Flames lose 6-3 vs Avs

[JurassicTunga12]

Kipper
Butler
Cammalleri

wtf.

[Roof-Daddy]

Weak Kipper + lucky bounces and another typical disappointing loss.

[Captain_Obvious]

Brutal loss to a brutal team. Ugh

[Acey]

Worst game by Kipper that I can recall.

[Coach]

I thought the team played well enough to win. A couple deflating weak goals.

[direwolf]

Worst period of hockey they've played in a while. That was brutal. Butler stinks, Kipper was off, and Backlund is totally snake-bitten. Dude has to bury those.

[MrMastodonFarm]

When was the last game kipper was that bad?

That was Ugly!

[Jayems]

Glencross was brutal. Just so brutal.

Kipper sucked.

Hudler was awesome.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Hudler, Cervenka and Stajan line looked great, everyone of them, but Hudler looks to be the one stirring the pot.
Iginla's line had a lot of what should have been chances but just didn't materialize, not great chemistry tonight.
Cammalleri's line was invisible 5 on 5 outside of a couple of Backlund chances in the third. Very disappointing start of the season for Cammalleri.
Bouwmeester had another strong game outside of that PP goal. Giordano didn't necessarily have a terrible game but he's still not playing like we expect. I wonder if he's having a tough time getting use to his visor because he seems to be having problems when the puck gets in his feet.
Wideman and Brodie were Wideman and Brodie tonight.
Butler and Sarich were Butler and Sarich. If you want to create a competition let it be between Babchuk and Smith, at this point Butler doesn't deserve to be on the ice, at the very least let Smith have a Butler game before sitting him.
Kiprusoff was fighting the puck, terrible night for him, a normal performance from him and the Flames win.
The ever optimist in me still thinks this team could make some noise, just can't seem to be firing on all cylinders at once. When Kiprusoff's playing world class the rest of the team sucks. When the highly paid forwards are clicking there's no secondary scorers, and when there is the top forwards are quiet. Now that Bouwmeester is playing like a 7 million dollar defenseman Giordano has taken a step back, but if everyone plays up to standards this is a playoff team. - I guess that goes with a lot of teams though.

[Hemi-Cuda]

The Flames rested on 4 days off, playing against a team on the road who's on the second night of a back-to-back, 3rd game in 4 nights, missing 2 of their top 6 forwards, and who have scored a total of 1 goal in their last 3 games. And the Flames lose

That tells you all you need to know about Calgary's playoff chances this year I think

[zamler]

Thanks for pooping all over my 6-1 win prediction, thanks for nothing Calgary Flames.

[Jacks]

iuZTk1hdpMs

[GirlySports]

ugh, just didn't want it enough. first line was awful and can't lose a 3rd period to a team playing 3rd road game in 4 nights.

[jar_e]

Not going to be fun against Chicago.

[Machiavelli]

Typical loss to an inferior team.

Iginla is trying but a goal would be welcome at any point now.
Giordano has struggled all season.
Butler might want to consider another profession....perhaps his namesake.
Kiprusoff was not nearly good enough.
Cammalleri needs to figure things out because he's a huge hole right now and is actually hurting the team.
Hudler looks promising.

Pretty discouraging to lose so badly to a team that has been downright terrible.

[Red John]

Looked like a Mike Keenan team tonight.

Gives up tons of prime scoring chances from the slot, gets outworked in the dirty areas, score a few nice goals but Kipper with a few stinkers also.

Not good. Really hard to put a positive spin on this one.

[mikeecho]

Thought it may have been a good game to start Irving. Sadly, then Flames may have had a better chance to win if they did.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Cammy is lucky Baertschi is hurt so he still has a chance to work out of his funk but he has been AWFUL all season.

If he is still playing like this when Sven is healthy, we better see Cammy sitting for a game or 2.

Kipper... WTF???

[burn_this_city]

The Avs were terrible tonight, no reason to let in 5 goals on 20 shots.

[OffsideSpecialist]

Given the way the Avs have been playing and the scheduling situation for both teams this may have been the most winnable game of the season(of course, given this team's history over the past few years, that's a perfect setup for failure). Definitely a tough loss to swallow. I can't remember the last time Kiprusoff looked so bad.

[nik-]

we really needed that one. If we lose Saturday, it's gonna start looking bleak.

_U6aNnMqmgc

[Phanuthier]

Ham anyone catch Bob's facial expressions?

4th goal - stunned
5th goal - damn
6th goal - i'm hungry. i wonder what i should grab for dinner on the way home...

[DuffMan]

Well that was crap. crap defense and crap goaltending.

[trackercowe]

One of the only teams we realistically should beat this season, and they beat us by 3 goals... Really disappointed with the effort outside of the Hudler line.

[LockedOut]

Wow. Can't even beat the Avs. Pathetic.

[Miniac]

Embarrassing performance but huge credit goes Hudler.

[Jagermeister]

I understand that Kipper has kept this team in the playoffs or playoff mix since he's been here, but we don't have the luxury for slow starts this year. Kipper has been downright awful and needs to step up his game for this team to have a chance.

Most teams can get away with only having an average goalie. The Flames can't. They need Kipper.

[$ven27]

Oh man.. Just wait till Saturday vs Chicago, that'll be way more fun.

[Yoho]

I loved the effort!

[superfarmer]

Mackinnon will look good in a flames uniform

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Losing to a tired and awful team is unacceptable.

Flames played well enough to win, that's the worst part of this.

[carom]

It is 04:30 GMT, do you know where your Backlund is?

[VictoryJuice]

Stajan and hudler were good. Backlund played well. We should of had this one. Brutal third period.

[Zamboniman]

Fire the goalie! Trade the coach! Bench the skate sharpener!

[CSharp]

If it wasn't for deadbeats like Cammy and Butler taking up valuable space on the Flames bench, the score would be a lot different!

[Erick Estrada]

Complete stinker by Kipper. What's the over/under on the Hawks goal total Saturday night? Going to be ugly although tonight was just a horrible game especially given the circumstances of the Avs getting destroyed by every team on their road trip. The worst loss since that Bruins beatdown last year.

[calgARI]

A completely unacceptable loss against an inferior exhausted team. Kiprusoff couldn't stop a beach ball and #1 reason for that pitiful defeat. Awful defensive zone coverage throughout the contest because of an unwillingness by the forwards to engage. Most of the forwards did not regularly compete, led by newly minted A Curtis Glencross who was far and away the worst Flame. Just a lazy effort and two points thrown in the garbage. Hartley's Flames look awfully similar to Keenan's. We are looking at a very very long season.

[Machiavelli]

The Flames rested on 4 days off, playing against a team on the road who's on the second night of a back-to-back, 3rd game in 4 nights, missing 2 of their top 6 forwards, and who have scored a total of 1 goal in their last 3 games. And the Flames lose

Not only lose but give up 6 goals to a team that has scored an average of 0.333 goals in their last 3 outings.

[Clever_Iggy]

Glencross was brutal. Just so brutal.

One of his worst games I can remember. Couldn't do anything right tonight.

One thing Hartley can do is breakup lines when someone is having an off night. Rather than continuing to march out the 1st line or #1 PP unit with Glencross, toss Stempniak out there... or Backlund and rotate Tanguay to the wing...

And for the love of god, please slap Cammellari across the face to wake him up. Worst Flames forward thus far... by a mile.

[Kaine]

Cervenka, Stajan, Hudler and Backland were fine, great even. Everyone else was downright awful and should feel just embarrassed. Kipper as bad as I've ever seen him in a Flames jersey. Ugh I'm embarrassed to be a Flames fan right now.

[killer_carlson]

Butler has to go right back to the pressbox ... in Abbotsford.

[Mitch]

A game that the flames could have and should have won but Colorado in the end got the lucky bounces.

Not a good game for Kiprusoff, he needs to play better.

[skcli]

I want to puke !!

[Erick Estrada]

That tells you all you need to know about Calgary's playoff chances this year I think

Yep. Although the positive is that the team will get their highest draft pick in over a decade in a good draft.

