Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
No. I'm not buying that.
The Flames were the second highest scoring team without an above average powerplay, they were a top five defensive team, and their possession and shot metrics were all in the top-five. They did all of this amid questions about goaltending all year. There is NOTHING beyond a short playoff campaign to suggest that the Flames overachieved. Nothing at all.
The Flames played differently in Games #2–5 of the playoffs than they did all season and also in Game #1. It was mystifying to witness, but what I saw in Round One was NOT the same team as that which I watched all season—something was decidedly off for a few games at the absolute worst time, and I believe it is correctable.
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Just like every year, the game changed in the playoffs and the Flames couldn’t dictate the play anymore. The refs allowed physical players to push the line more and the Flames had no answer for it. They got worn down and intimidated, then it was a downward spiral.
I have no doubt that they can reproduce the regular season results, but no one is going to mind facing them in the playoffs if they don’t add the SOB element.
The fact Treliving has tried to address this at least gives me hope that he knows it’s an issue.