[Gaskal]

I think we have to acknowledge that the Flames top 4, outside of Dougie are not the offensive dynamos that we or the Flames envisioned them being. The sooner Gulutzan realizes this and adjusts, the better.

I'm seeing Gio start to lose his offensive touch a bit. He's as elite defensively as he ever was, and that's why he's undisputedly our #1, but so many of his shots go high/wide/both. Hamonic is a defensive dman through and through - like Gio, but a righty. And Brodie seems hesitant to join the rush and shoot the puck (he did a couple times last night though).

It's easier to understand now why Hartley hated the D-to-D pass so much, all it does is give the other team 3-4 seconds to turn back up ice and get into position. He'd have a couple forwards to give close puck support to, but one way up-ice to make the D back off.

The D-to-D is just too easy to pressure with the speed and tempo of today's game - the forecheckers are fast enough nowadays to shut down the pass receiver and force the clear along the boards. The puck still gets out, but we have no speed exiting the zone.