Quote:
Originally Posted by dino7c
Reider's speed has been giving the Stars problems all series...wasn't surprised to see him there and it was one of the Flames better periods of the series
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IMO one of the Flames issues is that they have too many guys that don’t play big and/or aren’t overly quick.
In the playoffs the NHL becomes a different sport and being a guy that has physical qualities like size and speed starts to become more important than say hockey sense.
Why is the third line good?
Lucic: Big and plays big
Bennett: Not big, but skates well and plays big
Dube: Great skater
But what other players really have that skill set for the playoffs.
Gaudreau: Small and honestly hasn’t looked dynamic as a skater this year
Monahan: Doesn’t skate well or play big but will go to dirty areas
Lindholm: Can play physical and skates okay but hasn’t brought it in the playoffs
Mangiapane: Small, tries to play big, but isn’t the best skater
Backlund: Skates well, throws the odd hit but doesn’t play big consistently
Tkachuk: Doesn’t skate well, but will use his size and body
Reider: Skates really well and has been good this series
Ryan: Okay skater but not big, relies on hockey sense
Janko/Quine/Rinaldo: Borderline NHLers
Honestly it’s an issue with the NHL playoffs and it seems that guys that usually rely on hockey sense to be effective (Gaudreau, Monahan, Giordano, Ryan, Mangiapane) can be nullified by guys that are big and quick.
So as a whole the Flames aren’t overly big as a team, and really don’t look quick as skaters, and come playoff time they just get overmatched.
It’s also where I think coaching needs to help overcome some of the individual player deficiencies with better line combos.
If Tkachuk is healthy next game I want to see:
Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm: This should be our best 200ft line
Gaudreau - Bennett - Lucic: Gaudreau can’t find room on the ice, let’s put him with two guys that can make room.
Dube - Monahan - Reider: Puts Monahan who is a poor skater with two guys with speed to burn
Mangiapane-Ryan-Jankowski: Mangiapane and Ryan were great as a pair last season, let’s try to get them a favourable match up and see if they can take advantage .