Flames are being thoroughly trounced right now and personally, I'm not sure it's all on the players right now. I see a lot of blame on the big line and sure they haven't been good enough, especially Monahan from what I've seen and Gaudreau had just about the worst playoff game of his career.
But ask yourselves this, if the shoe was on the other foot and Gaudreau had all the time and space in the world to fly into the Avs zone like Mackinnon and then to shoot and to pass to the trailer any time he wants. Gaudreau would be eating the Avalanche alive as well.
The problem isn't necessarily what the top line hasn't done, it's more so what the Flames have allowed Mackinnon to do and he's made the top line look terrible in relation. Bill Peters needs to start playing playoff hockey already. He's coaching like it's the regular season right now. Problem is, Colorado is the way faster team and the Flames are incapable of keeping up in both ends.
If Peters doesn't want this season to end in 3 days, then he needs to change the defensive strategy by stopping Colorado's transition. He needs to shut down the neutral zone and clog up the middle of the ice. Don't activate the forecheck, keep the forwards closer to the defensemen so they're not backing up on the blue line completely overwhelmed from Colorado's speed.
If the team can slow the game down, then this will give the Flames an advantage. Guys like Neal, Monahan and Tkachuk will actually have a chance to keep up with the play rather than to constantly chase and be behind the play. Mackinnon won't be able to wreak havoc either because he'll be trying to skate through 5 guys. Until the Flames start to play playoff style hockey, they don't stand a chance. It'll be Mackinnon's easiest series he'll have ever played.
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