[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

I cannot agree with your assessment here. Tonight was my first game at the Dome in over a month and what stood out glaringly was our horrific defensive zone play.

On the first goal against, three players focused on the man at the point, leaving at least a two-on-one down low in the crease (looked like three flyers in that area). This was the result of blown coverage by Gio who left his man down low to go chasing to the point. All of this occurred less than a minute after we scored and with less than a minute left in the period. Unacceptable in any facet.

The second goal was a result of two lazy plays by Hamilton after Gio passed to him behind the net. Hamilton allowed the puck to carom off his skate to the onrushing forward who sent it back to the point. Hamilton then lazily skated to the crease and waved his stick lazily at the point shot that eventually hit the post. It’s Hamilton’s man (once again in the crease) who pots the rebound.

The third goal was the result of another odd-man rush against, something that has been occurring all too frequently lately as either Dmen jump into the play and don’t get back, or the centre doesn’t cover for the jumping-up defender. (In the first period, only another amazing Smith save on a breakaway prevented a goal on such a play—and it was Jagr back as the last man on that one).

It was over at 3-1.

Yes, the Flames had many chances to go ahead before the 3-1 goal, and yes Elliott made some saves, but a 1-1 game does not get blown open like that if the team is playing well defensively. They weren’t—again—and haven’t been for a while.

Perhaps most concerning (as many others have already mentioned) was the coaching staff’s description of these goals being results of bad puck-luck. Both Cameron and Gulutzan alluded to this on the postgame show.

If this is what they honestly think, then this team is in deep trouble. Our defensive game is non-existent. Four of the five goals were slam-dunks from the crease. None of the defensemen plays physically in front of their own net, and the team in general gets caught watching the puck and losing their man in the Dzone.

Scoring chances are fine, goals will come. However, if they don’t fix the Dzone problems immediately, this week could end with 5 straight losses.

Read my mind. Thanks. Now I don't have to write all that.

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