lost us two games.

[IgiTang]

Answer to the thread title... No.

[Tacoman]

Gillies for me too. If we even had below average goaltending we'd be up 2-1 in this series. Gillies is big and athletic and I believe gives us a better chance to win than a goalie that looks like he's having a nervous breakdown in net.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DJones

I think he just lost us two games.

Maybe. But that doesn't change the fact that he still gives the team their best chance to win. It is difficult to know how the players feel without being in the room, but I suspect that if they had their choice they would also prefer to go into Game 4 with the goalie they know the best, and that is Elliott.

I think a possibly more interesting question is what happens for the Ducks in Game 4: will Carlyle start Bernier or Gibson?

[Scary Eloranta]

Elliott is showing why St. Louis gave up on him. He looked like he was handling a hand grenade last night. I have no faith in him turning it around and I suspect the majority of the players feel the same way. But they're going to lose anyway so I guess it doesn't matter which lousy goalie is in net. Really hoping we dump both in the off season - unless just making the playoffs is the goal - they were good enough for that.

[Gaskal]

The first game he looked like 2016 playoffs form.

The two after that, there were a lot of goals that went in, that had he been a drop-in goalie in NHL 17, would have immediately caused his team to pause the game and ragequit out.

[KingMoo]

mid season Elliot showed us what he's capable of (center ice goal). it's too bad he picked the playoffs remind us

[DSIM420]

You go with Elliott, and the team plays a full 60 minutes or more and pull out the W and take some momentum into Anaheim and repeat for 4 victories and go on to the next round. Elliott knows he can play better and I expect his best game of the season tomorrow night.

[Flash Walken]

Flames were shut out by bernier last night. Had to have thrown 20+ shots at him.

Once the pps dried up so did the goals.

Story of the series.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by DSIM420

Elliott knows he can play better and I expect his best game of the season tomorrow night.

This is pretty much literally the only reason to even think about starting Elliott right now.

His career trajectory is essentially on the line. If he throws a third crap effort out in a row, he's not getting a sniff at a starting job anywhere next year.