[flylock shox]

Too many fat and sassy millionaires surrounding an otherwise excellent Czech line tonight.

Better finishing, different result I reckon.

[bax]

Just goes to to show that we need our best players to play like it if we are going to make any noise this season. Cammy, Iggy, Glenny, and Kipper were not very good tonight. If this team can put it all together they can be dangerous, it's just a matter of getting a consistent effort from everyone.

[StrykerSteve]

Final Flames stats

http://i.imgur.com/8Ae5TWL.png

[calgARI]

Butler has to go right back to the pressbox ... in Abbotsford.

Terrible move by Hartley to take out Smith who played well on Saturday.

[Phanuthier]

Cammy is lucky Baertschi is hurt so he still has a chance to work out of his funk but he has been AWFUL all season.

If he is still playing like this when Sven is healthy, we better see Cammy sitting for a game or 2.

Doubt it. He'd still be playing top 6. :ph34r:

[Ashasx]

At least future Flame Nathan MacKinnon had 3 points tonight.

[Saqe]

This teams defense is really bad, I mean this was Av´s they were playing against tonight. Kipper wasn´t sharp either, although doesn´t matter who plays in goal against Chicago, it´s going to be awful.

[FlameFan21]

http://i.imgur.com/kpTtT.gif

[Clever_Iggy]

A completely unacceptable loss against an inferior exhausted team. Kiprusoff couldn't stop a beach ball and #1 reason for that pitiful defeat. Awful defensive zone coverage throughout the contest because of an unwillingness by the forwards to engage. Most of the forwards did not regularly compete, led by newly minted A Curtis Glencross who was far and away the worst Flame. Just a lazy effort and two points thrown in the garbage. Hartley's Flames look awfully similar to Keenan's. We are looking at a very very long season.

At least it's only a 48 game season....? /silver lining.

[kyuss275]

Kipper the goat for this game. I can't believe the flames did not get 2 points from this game.

If kipper plays like this on Saturday it will be over before the 1st period ends.

[dino7c]

When was the last game kipper was that bad?

That was Ugly!

last week against the Ducks

[PloKoon]

Goes to show, if it wasn't for kipper this team goes nowhere. Kipper has a bad game? no one picks up the slack because they can't. Can't say it's too early, over 10% of the season already in the books.

Missed the chance to trade Iggy and kipper when their value was high, now the team is just so f$#&@d. Didn't want to press the panic button last week, but hell, I've still been pressing the rebuild button for 3 years.

[Hockey_Ninja]

http://postmediacalgaryherald.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/cammy1.jpg

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/232/114/e39.png

[sergei_makarov]

Wow, Kiprusoff played like a complete sieve tonight. Flames would have won the game if not for the weak goals against. Disappointing.

[WhiteTiger]

That was just painful to watch.

[Miniac]

Mackinnon will look good in a flames uniform

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcxpn4a7xZ1rk4zcfo1_500.gif

[CedarMeter]

Final Flames stats

http://i.imgur.com/8Ae5TWL.png
Wow!..Not one Flame with a plus tonight.

[nik-]

A game that the flames could have and should have won but Colorado in the end got the lucky bounces.

Not a good game for Kiprusoff, he needs to play better.

Pucks going through a goalie aren't lucky bounces :confused:

[J epworth]

What a load of crap that came down on an otherwise very entertaining game. Just an awful taste in my mouth right now.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Complete stinker by Kipper. What's the over/under on the Hawks goal total Saturday night? Going to be ugly although tonight was just a horrible game especially given the circumstances of the Avs getting destroyed by every team on their road trip. The worst loss since that Bruins beatdown last year.

Losing 6-1 to Edmonton at home last March was way worse than this one.

[Stormchaser]

Thing is.......I really like this team. Its not like they only show flashes of brilliance but I think they indeed were the better team tonight. Just can't bury it and finish them off. I've been thinking, wow, the Flames sure are flying tonight...but in the end its the same tale....the just can't put it all together.

[Ned Braden]

Cammalleri and Kiprusoff have been good players, so can't blame Hartley there. But can someone explain to me why Butler's in the NHL? He's not positionally sound. He's not physical. He has no offensive ability at all. He commits plenty of dumb turnovers. What does he do at an NHL level, exactly? Smith give you a little jump, at least.

[robertsfan]

Season killer

[1stLand]

Mackinnon will look good in a flames uniform

Yah so he can sit in the press box or the 4th line with Sven so precious iggy can keep his first line minutes

[zamler]

A completely unacceptable loss against an inferior exhausted team. Kiprusoff couldn't stop a beach ball and #1 reason for that pitiful defeat.
Kipper let in probably 3 bad goals, the rest was on the team in front of him. Terrible collapse at the end, the team just folded after the Avs 4th goal. The 1st line is absolute garbage.

[SkunkyJosh]

Put a heart in that team... oh please do

" Will someone please call a surgeon
Who can crack my ribs
And repair this broken heart
That you're deserting for better company?
I can't accept that it's over
I will block the door
Like a goalie tending the net
In the third quarter of a tied-game of rivalry "

- The postal Service, Nothing better

[the_only_turek_fan]

I see some serious player changes in the next 6-8 months. It's extremely clear this core is not good enough.

[alcatrazhockey]

Seven Bartchi would have won the Flames this game but he has a full leg injury (ankle, knee, groin, hip).

[Phanuthier]

I understand that Kipper has kept this team in the playoffs or playoff mix since he's been here, but we don't have the luxury for slow starts this year. Kipper has been downright awful and needs to step up his game for this team to have a chance.

Most teams can get away with only having an average goalie. The Flames can't. They need Kipper.
Just got to say, before everyone runs down on Kiprusoff... he usually looks shakey when the Flames defense is a trainwreck... the last time he struggled, the Flames D was also a trainwreck... just saying, not all Kiprusoff's fault.

[automaton 3]

.762 for Kipper, what is wrong with him.

Hopefully that is the last we see of Butler.

Cammelleri injured? Not enough tire lifting? Seems slow and timing way off.

[Erick Estrada]

Goes to show, if it wasn't for kipper this team goes nowhere.

I'm not buying that. Kipper hasn't had a good game all season and he's simply still on his pattern of good season/bad season. He was good last year and he's been bad this year just like he was in 08/09 and 2010/2011.

[Ashasx]

I do think the Flames had a bit of bad puck luck tonight... the Jackman tip, Stajan's shot from Hudler.

Still, losing 6-3 to the Avs is unacceptable. I want to see a defenceman traded. I hate this constant musical chairs. Butler should just not play a game for us again.

[Traditional_Ale]

I took transit from Bowness to McKenzie tonight to watch the game with my folks. The lasagna was excellent.

[ineedanother]

Did Butler or Sarich see the ice in the third? Looked like Yhe d-men were tired in the third

[Tinordi]

I hope Duchene puts it together, seems like a nice kid, and he's an incredible skater.

[Phanuthier]

Cammalleri and Kiprusoff have been good players, so can't blame Hartley there. But can someone explain to me why Butler's in the NHL? He's not positionally sound. He's not physical. He has no offensive ability at all. He commits plenty of dumb turnovers. What does he do at an NHL level, exactly? Smith give you a little jump, at least.
Speaking of which, where is Flames Draft Watcher?

[Clever_Iggy]

I still wouldn't want Bourque back, but Cammellari got 19 minutes tonight and after 5 games he probably deserves about 9 minutes.

Hartley and Feaster championed "meritocracy" yet Cammellari plays top 6 minutes and Butler rotates in despite a solid performance by the team against Edmonton and pairings that looked to work. More of the same double-talk.

[killer_carlson]

Can one of the CP graphic wizards make me a movie poster for The Butlerfly Effect, where the movie sees Butler constantly pulling pucks out of his own goal, no matter how he manipulates the past?

Ill make it my avatar

[vektor]

In the past few years I can remember one victory over the Sharks last year where the entire team played well. It's funny how we know the potential of every guy on our team but when one line plays well every other line stinks it up.

