Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashasx
While I think other teams have certainly adjusted to the Flames (the Flames have no answer to teams that enter the zone with speed - the defence gives them way too much space and players like MacKinnon and McDavid eat them alive), the doesn't explain why the offence has dried up.
The xGF of the top line is dismal. Yes, everyone's shooting percentage is down, but that alone doesn't explain the top line's decline.
I can't even say that it's a coaching adjustment because it's not like Peters is telling them pass the puck to their feet or take low quality chances.
I'd say it's confidence. It's almost as if they beating the Avs laid on them in the spring has killed their belief that this team can ever win anything. And I'm not too sure I'd disagree with that sentiment.
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I think it does to some extent. Teams have figured out that to beat the Flames they have to play physical with Gaudreau. Take away his time and space, get him frustrated, you can see the results.
If Gaudreau is eliminated Monahan generally is as well. Lindholm was able to take advantage of teams keying on his line mates for a while but you can't expect one player to handle that much of the load for long.
Beyond that, some of this is a confidence issue. The team seems to have lost confidence in their ability to adapt to what they're seeing. They may have also lost some confidence in their coaching staff to guide them through this. If they can start to get a few bounces and regain some of that lost confidence that will help but it still won't solve the issue of other teams having figured out how to beat them.
If they can somehow come up with a solid second line that can take some of the pressure off of Gaudreau that will make a big difference. Something like
Gaudreau - Monahan - Mangiapane
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
They've obviously been trying this for some time now but nothing has really clicked so far. It may be that too much of the season will be lost before they finally do get this solved. Time will tell.