[kirant]

Got back from the game. Turns out they are worse live than on TV.

Some thoughts:
- PK looked okay early but broke down pretty quick. The last PP (3-2 goal) was just a nightmare.
- PP is...slightly better than before. Very predictable but at least gaining entry on this bad Stars team. A 1 or 2/10 over the 0.5/10 they were heading in. I guess that's what you get out of a couple days of practice. The best they got tonight was to have a chance or two.
- Flames look lost in the system their told to play. I think I'll agree with AcGold's assessment of overcoaching. Each play seems built for execution but the Flames seem stuck and unsure which play to do. They all hesitate, get the pass off by a foot or mechanically attempt to apply a round peg move to a square hole situation (ex - attempt a stretch lateral pass when there's two ready to intercept)...and turn the puck over. Offensively, they all attempt things they aren't good at and mechanically apply Gulutzan's offensive system. Dump the puck in, forecheck (which the bottom 6 does somewhat well), and go for a tip or deflected goal. They got lucky a couple times tonight and Gaudreau was the beneficiary. ..but it's mostly proven to result in lots of shots with almost no chance of a goal.
-- At this point, even if Gulutzan is a good coach...I think it's clear his system and the Flames' talents aren't a match. Whether the Flames are just incapable learning it or Gulutzan just makes a mess of the system he wants them to play, it probably won't ever come together. I'll eat my words if it happens. But I just haven't seen much improvement since the spanking by the Oilers outside that blip against Chicago and St Louis.
- The team seems absolutely defeated mentally. They basically gave up after the first goal.