In this 4 game series against Vancouver, I would say that Vancouver mostly outplayed Calgary overall. They are less talented, but the pulled together, they started playing good defence, and I think they both out-worked and out-manoeuvred Calgary for the most part. This shouldn't happen in a 4 game series against what should be an inferior opponent. You might see a bad game, might seem some bad periods, but you shouldn't see the worse team be the better team over 4 games.
Some things that I haven't liked:
Markstrom is getting chirped, and does anyone do anything? Come on, get in Pearons' grill and face-wash him, go and muck it up with Boeser. You don't have to take a penalty, but you have to stick up for your goalie who has been the ONLY reason why this season hasn't been an embarrassment thus far.
Defense: It sucks. Way too many glorious gifts over and over again. Markstrom should have signed for 8 million a season given the workload he is facing.
I don't know what is going on with this team, but they are not playing right. They can't string together 3 straight periods of good play, much less 3 straight games.
I liked Ritchie tonight - he seems to be (so far, given only one game) the best of the 'grinders' rotating on the Taxi Squad. That said, he shouldn't be on the top line - over and over again. So far this season, the top line RW'er on this team has been more often than not a taxi-squad scratch. Other team taking liberties against Gaudreau? Sure, throw one of those players on that line for a couple of shifts - but that's it.
I don't see a team here that is gelling. I see a team that is coming unglued at the seams. Going to be an interesting game on Friday.
I don't want to see anyone losing their job, but I don't think the Flames are being coached properly. What are you going to do now? Just wait and see if things can be ironed out? 16 games in on a shortened season.
It isn't all doom and gloom. There are bright spots (the biggest being Markstrom who is like the big beautiful sun that makes you want to stare at him and bask in his warmth until you go blind). Something has to happen sooner rather than later. Either the team starts to 'get it' and play better, or Ward starts to 'get it' and figure out how to get the most out of this team. I know which side of the fence that I am firmly on.
|