Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
Doug Barkely and i dont think there is even a discussion...even Mike Rogers would agree IMO.
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Scotty Bowman and John Davidson should be in that conversation at least.
As for the game, the Flames gave up a few too many glorious chances for the Devils, but that team is pretty damn quick, and therefore difficult to contain. Smith had a bit of an inconsistent game making highlight reel saves and then a stinker (or two), but I still can't say he was bad. He kept the Flames in it when they were getting destroyed in possession and opportunity.
Gaudreau was really noticeable tonight. I thought Monahan had a fantastic game. Ferland was the most noticeable - he just seemed to gain confidence as the game progressed. Took a while for that top-line chemistry to develop, but it is looking pretty good right now.
The 3M line played their best game of the year so far. I have felt they just haven't been quite as good as they were last season, so hopefully this signals that they are back. All three had a fantastic game.
The Jankowski line looked dangerous all game. It is 3 snakebitten guys who just can't put the puck in the net, but they are playing well otherwise. Bad penalty by Bennett there, and though it was good of Gulutzan to throw him back out after that penalty, Bennett sure seemed like he was sat the rest of the way through. At any rate, that line has to start clicking for this team to really take off. You need 3 scoring lines, and preferably 3 scoring lines that can play in all zones.
I am really loving Gaudreau's game more and more. No more whining and looking at the ref for a call. He fights through stuff way more, and his defensive play is actually really good right now. Love the way he is backchecking and not giving up on pucks. That's what I thought made the Flames very difficult to play against that playoff year under Hartley. I hope that being such a puck-hound rubs-off on everyone else.
Monahan is so damn clutch. Cool as a cucumber. Tkachuk is getting there too. Loved both of their shootout goals - those must be so difficult to stop for a goalie. Tkachuk is so mature out there. He brings just the right amount of agitation at the right times now. He is the team's most universal swiss-army knife. He does it all. Even does the setting up behind the net so well.
If we had another 2 or 3 of them on the team, this team would at least be contending for a cup every year, or at the very least scaring the bejeezus out of opposing teams.
Hopefully they can keep this going. On a positive note for the much beleaguered Gulutzan, I thought he made good adjustments in trying to contain the Devils. Maybe he should have had this team more prepped for the start (starts are becoming a bit of a worrisome trend for me), but he is definitely deserving of a lot of praise for making in-game adjustments - one of my complaints of him as a rookie coach. That's really confidence inspiring for me, actually.
This team has the horses to compete. They just need to figure-out their bottom lines. There is way too much talent in the bottom 6 for this team to be so awful offensively. Hopefully they will start going. Even if you feel that Brouwer sucks, sucky Brouwer should still be at least pot in 10 goals, Versteeg should be good for at least that, and Stajan is probably a 30-ish point player. That third line is all youth, speed, but yet still skillful, but they are just dying out there offensively. Defensively I think they are decent, and they have moments where they have sustained pressure (you almost feel like the dam is about to burst there), but they just have to keep at it. If these two lines start contributing at even a below average rate, this team will shoot up in the standings.