Against "elite" teams that press and are more offesnive, the Flames do OK. Against a Hitchcock team or other patient defensive teams they don't look that great.
I do think the Flames could beat the Blues, but it would take a huge game by everyone. In this one, the top line was smothered and couldn't generate much, Wideman and Russell were ordinary, Brodie as well (and he made that gaodawful giveaway), Backlund's line wasn't as good of a secondary scoring unit as in previous games. As much as Raymond is getting dumped on, I thought he and Colborne actually had the most energy over the whole game. Raymond's just not strong enough to win the fights down low.
Positives? I thought Ferland had a decent game. I thought Hiller was solid enough - he was screened on one, no chance on the giveaway goal and the third was a blaster - and he made that fantastic 2 on one save. Bollig stepped up.
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