[Erick Estrada]

Losing 6-1 to Edmonton at home last March was way worse than this one.

I don't know. The Avs were depleated and clobbered by the Sharks, Oilers, and Canucks. I don't think you could find an easier opponent to play tonight.

[burn_this_city]

I like Hartley's system, but he's made some pretty crappy calls that have come back to haunt the Flames already. Poor choices in a shootout, riding ice cold players, deferring to vets while the hot hands warm the bench. After three goals on 13 shots, maybe changing the goalie would have been wise.

[doctajones428]

That was a big.stinking.load of.....

One real softy from Kipper. Defense was terrible. Bad luck. Bad calls.

[alcatrazhockey]

Stajan laughing when radio asks him what happened... Oh stajey, such a joker.

[minnow]

Glencross, what was the matter with him tonight, honestly, couldn't handle anything well...Cammy....Kipper...Gio. Clone up a couple more Iginlas please.

[StrykerSteve]

I can't believe anyone would defend Kiprusoff's play tonight.

[phiten]

A completely unacceptable loss against an inferior exhausted team. Kiprusoff couldn't stop a beach ball and #1 reason for that pitiful defeat. Awful defensive zone coverage throughout the contest because of an unwillingness by the forwards to engage. Most of the forwards did not regularly compete, led by newly minted A Curtis Glencross who was far and away the worst Flame. Just a lazy effort and two points thrown in the garbage. Hartley's Flames look awfully similar to Keenan's. We are looking at a very very long season.

Haha...Glencross was light years ahead of Sarich and Butler... 9 mins of ice time and they were on ice for 2 GA...that is pretty awful.

[Ashasx]

I like Hartley's system, but he's made some pretty crappy calls that have come back to haunt the Flames already. Poor choices in a shootout, riding ice cold players, deferring to vets while the hot hands warm the bench. After three goals on 13 shots, maybe changing the goalie would have been wise.

Eh, I agree, but he's been making some right choices.

He almost had it perfect tonight. Comeau out, he just needed to sit Butler.

[J epworth]

Stajan laughing when radio asks him what happened... Oh stajey, such a joker.

What else is he supposed to do, that finish was a joke, a sick, sick, joke.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I'm actually not that upset about the loss tonight. They looked very good for the most part.

They were excellent offensively. Tons and tons of chances. Bouw showed that the Edmonton game wasn't an anomaly. Hudler is a breath of fresh air. Cervenka is one of the most creative guys on the team. Stajan is playing his best hockey in a Flames uniform.

All they need to work on his exiting their own zone, sitting Cammy for a game, trading Butler and preying that Kipper gets back into his 2011-12 zone.

[Biff]

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

[shermanator]

The Stajan-Cervenka-Hudler line loks awesome out there. Who knew Stajan would be performing well and Kipper would be cursed after games this year? Whats going on?

[Tinordi]

Good God the whining about Butler is so tiring.

[SkunkyJosh]

I see some serious player changes in the next 6-8 months. It's extremely clear this core is not good enough.

We've heard that speak for how long? They changed the coach, the staff, the players -- yet same old garbage fail team who always lose a lead or tie it to come close to win but lose at the end in a heart breaking way, or in a noobish way.

F4IL T4AM

[Phanuthier]

Just to rub some salt in, Cammalleri is (tied) for highest paid Calgary Flames this year. ;)

[zamler]

I took transit from Bowness to McKenzie tonight to watch the game with my folks. The lasagna was excellent.
I hope you kept it down after what we just saw.

[vanisleflamesfan]

People who thought the Flames were going to be anything more than this make me laugh.

[phiten]

Seth seth seth !!!!

[killer_carlson]

kipper is allowed to have a stinker once every 8 years or so.

He will bounce back, but i have no problem starting N Dynamite next game.

[Ashasx]

Good God the whining about Butler is so tiring.

You are the most tiring person on this forum.

[EVERLAST]

what a load of brown bananas......someone please I need the suicide booth NOW!!!

[dino7c]

That was a big.stinking.load of.....

One real softy from Kipper. Defense was terrible. Bad luck. Bad calls.

2 softies the fourth goal was bad too

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I don't know. The Avs were depleated and clobbered by the Sharks, Oilers, and Canucks. I don't think you could find an easier opponent to play tonight.

Yes, but the game was for the taking for the Flames in the third. They gave that one away.

They were never in that game against Edmonton.

They should have won tonight based on play, but untimely and deflating goals were killer. Kipper was really bad tonight. Rest of the team was good enough to win.

[nik-]

Now I'm sure we'll have to watch Yakupov win game 7 in this second game.

[PloKoon]

I can't believe anyone would defend Kiprusoff's play tonight.

It's not so much defending Kipper as it is emphasizing the lack of finish this team has. The team has been riding Kipper for far too long, and when the cracks show (as they do when one reaches 36 in the NHL) my first instinct is not to pile on the guy, but the pylons in front of him. He's stolen many-a-games for us. The flames seem to have difficulty stealing games for him

[dino7c]

kipper is allowed to have a stinker once every 8 years or so.

He will bounce back, but i have no problem starting N Dynamite next game.

will he have one good game this season?

[killer_carlson]

Good God the whining about Butler is so tiring.

Almost as tiring as watching him blow his coverage.

Would you describe his performance as good tonight? Id love to hear it.

[1stLand]

We've heard that speak for how long? They changed the coach, the staff, the players -- yet same old garbage fail team who always lose a lead or tie it to come close to win but lose at the end in a heart breaking way, or in a noobish way.

F4IL T4AM

Maybe change the captain.

[kehatch]

Is it too late for us pro-rebuild guys to start screaming told you so? Or should we wait to game 20 and start screaming it then?

We haven't kept a team under 3-goals yet this season. Giving up 6 against the lowest scoring team in their third game in four nights is pathetic.

At least our long term players are looking good. The guys we should have traded two years ago have looked like crap though. At least we will be able to trade them for nothing at the deadline if this keeps up.

At least Stajan is playing better then Phaneuf. There is that.

[superfarmer]

At least the second game is entertaining so far

[SkunkyJosh]

will he have one good game this season?

Probably when we're officially "out of the playoff race " when things don't matter anymore. :D

[zamler]

All they need to work on his exiting their own zone, sitting Cammy for a game, trading Butler and preying that Kipper gets back into his 2011-12 zone.
Oh is that all. :confused:

[dammage79]

At least the oilers are collapsing now

[Clever_Iggy]

Seth seth seth !!!!

No. The Flames haven't had anyone that has looked remotely close to a #1 center since Niewuy. Even if Seth is the top prospect by a large delta, you take MacKinnon.

[Captain_Obvious]

The worst part was this was one of the easier matchups we'll have for a while. Some tough games coming up.

Looking at it that way makes that even tougher to swallow.

[nik-]

oh thank god ... the Sharks are going to rock the Grease. At least it won't be fully terrible.

[SkunkyJosh]

Maybe change the captain.

Like they did in Vancouver? :bag:

[Flame On]

-Gee I hope the "As long as they play exciting hockey" crowd are loving this.
-Kipper really not helping the team in that game. Probably the time off, he needs to get in a role.
-Not that players like Butler are really helping him out. He should see some more press box time i should think.
-Cammy with a better game, but moral victories don't help much at this point. If he doens't watch it it'll be him being bought out not Stajan.

[Erick Estrada]

Almost as tiring as watching him blow his coverage.

Would you describe his performance as good tonight? Id love to hear it.

Sure his giveaway was the result of the first goal but after that there's plenty of blame to go around. How does Bouwmeester and Giordano let Duchene split them on a 1 on 2 at the end of the game that resulted in the penalty that ended the game essentially? Plenty of garbage defensive play to go around tonight.

[North East Goon]

I didn't sign up to do a rebuild, that is not how we work.

[superfarmer]

Kipper is mortal.

