[Cali Panthers Fan]

Well until recently, the 3rd line was generating pressure and chances, but not finishing. Now they're finishing to some degree.

The top line was finishing a lot of chances early, but they've gone cold, and are now missing wide open nets. That's unlucky and poor finishing at the same time.

The 2nd line does nothing but limit the opposition and generate shot attempts, but few are of the extremely dangerous variety. Plus, neither of Backlund or Frolik has been all that good at burying chances this year. So perhaps that will improve as well.

Don't get me started on the 4th line we've had this year, but at least they're starting to chip in and create some pressure now and then. I've liked Lazar and Brouwer together so far. Just a shame that Versteeg is out.

I think there's some truth to what Bingo is saying, and it's possible to see this trend pick up after Christmas. It's also just as likely that this current trend will continue and everyone will then jump on the advanced stat arguments as being bogus.

What I will say is this: seeing the corsi and scoring chances be so high gives reasons for optimism. If the Flames were NOT doing these things and getting their current results, there would be little reason to believe it would get much better, and we would all be hoping for a wild card playoff spot. However, this is a double-edged sword, and it means expectations will be higher for this team the remainder of this year, and if there isn't significant improvement from last year, I can see a lot of people claiming this season as a waste of prime competition years, and then putting that blame squarely on Gulutzan's shoulders.

It should not be lost on anyone that the Flames have gone from one of the worst Corsi teams under Hartley to one of the best Corsi teams in the league under Gulutzan. To me that indicates that GG has been successful, in at least his ability to get the players to play his style of game. Whether or not you agree that it's an effective style is another point entirely.

So I guess, I agree with the sentiment that it's about player execution, and just about everything has gone right except the actual goals for/goals against, and obviously, wins and losses.

It will come....patience.