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Calgary4LIfe · 03-04-2021, 10:13 PM

That's a pressure reducing win if I have ever seen one.

I thought the Monahan line was great to start - all three of them, including Leivo. I felt that they cooled off somewhat as the game progressed, however.

Dube line was hot. Tkachuk was great tonight. Somehow, Lindholm was a bit invisible, but that's ok to me.

The Backlund line was really good tonight for most of the night.

Best 4th line this season so far. Ryan was really good - didn't even look like he had any rust to his game. Ritchie was was very as well I thought - not just the goal he scored (which was huge for the team), but he also made a lot of smart plays with and without the puck. Nordstrom I thought had a fantastic game - best 5on5 game from him all season.

Defence was mostly solid. Kylington stumbled a few times - a bad hiccup with a bouncing puck that directly led to a goal against - but I felt he was mostly good. I think you keep him in the lineup and just let him play. Nesterov I felt was fantastic to start the season - I even compared him to Hamrlik at one point, and thought that he was a steadying influence on Valimaki. I think Nesterov has cooled off a bit, and I would like to see what Kylington can do over a 5 or even 10 game stretch.

Rittich played well - I think that one goal by Anisimov he would have liked to have back, but that was a weird shot. Anisimov flubbing it caused Rittich to misread the shot I felt, but still one he would probably like back anyway. Made some outstanding saves.

I wasn't happy with the lulls that the Flames had at various points in the game. It is one thing to be under pressure by Ottawa - you expect that pushback, especially early on in the blowout - but there were moments where I felt that they were lackadaisical with the puck and even the effort level. They managed to get back on the horse for the most part.

I hate some of the penalties taken - and it is starting to be a consistent theme with this team. I don't really fault Backlund for trying to lift the stick where he did, as that is what you are supposed to do and felt it was just a bit of bad luck to slide up and clip the player in the face. I really hated the Andersson penalty - just a selfish play. Take the hit to make the play, and take a number for later when an opportunity presents itself. Don't take a selfish cross-checking penalty there. I didn't like the Monahan penalty either - holding the stick in the offensive zone, but I felt that Coburn should have taken one too for cross-checking.

I felt that the Flames did a LOT better on the transition and the zone entries. Much more speed through the neutral zone, and a LOT less 'waiting around in the defensive zone'. I think they still did that a bit too much, but it seemed like the message tonight was play fast and move the puck forward quickly. Really showed in their game tonight.

I think partly why Ottawa was looking so poor on defence was the fact that Calgary was transitioning much quicker. That's why a fast transition is critical. Ottawa was often not set on defence, so they were confused and running around before the puck went into their zone.

I feel in order to generate scoring chances in the NHL, teams have to either cause breakdowns in defence, or make elite-level plays consistently. The former is a lot easier than the latter. I think it is a lot more difficult to force these defensive breakdowns when transitioning as a five man unit, where the opposing team is set as a 5 man defensive unit. Why force this? They didn't do too much of that tonight, and I felt that they did a great job in making Ottawa's defence breakdown, and they were highly rewarded for it tonight.

Much more solid game. Stuff still needs to be ironed-out still, but a much better game not just in results, but in generating offence and being a bit more solid defensively. Still some defensive lapses, and Rittich made some pretty impressive saves, but much better than the last handful of games I thought.

With Leivo and Ritchie scoring, I don't think Ward should take either of them out this game. There should be a strong culture of reward here. It is interesting as I think Bennett is still the better player than either of them, but nobody else deserves to sit at the moment. Interesting situation for Ward to be in - scratching Bennett two games in a row raises more than just the one eyebrow - it makes both eyebrows raise up, and that's a different emotion altogether.

03-04-2021, 10:13 PM	#67
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	That's a pressure reducing win if I have ever seen one. I thought the Monahan line was great to start - all three of them, including Leivo. I felt that they cooled off somewhat as the game progressed, however. Dube line was hot. Tkachuk was great tonight. Somehow, Lindholm was a bit invisible, but that's ok to me. The Backlund line was really good tonight for most of the night. Best 4th line this season so far. Ryan was really good - didn't even look like he had any rust to his game. Ritchie was was very as well I thought - not just the goal he scored (which was huge for the team), but he also made a lot of smart plays with and without the puck. Nordstrom I thought had a fantastic game - best 5on5 game from him all season. Defence was mostly solid. Kylington stumbled a few times - a bad hiccup with a bouncing puck that directly led to a goal against - but I felt he was mostly good. I think you keep him in the lineup and just let him play. Nesterov I felt was fantastic to start the season - I even compared him to Hamrlik at one point, and thought that he was a steadying influence on Valimaki. I think Nesterov has cooled off a bit, and I would like to see what Kylington can do over a 5 or even 10 game stretch. Rittich played well - I think that one goal by Anisimov he would have liked to have back, but that was a weird shot. Anisimov flubbing it caused Rittich to misread the shot I felt, but still one he would probably like back anyway. Made some outstanding saves. I wasn't happy with the lulls that the Flames had at various points in the game. It is one thing to be under pressure by Ottawa - you expect that pushback, especially early on in the blowout - but there were moments where I felt that they were lackadaisical with the puck and even the effort level. They managed to get back on the horse for the most part. I hate some of the penalties taken - and it is starting to be a consistent theme with this team. I don't really fault Backlund for trying to lift the stick where he did, as that is what you are supposed to do and felt it was just a bit of bad luck to slide up and clip the player in the face. I really hated the Andersson penalty - just a selfish play. Take the hit to make the play, and take a number for later when an opportunity presents itself. Don't take a selfish cross-checking penalty there. I didn't like the Monahan penalty either - holding the stick in the offensive zone, but I felt that Coburn should have taken one too for cross-checking. I felt that the Flames did a LOT better on the transition and the zone entries. Much more speed through the neutral zone, and a LOT less 'waiting around in the defensive zone'. I think they still did that a bit too much, but it seemed like the message tonight was play fast and move the puck forward quickly. Really showed in their game tonight. I think partly why Ottawa was looking so poor on defence was the fact that Calgary was transitioning much quicker. That's why a fast transition is critical. Ottawa was often not set on defence, so they were confused and running around before the puck went into their zone. I feel in order to generate scoring chances in the NHL, teams have to either cause breakdowns in defence, or make elite-level plays consistently. The former is a lot easier than the latter. I think it is a lot more difficult to force these defensive breakdowns when transitioning as a five man unit, where the opposing team is set as a 5 man defensive unit. Why force this? They didn't do too much of that tonight, and I felt that they did a great job in making Ottawa's defence breakdown, and they were highly rewarded for it tonight. Much more solid game. Stuff still needs to be ironed-out still, but a much better game not just in results, but in generating offence and being a bit more solid defensively. Still some defensive lapses, and Rittich made some pretty impressive saves, but much better than the last handful of games I thought. With Leivo and Ritchie scoring, I don't think Ward should take either of them out this game. There should be a strong culture of reward here. It is interesting as I think Bennett is still the better player than either of them, but nobody else deserves to sit at the moment. Interesting situation for Ward to be in - scratching Bennett two games in a row raises more than just the one eyebrow - it makes both eyebrows raise up, and that's a different emotion altogether.