[dino7c]

honestly they should have won that game, Jackman's post, 2nd avs goal both major turning points. The issue for me is that if this team needs everything to go right to beat a terrible team its gonna be a long season

[sworkhard]

Was at the game and glencross was by far the worst forward. Kipper let in a few softies. Butlers decision making was as bad as always.

[killer_carlson]

Did Butler or Sarich see the ice in the third? Looked like Yhe d-men were tired in the third

I dont think they did.

[North East Goon]

Brutal loss to a brutal team. Ugh

Brutal loss because we are brutal.

[Itse]

The Flames as they are need everything to click to win games, and that's the sign of a pretty bad hockey team.

The team is too weak physically, not good enough on special teams, and has too many aging forwards that are not good enough to make up for their age. The third defensive pairing was completely unable to hold it's own, and we can right now only move one of them out of the roster due to lack of defensive depth. If Kipper has suddenly gone past his due date too, which eventually happens to every goalie, this is going to be a horrible season.

[PeteLFan]

Kipper better sit next game. He's been garbage all season long.

This team didn't have the drive to finish off Colorado either embarrassing effort, should have been all over that garbage team and dominating instead we where pinned back for long periods. If not for cervenka and hudler this would have been worse.

We might be the worst team in the NHL when it's all said and done.

[GirlySports]

I'd give the Avs some credit, they really stepped it up in the 3rd.. they got tired of losing too.

[Chad_Flames]

Before everyone starts letting loose, I think we should be fair for a second. There's been a lockout for months and absolutely no training camp. You have to give the boys some slack. They're obviously not in tip top form yet but once they get there we'll look really strong. Hell, we already looked pretty dominant throughout.

Kipper is going to regain form and then we have a solid team. We saw tonight that the Flames could be dominant. It was pretty much Kipper's fault but he hasn't played in so long and needs some games to regain his rhythm and what not.

I could easily see this team finishing 5th or 6th in the west once we get some more practice in and some jelling. Liked what I saw from Hudler!

[Yoho]

Good God the whining about Butler is so tiring.

Yet so deserved, open your eyes my good man.

[Erick Estrada]

People who thought the Flames were going to be anything more than this make me laugh.

I didn't think they would make the playoffs but I didn't think they would be this bad. I would have to say right now they may be the worst team in the league. Their three losses in regulation have been blowouts.

[nik-]

The worst part was this was one of the easier matchups we'll have for a while. Some tough games coming up.

Looking at it that way makes that even tougher to swallow.

We lose Saturday and we're already approaching an unrecoverable hole.

[dino7c]

team could rebuild fast...trade the two big guys (you know who) and draft high this year. Honestly if they lose the next few games its over anyway. Season is 10% done and they have one win

[Itse]

-Gee I hope the "As long as they play exciting hockey" crowd are loving this.


Hey, as bad as they are, I would still rather watch them play this way and lose than the way they lost games last year. At least I didn't fall asleep.

[1stLand]

Iggy and clammy without goals. But Sven relegated to fourth line action when healthy. No wonder no prospects want to sign with calgary

[Short Shift]

The Flames have been slump busters for the past 6 years. :mad:

[puffnstuff]

Trying to force the puck out of their own end up the boards, didn't work in the first, or the second. It still didn't work in the third. Wingers were poor on the boards. When they were able to get into space and the D could make a pass to a forward that was moving, they could get it out of the def. zone. That was the biggest problem. If that is the system, it's going to be a bad season.

[868904]

When Glencross is going well, he's good. When he's not, you can tell pretty early and he sucks really bad, and the coaching staff has to sit him for the rest of the game. The guy just looks lazy when he's out of it, like Bourque.

Iggy, I really wouldn't cry if he was traded at this point. I really think this team will be better off without him. Call it the Mark Messier affect or whatever, but I think he just casts too big a shadow over this team. It'd be better for him and the Flames to part ways.

The defensive struggles with this team are nothing new. Even when they were a "defense first" team with Brent, they still were terrible in their own end, and it all boils down to poor defensive coverage. The forwards are ALWAYS flying the zone early and leaving no outlets for the defenceman which leads to turnovers. Sure Butler sucks and flubbed his outlet pass, but if Glencross wasn't cheating to fly the zone, he would have at least prevented Mitchell from getting the puck in a prime scoring area. The leaders have to lead and they have to make sure that puck gets out of their zone.

I honestly don't know why the kept giving the Iginla line more ice time. By the second period, you knew they didn't have it. The Hudler line was going well, and they should have been out every shift. Backlund was great in the third and should have been double shifted.

[Sakari]

Okay as harsh as i was not 5 minutes ago.. my overall analysis is fairly simple.

As a goaltender myself I know that when you don't have a consistency in the shots your facing the game becomes difficult, which is probably why Kipper had a hard time tonight. 2 of those goals should have been stopped, there is absolutely no excuse for letting those in.

On the other hand, Kipper almost had that 5th goal with his blocker, in fact he got a piece of it but it bounced down. Would have been a great save, and it shows he's still capable of being the most athletic goaltender in the league.

We can't say, oh, Kipper's gotta go, after this. He really was let down by his team tonight. Obviously the 12 up front were excellent for roughly 50 minutes of the game, but the 6 in the back definitely should have been better, Jay was easily the best defenseman and has been for the past 2 games. For 6.7 million a year, that's what he needs to do.

A first line I wouldn't mine seeing would be Hudler-Iginla-Cervenka. Iginla should be the one shifted to center, if anyone. He's great in the dot as we've seen. That line would probably light up every goalie they face. If Hudler and Cervenka get broken up, I would not be shocked. Hartley broke up Baertschi and Backlund, and now Baertschi has probably lost a lot of confidence and Backlund lost this teams most skilled finisher.


We weren't a bad team tonight. Our goaltending should have been better, and I say that very rarely, so I'm not going to say Kipper's bad. Our defense should have been air tight in the last few minutes, and our PK needs to be worked on. Our powerplay should have been high-pressure "go-go" style, maybe then we would have won.

And for christ's sake, HIT THE NET!

[dino7c]

I'd give the Avs some credit, they really stepped it up in the 3rd.. they got tired of losing too.

they were dominated until they scored the PP goal then the flames quit

[Yamer]

Good God the whining about Butler is so tiring.

He deserves a portion of it, but he has been unjustly stigmatized and will be blamed regardless of what happens.

The third Av goal is a perfect example tonight.

[minnow]

Maybe change the captain.
He'll be asking for a change if this crap keeps up.

[zamler]

Before everyone starts letting loose, I think we should be fair for a second. There's been a lockout for months and absolutely no training camp. You have to give the boys some slack.
They get the same slack as every other team that had no training camp.

[GirlySports]

Hey, as bad as they are, I would still rather watch them play this way and lose than the way they lost games last year. At least I didn't fall asleep.

I agree. Hudler's 2nd goal tonight, you didn't see a goal that pretty in the entire Brent Sutter regime.

[BigRed]

I got a good new sig line out of the GT. That's good.

[SkunkyJosh]

The Flames have been bad since i joined this forum. :(

[GirlySports]

they were dominated until they scored the PP goal then the flames quit

But they created the PP with some nice rushes, they got 2 PPs in the 3rd.

[Poe969]

Well I thought it would be 6-2, they did better than I thought they would!

[oldschoolcalgary]

Before everyone starts letting loose, I think we should be fair for a second. There's been a lockout for months and absolutely no training camp. You have to give the boys some slack. They're obviously not in tip top form yet but once they get there we'll look really strong. Hell, we already looked pretty dominant throughout.

Kipper is going to regain form and then we have a solid team. We saw tonight that the Flames could be dominant. It was pretty much Kipper's fault but he hasn't played in so long and needs some games to regain his rhythm and what not.

I could easily see this team finishing 5th or 6th in the west once we get some more practice in and some jelling. Liked what I saw from Hudler!

5-6?! Wow...

You realize that everyone is out of shape right? It's not like every team in the NHL was playing during the lockout but Calgary...

[zamler]

The Flames have been bad since i joined this forum. :(
You know what to do...

[nieuwy-89]

1-4, pathetic start to the season.

