Quote:
Originally Posted by djsFlames
Doesn't matter, every team gets points robbed from them.
What matters is despite that they're 12-3-5
What will matter most is how they stack up against Carolina and Florida, and the likes of that tier of teams. That will tell you how far they can go in the post season.
Toronto might be the top team they've faced. Hung with them but weren't imposing their will or controlling play 5 on 5 like they have with many other opponents.
Mind you, I'll give them that they were coming out of a lull/rut and weren't playing their best to begin with, while TO was on a burner at the time. So, despite that, the game had MTL upset vibes to it as the Flames bent but didn't break, like the Habs (3 on 3 OT isn't a good playoff simulation, so I omit the losing goal from evaluation).
In terms of teams in the west I'd be interested to see how they stack up to Vegas when they get healthier. Of course they need to be able to show they can shut down the oil with their systems too.
Great start but their mettle needs some proper tests still to ensure we have the system and parts here that will go a distance in april/may.
Show you can do the same thing vs top teams and direct playoff competition.
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I agree on assessing vs the best teams.
But yeah, the team I want to see them against, more than any other, is Vegas. They have always struggled with Vegas' team speed, forecheck, and work ethic. So how they handle those things now, will be intriguing to see.
And the Oilers too. They have not been able to contain McDavid as well as some teams, and they need to figure it out. The teams that have really shut him down have done it with a good skating Dman. Heiskanen did a fantastic job on him, for example.
The Flames used Brodie a lot, but I found him too passive. And I don't recall who they used in game 1, but I think the answer may be Kylington.
If it were up to me, I would be prepping Kylington for the job.