Finally got to watch the whole game.
Great to see how the Flames battled hard and skated with maybe the best team in the league in their own building. Definitely the most the entertaining game of the year.
Nice to see Vladar put up a solid game.
Lindholm was definitely the Flames best player. Tkachuk had some nice moves and you love to see his getting Makar's goat. Gudbranson had a good game setting the physical tone in addition to scoring. The 4th line did well to limit chances. Dube especially seemed on top of things and used his speed well. Andersson had a really strong performance as well.
With that said, the Flames seemed to struggle more and more as the game went on with the Avalanche's pace and execution. The 3 odd man rushes with less than 5 minutes to go in the third could have gone much worse.
The Backlund line had an uncharacteristically poor night. Perhaps it's time to try to switch Coleman and Toffoli's spots. The third line needs a re-think. Kylington had some good and some bad. I have confidence that he will learn from seeing the level that the Avs play at.
It's pointless to rag on them but seeing Hanifin and Monahan cough up pucks or fail to make plays reminded me of how the Flames have folded up in years past in playoff intensity. Too timid and mentally slow when the other team starts pushing.
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