This was such a winnable game, tied at home going into the third against a tired and depleted team.

Gigeure outplayed Kiprusoff and the Avs outworked the Flames along the boards all night long. It wasn't just one or two breakdowns, it was almost every time the Avs gained possession in the Flames zone.

I really miss the old Darryl Sutter coaching days when a 1 goal lead at any point in the game almost guaranteed a win.

[dino7c]

The Flames have been bad since i joined this forum. :(

nice one

[kehatch]

kipper is allowed to have a stinker once every 8 years or so.

He will bounce back, but i have no problem starting N Dynamite next game.

Kipper's spot in the SV% Leaders board in Calgary

03/04: 1
05/06: 3
06/07: 9
07/08: 30
08/09: 32
09/10: 10
10/11: 34
11/12: 9
12/13: 41 (so far)

There are normally around 45-goalies on the list.

Kipper hasn't been all that good the previous 5 seasons. He was very good last season where he kept a team in contention that had no business being in contention. But outside of that he has ranged from average to not very good.

The biggest question mark for me this season is how Kipper would perform. Especially under an offensive coach. So far that answer has been very positive.

[Yoho]

The Flames have been bad since i joined this forum. :(

Coincidence?

[SkunkyJosh]

You know what to do...

That? :D

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3JIUXLrxBkg/ThG-EIlYC8I/AAAAAAAAOOQ/FgiddsRTqXA/s1600/alertpanic2_800w.jpg

[Chad_Flames]

5-6?! Wow...

You realize that everyone is out of shape right? It's not like every team in the NHL was playing during the lockout but Calgary...

Yeah but the Flames are an older team. They need a bit more time to get their legs together.

[DuffMan]

Before everyone starts letting loose, I think we should be fair for a second. There's been a lockout for months and absolutely no training camp. You have to give the boys some slack. They're obviously not in tip top form yet but once they get there we'll look really strong. Hell, we already looked pretty dominant throughout.

Kipper is going to regain form and then we have a solid team. We saw tonight that the Flames could be dominant. It was pretty much Kipper's fault but he hasn't played in so long and needs some games to regain his rhythm and what not.

I could easily see this team finishing 5th or 6th in the west once we get some more practice in and some jelling. Liked what I saw from Hudler!

I'll have what he's having.

[Ned Braden]

Almost as tiring as watching him blow his coverage.

Would you describe his performance as good tonight? Id love to hear it.

And if it was just one bad game I could see not wanting to hammer him, but again he doesn't do anything on an NHL level. It's not about this game; the fact that the Flames think he's a top-6 defenseman is a failure of management and coaching.

I mean, he was also bad tonight but I understand why Sarich is on the roster; he's experienced, and he has some physicality the team's defense sorely lacks. But what does Butler do, exactly?

[North East Goon]

Jackman and Begin should not be professional hockey players. Let's start at the bottom and go from there.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I didn't think they would make the playoffs but I didn't think they would be this bad. I would have to say right now they may be the worst team in the league. Their three losses in regulation have been blowouts.

They aren't this bad. Do you debate that they were the better team thru most of the game? They had more of the play and better chances. Kipper was unfortunately the difference in this one in a negative way.


And this was not a blowout. The winning goal came with 2 minutes left, then a garbage time goal when the Flames were trying to force a turnover and an empty netter. Blowouts are when a team is out matched, out performed in every aspect. Colorado did not blow out the Flames tonight.

I know doom and gloom is your thing, but this team is not the worst in the league. Columbus, Florida, Washington, they've all been way worse than Calgary so far.

[Phanuthier]

Kipper's spot in the SV% Leaders board in Calgary

03/04: 1
05/06: 3
06/07: 9
07/08: 30
08/09: 32
09/10: 10
10/11: 34
11/12: 9
12/13: 41 (so far)

There are normally around 45-goalies on the list.

Kipper hasn't been all that good the previous 5 seasons. He was very good last season where he kept a team in contention that had no business being in contention. But outside of that he has ranged from average to not very good.

The biggest question mark for me this season is how Kipper would perform. Especially under an offensive coach. So far that answer has been very positive.
Key points

Kiprusoff is a very good goalie... if he has good defensive structure. Like Keenan, Bob Hartley is just hanging out Kiprusoff to dry. Our defense is TERRIBLE. And when it is, Kiprusoff gets lite up like a christmas tree.

If this team wants to even remotely have a chance of making the playoffs, we need good team defense. So Jay and Bob have to decide - do they want exciting hockey and suck, or boring defensive hockey and have a chance of making the playoffs?

[dino7c]

this is like starting a normal season 2-8

almost out of it...and if their out of it trade some guys for the love of god

[GirlySports]

And if it was just one bad game I could see not wanting to hammer him, but again he doesn't do anything on an NHL level. It's not about this game; the fact that the Flames think he's a top-6 defenseman is a failure of management and coaching.

I mean, he was also bad tonight but I understand why Sarich is on the roster; he's experienced, and he has some physicality the team's defense sorely lacks. But what does Butler do, exactly?

Butler without Bouwmeester babysitting him is going to only look bad.

[Sakari]

The Flames have been bad since i joined this forum. :(

The Flames have been bad since this forum has existed. Just.. slowly getting to the point where they are going from playoff bad to bottom of conference bad.

[SkunkyJosh]

How many fights we had this season so far?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Holy, the overreaction on this board is ridiculous!

The Flames played very well tonight. I can't believe people don't see that. Obviously they lost and IMO it was their own fault they lost. They had an awful final three minutes, but they played great this game.

For the first time in along while, I'm happy about how they played despite the loss.

[PloKoon]

"Every Game Matters". I'm sure it's up on the wall in the dressing room but is it in english?

[Yoho]

Jackman and Begin should not be professional hockey players. Let's start at the bottom and go from there.

Both Jackman and Begin did their jobs tonight, to expect more is foolish

[red sky]

Same old same old. This team just cannot put it all together. It seems like there is only one line that is allowed to play well each game.

[kipperiggy]

"Every Game Matters". I'm sure it's up on the wall in the dressing room but is it in english?

Must be in Czech... those guys have actually brought it this year.

[vektor]

The Flames have been bad since this forum has existed. Just.. slowly getting to the point where they are going from playoff bad to bottom of league bad.
ftfy

[Sakari]

"Every Game Matters". I'm sure it's up on the wall in the dressing room but is it in english?

No, it's in Czech, hence the players who played well this game.

[jlh2640]

-Kipper has looked terrible at times this year. Need him to bounce back. 2 for sure maybe even 3 goals he needed to save tonight.
- Butler justified his benching with the giveaway that wasted such a good start
- Bouwmeester looks like a different man out there. I think its confidence is the biggest reason.
- Gio looks bad at times, but I have faith he will rebound and play as well as he can.
- Cammy looks hesitant
- Really liked what I saw out of Cervenka, Backlund, Hudler and Stajan:eek: tonight
- Wideman lost the battle on the PP winner. Cant be out there as a primary PKer, but yet who do you play with Bouw if Gio is in the box ?
- Weak call on Gio though
- Liked the 4th line
- Sarich looks like the game has passed him bye
- Brodie looked pretty good I thought
- Iginla and Tanguay look good but its time to put Cammy on their line and move Glencross to Backlunds line.
- this team is better then there record but not much better.

[dino7c]

Holy, the overreaction on this board is ridiculous!

The Flames played very well tonight. I can't believe people don't see that. Obviously they lost and IMO it was their own fault they lost. They had an awful final three minutes, but they played great this game.

For the first time in along while, I'm happy about how they played despite the loss.

look at the upcoming schedule...Flames could be out of it soon and playing well and losing to one of the worst teams in the NHL is nothing to write home about. This team is capped out and full of vets, something has to change

[stignasty]

http://timenewsfeed.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/korea1.jpg

[Sakari]

Both Jackman and Begin did their jobs tonight, to expect more is foolish

If they did their jobs, a few guys would have had black eyes wearing the white jerseys. And the crowd would have been wild, and we would have won.

