Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
It’s not an odd assertion at all. Look at the games when the Flames were shutout. Opposition teams were playing very tight checking games and it wasn’t that they were being stymied, the top line was legitimately shut down in those games.
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Apologies if my formatting is off, or if this seemed a bit jumbled. Made this post over the course of an hour doing other things, back and forth from the computer as well.
So it's tough to look at the games were the Flames were shut out, it's only happened four times this season, such a short sample size. Regardless we'll look at those three first.
November 23rd vs Vegas; Lost 2-0
Gaudreau had 4 shots
Monahan had 2 shots
Lindholm had 3 shots
Now I don't recall this being a particularly tight checking game, both teams were just under 30 shots a peice., with the Flames having 13 in the third period alone. Obviously the stats don't look good when no goals are scored obviously but still, didn't seem tight checking and the top line lead the way in chances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x20LmNoixU
Next shutout was December 9th vs the Oilers.. ugh 1-0 Edmonton
Gaudreau had 5 shots
Monahan had 4 shots
Lindholm had zero
Shots seem average, 30-24 in favor of Edmonton but the top line didn't seem to suffer in a low scoring shutout loss. They had nine shots between two players and just didn't capitalize.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIePo-DkP-4
Third shutout loss of the season was 18th of December vs Dallas
Monahan zero shots
Lindholm two shots
Gaudreau three shots
Flames mustered a measly 24 shots against the Stars. This is probably more inline with what you're saying.. but is that a surprise? Is our top line any different from other teams? You don't score any goals you probably don't look so hot.
Fourth and last is March 7th vs Coyotes
Gaudreau two shots
Monahan zero shots
Lindholm zero shots
Yeah, this was an ugly game. Ugly all around.
Think you're 2/4 two of them they were shut down, but the other half no.. they had plenty of chances just stonewalled.
But how come we're only looking at tight checking losses?
What about the 2-1 win vs the Devils last month? top line combines for four points in two goals.
What about the 3-1 win the Islanders the previous night? Top line combined for four points out of the three goals for.
Conclusion? You need a whole bunch more data, tight checking wins and losses for the Flames. Then compare it to those low scoring games other top players are involved in if you want to label our guys as not showing up in these types of games.
I dunno, just not seeing what you're seeing. Monahan isn't playing great, in a funk but he's hardly a guy that checks out in big or tight checking games, no sir.