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Originally Posted by Flash Walken
Exactly. If you didn't think the Flames would be more defensively focused this season after all Treliving and Burke had to say about lowering the goals against and special teams, you weren't paying close enough attention.
There is a bizarre narrative from some of the fanbase that this Flames team is somehow being held back by Gulutzan, that he is stifling the 'skill' on the roster which is balderdash. A huge part of the reason the Flames were 'activating' the defense was because the Flames don't have the horses up front to score enough goals. Subtracting guys like Colborne and Hudler and even guys like Jooris and David Jones, and replacing them with Brouwer and Chiasson and Hamilton and Hathaway isn't going to get you any more goals but it WILL help you defend and hold leads.
It already is balancing itself out if you look at the snake or the standings.
This season has been pretty predictable all things considered.
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I just looked this up.
Between October 1st and January 16 last season the flames had scored 114 goals in 42 games. 2.714 GF/PG. Over an 82 game schedule that's 222 goals for (The Flames finished with 229)
This season for the same time frame they've scored 117 in 46 games. 2.543 GF/PG. Over an 82 games schedule that's 208 goals for.
Goals against tells a much more significant story though:
Last season, from the start in october to january 16th the Flames had allowed 128 goals against in 42 games.
This season in the same time frame, 123 ga in 46 games.
The Flames, even though they are scoring less goals, have cut their goal differential in half at this point in the season compared to the previous one. The powerplay has improved by 6% over the previous season and the PK has improved by 7%.
They've allowed 100 more shots this season than last but surprisingly have taken about 100 more shots this season as well.
All in all, this is a vastly improved team from last year's squad which accounts for the difference in the standings.
The other huge difference is the Flames were shortedhanded 100 times last year between the start of the season and mid january. This year?
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