I'm trading Jackman on NHL 13, ASAP, this was just too bad a game for me to keep him.

Yes I'm serious. Deal with it.

[Savvy27]

Other than Butler and Sarich, I don't think the d zone coverage was all that bad. They aren't going to win many games if Kipper lets in 80% of the half decent chances he faces. What is with all the complaining about Cammalleri? He was fine and set up some great chances.

If Backlund finished one of those chances, that game was over. I'm worried about them though. Someone said they need everything to go right to win and that seems to be true.

Kipper must be the worst goalie in the league so far. I'm worried about Saturday.

[kehatch]

I love the naive excuse crowd. This team hasn't been good in years. They haven't made the playoffs in years. Every analyst has them finishing near the bottom of the pack. Vegas has them as the third worst team in the NHL. We come out EXACTLY as predicted.

But that crowd, in their normal arrogant holier then thou exasperated insulting tone, try and tell the realist they are the ones being silly.

Unfortunately Edwards, Feaster, and King are the only people in hockey that are ridiculous enough to agree with that crowd. Too bad.

[nik-]

They really did play well enough from the goal out to win tonight, which is what makes it so frustrating.

[North East Goon]

Both Jackman and Begin did their jobs tonight, to expect more is foolish

If there job is doing nothing then yes I agree with you. They are just a tiny part of the problem with this team, I can also agree with that.

[minnow]

How many fights we had this season so far?
Don't know about fights, but there wasn't alot of hits out there tonight.

[SkunkyJosh]

In days like tonight, that Phaneuf trade hurts me...

[GirlySports]

They really did play well enough from the goal out to win tonight, which is what makes it so frustrating.

Frustrating yes but it's something to build on.

I'm looking forward to Saturday! We know the Flames play up and down to their opponents.

[Chad_Flames]

I love the naive excuse crowd. This team hasn't been good in years. They haven't made the playoffs in years. Every analyst has them finishing near the bottom of the pack. Vegas has them as the third worst team in the NHL. We come out EXACTLY as predicted.

But that crowd, in their normal arrogant holier then thou exasperated insulting tone, try and tell the realist they are the ones being silly.

Unfortunately Edwards, Feaster, and King are the only people in hockey that are ridiculous enough to agree with that crowd. Too bad.

Maybe it's because the "realist" crowd is constantly overreacting? Maybe the Flames aren't as terrible as you think? Maybe Vegas is wrong about the Flames? Where the hell does Vegas get their odds from? TSN? Wouldn't even surprise me. And you know how TSN is biased against the Flames.

This team isn't the bad. Once we get our legs going we'll be a solid team. I could see us maybe even taking 5th place.

[switzsvensation]

How many fights we had this season so far?
I believe the answer is zero.

[dino7c]

again you cant just not have centers...the only line with a center looked good

[SkunkyJosh]

Don't know about fights, but there wasn't alot of hits out there tonight.

Remember when Iggy would fight to make things happen? I miss that, feels like the captain doesn't care about that team anymore.

[zamler]

http://timenewsfeed.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/korea1.jpg
I love the guy in the upper right with his feign crying.

[djsFlames]

1) I want Butler gone.

2) I want Irving put in the second Kipper starts looking like he was tonight again. At least the kid has something to prove.

3) I want an urgent powerplay. That was so casual it was ridiculous. They played 3x harder even strength, and kept getting beat to the puck despite having more guys on the ice.

4) Resiliency. It was there in the first 4 games. Don't ever want to see a complete deflation of the team like that in the last two minutes again. (although not counting on that)

5) Put Cammy with Hudler for a bit. Huds is feeling it, and was obviously making Stajan and Cervenka much stronger by creating opportunities. Cammy needs someone to do that for him, get him going. We need at least one of Iginla and Cammalleri scoring goals, asap.

6) Yeah, just, um... please, ftlog turn down the suck. Especially in the late stages of a tie game.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I love the naive excuse crowd. This team hasn't been good in years. They haven't made the playoffs in years. Every analyst has them finishing near the bottom of the pack. Vegas has them as the third worst team in the NHL. We come out EXACTLY as predicted.

But that crowd, in their normal arrogant holier then thou exasperated insulting tone, try and tell the realist they are the ones being silly.

Unfortunately Edwards, Feaster, and King are the only people in hockey that are ridiculous enough to agree with that crowd. Too bad.

God forbid people have optimism, nope, let's take a big dump on the team any chance we get.

No one has any illusions of a cup run here, but being a competitive team for a playoff spot is not some sort of unfair expectation. Let people look at the bright side. This was never going to be a quick fix, it's a slow process full of peaks and valleys. Tonight was a big valley.

[AC]

I thought we played well up until the last 3 minutes of the game. Kipper had a rough night but overall it was a good effort. I'd like to see the Iggy and Cammy lines get a re-working, but I'm optimistic moving forward.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ha636_U4Kbg/UQs2q1OTBjI/AAAAAAAAAIw/fbvcRZwk0fs/s512/HudlerTicTacToe.gif

[superfarmer]

I thought Rob Kerr was great tonight...... Hahahaha. No, he was brutal too.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I'm trading Jackman on NHL 13, ASAP, this was just too bad a game for me to keep him. .

http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.13036927.9714/sticker,375x360.u1.png

[nik-]

Frustrating yes but it's something to build on.

I'm looking forward to Saturday! We know the Flames play up and down to their opponents.

No real time to build on losses to the teams we need to be beating.

[vektor]

Maybe it's because the "realist" crowd is constantly overreacting? Maybe the Flames aren't as terrible as you think? Maybe Vegas is wrong about the Flames? Where the hell does Vegas get their odds from? TSN? Wouldn't even surprise me. And you know how TSN is biased against the Flames.

This team isn't the bad. Once we get our legs going we'll be a solid team. I could see us maybe even taking 5th place.
look at the standings, then come back

[kehatch]

Holy, the overreaction on this board is ridiculous!

The Flames played very well tonight. I can't believe people don't see that. Obviously they lost and IMO it was their own fault they lost. They had an awful final three minutes, but they played great this game.

For the first time in along while, I'm happy about how they played despite the loss.

I agree. They almost beat the second worst team in Hockey on the second of a back to back. That has to count for something. Other then a couple of horrendous defensive break downs (a non-rarity so far this season) and horrendous goal tending they were just fine. At least mostly.

I mean, this game could almost have been 5-4 if we just got lucky. I mean, we were barely outplayed. Peoples expectations are waaaaay to high.

[jlh2640]

Honestly think Cammy and Glencross need to switch lines

[MrMastodonFarm]

I love the naive excuse crowd. This team hasn't been good in years. They haven't made the playoffs in years. Every analyst has them finishing near the bottom of the pack. Vegas has them as the third worst team in the NHL. We come out EXACTLY as predicted.

But that crowd, in their normal arrogant holier then thou exasperated insulting tone, try and tell the realist they are the ones being silly.

Unfortunately Edwards, Feaster, and King are the only people in hockey that are ridiculous enough to agree with that crowd. Too bad.
So there are only two groups, naive excuse crowd or realist?

Sure.

[zamler]

God forbid people have optimism, nope, let's take a big dump on the team any chance we get.
The fans go as the team goes. What exactly has the team done in the last few years to give us much of any optimism? Same old crap different year.

[Phanuthier]

5) Put Cammy with Hudler for a bit. Huds is feeling it, and was obviously making Stajan and Cervenka much stronger by creating opportunities. Cammy needs someone to do that for him, get him going. We need at least one of Iginla and Cammalleri scoring goals, asap.
Oh god please no. I don't get the fascination with promoting Cammalleri every time he sucks (in between periods where he is just "bad")

Keep Hudler/Cerv/Ragin together

[vanisleflamesfan]

Maybe it's because the "realist" crowd is constantly overreacting? Maybe the Flames aren't as terrible as you think? Maybe Vegas is wrong about the Flames? Where the hell does Vegas get their odds from? TSN? Wouldn't even surprise me. And you know how TSN is biased against the Flames.

This team isn't the bad. Once we get our legs going we'll be a solid team. I could see us maybe even taking 5th place.

Look, I admire your optimism but are you serious with this (bolded) part?

[djsFlames]

Robb Kerr got excited at the weirdest things tonight.

[Street Pharmacist]

I'm actually not that upset about the loss tonight. They looked very good for the most part.

They were excellent offensively. Tons and tons of chances. Bouw showed that the Edmonton game wasn't an anomaly. Hudler is a breath of fresh air. Cervenka is one of the most creative guys on the team. Stajan is playing his best hockey in a Flames uniform.

All they need to work on his exiting their own zone, sitting Cammy for a game, trading Butler and preying that Kipper gets back into his 2011-12 zone.

I'm really sick of finding positives in losses. Especially in a short season:mad:

[nik-]

I love the guy in the upper right everyone in this picture with his their feign crying.

fixed that one for you.

[North East Goon]

They really did play well enough from the goal out to win tonight, which is what makes it so frustrating.

Really, they look like a bunch of chickens with there heads cut off out there. Zero structure offensively and defensively. I said Hartley will wish he was back in the Suisse by the end of February, I was wrong, I should have said by the start of Feb.

[Chad_Flames]

Look, I admire your optimism but are you serious with this (bolded) part?

I think it's pretty clear based on the evidence over the years that TSN has a significant bias against the Flames. Year after year the predict that we will never make the playoffs even when we make solid moves that should project us into the playoffs. Just look at this: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=123689 for confirmation. Happens every single year and I'm tired of it. I'll call TSN out I don't care.

[Dx54]

Robb Kerr got excited at the weirdest things tonight.

Really?? I thought he does that every game =/

[superfarmer]

Robb Kerr got excited at the weirdest things tonight.

Kerr is a weirdo. He's that guy that hangs out with the cool kids but the cool kids don't want him around

[MrMastodonFarm]

Oh god please no. I don't get the fascination with promoting Cammalleri every time he sucks (in between periods where he is just "bad")

Keep Hudler/Cerv/Ragin together

Put backlund inbetween Tanguay and Iginla.

[Phanuthier]

I think it's pretty clear based on the evidence over the years that TSN has a significant bias against the Flames. Year after year the predict that we will never make the playoffs even when we make solid moves that should project us into the playoffs. Just look at this: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=123689 for confirmation. Happens every single year and I'm tired of it. I'll call TSN out I don't care.
Well were they right all those years?

[kehatch]

God forbid people have optimism, nope, let's take a big dump on the team any chance we get.

No one has any illusions of a cup run here, but being a competitive team for a playoff spot is not some sort of unfair expectation. Let people look at the bright side. This was never going to be a quick fix, it's a slow process full of peaks and valleys. Tonight was a big valley.

Dumping on frustrated fans isn't a requisite to being optimistic. If the naive don't want to be called on being naive then they shouldn't be crapping on fans who have had it and are venting. Fans have every reason to vent.

[JiriHrdina]

When will the captain start his season?

[nik-]

Really, they look like a bunch of chickens with there heads cut off out there. Zero structure offensively and defensively. I said Hartley will wish he was back in the Suisse by the end of February, I was wrong, I should have said by the start of Feb.

k.

[North East Goon]

Robb Kerr got excited at the weirdest things tonight.

He has zero ability to call a game. Some people have it some don't.

[seattleflamer]

Outplayed in the third by a team that played the night was very frustrating to watch.

Hudler was lone bright spot while backlund was noticeable and needs to bury those chances. PP looked disjointed and was difference.

[vektor]

I think it's pretty clear based on the evidence over the years that TSN has a significant bias against the Flames. Year after year the predict that we will never make the playoffs even when we make solid moves that should project us into the playoffs. Just look at this: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=123689 for confirmation. Happens every single year and I'm tired of it. I'll call TSN out I don't care.
nonsense, we haven't made the playoffs in years, we have been freaking awful for years with the exception of Kiprusoff, now he's sucking too.

[Roof-Daddy]

Flames out played, out shot and out chanced a weaker Avs team tonight IMO.

Unfortunately, two really weak goals, and failure to capitalize on some key chances, cost us two points.

That game winner with two minutes left was just a horrible series of events with the bouncing puck, JBo whiffing on it, and Kipper looking completely lost.

If Backlund scores on one of us opportunities late, and we end up with a 5-3 win after potting our own empty netter, we're all celebrating a fairly solid win instead of dodging the falling sky.

Too bad moral victories and solidly played losses don't get teams into the playoffs though.

:(

[kehatch]

I think it's pretty clear based on the evidence over the years that TSN has a significant bias against the Flames. Year after year the predict that we will never make the playoffs even when we make solid moves that should project us into the playoffs. Just look at this: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=123689 for confirmation. Happens every single year and I'm tired of it. I'll call TSN out I don't care.

Your funny. "Those dummies keep predicting us to finish out of the playoffs. What a bunch of morons. Snicker."

Its like a scene off of dumb and dumber.

[Jbo]

Just watched the replay...That fan by bouw to get the puck on the PP with 2 mins to go was brutal.

[Chad_Flames]

Well were they right all those years?

That's not the point though. Even when we made moves that should have ranked us higher they still predicted us as being near the bottom of the league.

[nik-]

When will the captain start his season?

I actually thought his start was better than I expected. Up until this game he's at least been engaged and putting shots on net. Granted no real 10 bell scoring chances, but it was better than I thought it would be. This game though, it wasn't so great.

Sometimes it seems that line (mostly Iggy and Glencross) thinks they're the greatest players ever and can just dipsy doodle and drop pass their way to glory. It makes me want to scream.

[Dion]

Kiprusoff needs to be better.

Backlund can't hit the net if he tried.

[Phanuthier]

That's not the point though. Even when we made moves that should have ranked us higher they still predicted us as being near the bottom of the league.
Whats the point? They predicted we would miss the playoffs, and we missed the playoffs. I don't see the bias?

[taco.vidal]

Kipper hid a lot of warts on this team. We could have been as bad as the Coilers if it wasn't for him.

nonsense, we haven't made the playoffs in years, we have been freaking awful for years with the exception of Kiprusoff, now he's sucking too.

[Dion]

When will the captain start his season?

He usually takes a month to get his game in gear. It will be too late by then :(

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Dumping on frustrated fans isn't a requisite to being optimistic. If the naive don't want to be called on being naive then they shouldn't be crapping on fans who have had it and are venting. Fans have every reason to vent.

Who's dumping on the pissed off crowd? I'm just defending some of the folk who like me tend to stay positive. The people who like the team, have ups and downs, but don't get too high after a win and not too low after a loss. Sounds like tired cliches, but they're absolutely true.

[dino7c]

Flames out played, out shot and out chanced a weaker Avs team tonight IMO.

Unfortunately, two really weak goals, and failure to capitalize on some key chances, cost us two points.

That game winner with two minutes left was just a horrible series of events with the bouncing puck, JBo whiffing on it, and Kipper looking completely lost.

If Backlund scores on one of us opportunities late, and we end up with a 5-3 win after potting our own empty netter, we're all celebrating a fairly solid win instead of dodging the falling sky.

Too bad moral victories and solidly played losses don't get teams into the playoffs though.

:(

thats the thing here...team doesn't have time for this that went out the window when they lost their first three games. If it doesn't change soon the team is better off losing because they will be out of it anyway

[Ryan Coke]

Meh, first 57 minutes was generally good, last 3 sucked.

2 errors by by Butler, 2 errors by Kipper...4 goals against.

Like Hudler more than I expected, see some nice potential in Cervenka.

We are all tired of moral victories, but this really isn't the game that screams blow it up. Lots of good out there.

[minnow]

That's not the point though. Even when we made moves that should have ranked us higher they still predicted us as being near the bottom of the league.
And, the Flames never finish anywhere near as low as they predict.

[dino7c]

I love this team, but it makes no sense to have a high payroll of vets and suck but not suck bad enough to get a top pick

[Chad_Flames]

Whats the point? They predicted we would miss the playoffs, and we missed the playoffs. I don't see the bias?

Look buddy I don't know if you have relatives that work for TSN or whatever and I don't care. You can parrot their talking points all you want. It's clear as day what the facts show and that's a bias against the Flames by TSN.

Let me break this down one more time.

1. TSN predicts that we will do terribly.
2. Next year we make some moves that should improve our rank.
3. TSN ranks us even worse.

Notice a problem between step 2 and 3? Yeah, thought so. They should predict us higher. At that point it doesn't even matter where we finish. Right from there you can see the bias against the Flames. Even when we theoretically improve.

That kind of stuff affects Vegas odds which you seem to hold so precious. Understand?

[vanisleflamesfan]

I think it's pretty clear based on the evidence over the years that TSN has a significant bias against the Flames. Year after year the predict that we will never make the playoffs even when we make solid moves that should project us into the playoffs. Just look at this: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=123689 for confirmation. Happens every single year and I'm tired of it. I'll call TSN out I don't care.

Ha ha. The Flames have been out of the first round, what is it, once in twenty years? The majority of those years they have missed the playoffs entirely. Picking the Flames to miss the playoffs does not reveal a bias, it is pretty much the logical, safe, educated, most likely, and most reasonable thing to do.

The current Flames are not very good. There is not some huge TSN bias against the Flames; they are just not that good, and they are unlikely to be good in the forseeable future.

But again, I do admire your optimism.

[bugsy]

Pretty dodgy start to the year. Where there are some good signs and reason for optimism, just snakebit and simply not good enough in other respects.

[Erick Estrada]

When will the captain start his season?

You aren't surprised are you? Slow starts are a defining characteristic of Jarome Iginla. I would expect him to go on a tear sometime after the first 10 games although it may be too little too late by then.

[red sky]

Fool me once...

Blow it up

[Phanuthier]

Meh, first 57 minutes was generally good, last 3 sucked.

2 errors by by Butler, 2 errors by Kipper...4 goals against.

Like Hudler more than I expected, see some nice potential in Cervenka.

We are all tired of moral victories, but this really isn't the game that screams blow it up. Lots of good out there.
I'd read it as 2 by Butler, 2 by Kiprusoff, 1 by Wideman and an EN.

If Backlund scores late in the 3rd, 5th (4th?) doesn't go in and its just a wide and exciting game.

But, thats the risk you take when you run and gun, i.e. Bob Hartley's system. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[North East Goon]

I think it's pretty clear based on the evidence over the years that TSN has a significant bias against the Flames. Year after year the predict that we will never make the playoffs even when we make solid moves that should project us into the playoffs. Just look at this: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=123689 for confirmation. Happens every single year and I'm tired of it. I'll call TSN out I don't care.

TSN has no reason to be biased against the Flames. If you disagree with there talking heads that's fine, but there is no agenda to crush the almighty Flames.

[dino7c]

Whats the point? They predicted we would miss the playoffs, and we missed the playoffs. I don't see the bias?

yeah its time to put up or shut up for these guys...I always get mad to and think the flames will show them but now they are making me look like an idiot homer

[minnow]

I actually thought his start was better than I expected. Up until this game he's at least been engaged and putting shots on net. Granted no real 10 bell scoring chances, but it was better than I thought it would be. This game though, it wasn't so great.

Sometimes it seems that line (mostly Iggy and Glencross) thinks they're the greatest players ever and can just dipsy doodle and drop pass their way to glory. It makes me want to scream.
What? The only thing he didn't do was score, and he almost did that. He even stopped a goal for Kipper!

[vanisleflamesfan]

Look buddy I don't know if you have relatives that work for TSN or whatever and I don't care. You can parrot their talking points all you want. It's clear as day what the facts show and that's a bias against the Flames by TSN.

Let me break this down one more time.

1. TSN predicts that we will do terribly.
2. Next year we make some moves that should improve our rank.
3. TSN ranks us work.

Notice a problem between step 2 and 3? Yeah, thought so. They should predict us higher. At that point it doesn't even matter where we finish. Right from there you can see the bias against the Flames. Even when we theoretically improve.

That kind of stuff affects Vegas odds which you seem to hold so precious. Understand?

Yeah not everyone sees re-signing re-tread, slow, washed up veterans every single off-season as 'making moves that should improve the team'.

[SixtySix]

That's not the point though. Even when we made moves that should have ranked us higher they still predicted us as being near the bottom of the league.

It's your opinion that those moves should have had the Flames ranked higher. TSN obviously had a different opinion.

You get to call out TSN when they're wrong. You don't get to call them out when they're right. rofl

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Look buddy I don't know if you have relatives that work for TSN or whatever and I don't care. You can parrot their talking points all you want. It's clear as day what the facts show and that's a bias against the Flames by TSN.

Let me break this down one more time.

1. TSN predicts that we will do terribly.
2. Next year we make some moves that should improve our rank.
3. TSN ranks us work.

Notice a problem between step 2 and 3? Yeah, thought so. They should predict us higher. At that point it doesn't even matter where we finish. Right from there you can see the bias against the Flames. Even when we theoretically improve.

That kind of stuff affects Vegas odds which you seem to hold so precious. Understand?

That's a pretty big reach man. If you believe TSN has a bias, tell me, what's their motivation? Why would they do that? What do they get out of it? TSN is not in the business of pissing off a group of fans. If it happens that way, so be it, but they don't do it on purpose.

[vektor]

1. TSN predicts that we will do terribly.

and we do

2. Next year we make some moves that should improve our rank.

no we didn't

3. TSN ranks us work.

we are in last place now

you are delusional

[bubbsy]

So I just watched the game on pvr, and was going to complain that we need a better than avg keeper (kipper u suck this season), butler is an embarrassment get off this team u also suck in general, nd cammaleri needs to wake up.

Then I realized this avs team got b*tch slapped by the nucks and oilers and were on th second of aback to back. The flames are toast in th NHL by mistake.

I almost wish we had a lockout for a guaranteed decent draft spot.. Keep it up Hartley and group keep playing butler and maybes can play urself to a lottery spot.

[Flash Walken]

I thought we played well up until the last 3 minutes of the game. Kipper had a rough night but overall it was a good effort. I'd like to see the Iggy and Cammy lines get a re-working, but I'm optimistic moving forward.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ha636_U4Kbg/UQs2q1OTBjI/AAAAAAAAAIw/fbvcRZwk0fs/s512/HudlerTicTacToe.gif

Cervenka made a really excellent defensive play at around 18:40 of the 2nd, coming back to get his stick on a sure-fire goal shortside on kipper.

[Phanuthier]

Look buddy I don't know if you have relatives that work for TSN or whatever and I don't care. You can parrot their talking points all you want. It's clear as day what the facts show and that's a bias against the Flames by TSN.

Let me break this down one more time.

1. TSN predicts that we will do terribly.
2. Next year we make some moves that should improve our rank.
3. TSN ranks us even worse.
4. Flames miss the playoffs

Notice a problem between step 2 and 3? Yeah, thought so. They should predict us higher. At that point it doesn't even matter where we finish. Right from there you can see the bias against the Flames. Even when we theoretically improve.

That kind of stuff affects Vegas odds which you seem to hold so precious. Understand?
For the record, I never really thought the moves we made would make us better, and TSN is also factoring the age of the Flames core (Iginla/Kiprusoff).

I also have no family, friends in media... the only person I know who works in the media are 2 posters here on CP who I have never met in person.

EDIT : Added (4)

[Erick Estrada]

But, thats the risk you take when you run and gun, i.e. Bob Hartley's system. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Didn't we learn with Keenan running that same system that it doesn't work for this group? Brent gets a lot of flack but he knew the only way this team can win games is to play tight defensively. The issue was that he just couldn't get all the forwards to buy in. Some fans seem to think this type of hockey is more exciting but watching Kipper pick pucks out of the net in losing high scoring hockey games is a byproduct.