Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [PGT] Loss - 10/28/2024 - Golden Knights defeat Flames 5-0

Calgary4LIfe · 10-29-2024, 12:58 PM

I am not overly concerned at this point with wins and losses. Towards the trade deadline, if the Flames are in a playoff position, then I will hate losses, and if they are at the bottom of the standings, losses will be easier to accept. Right now, I am more focused on how this team is playing and how entertaining they really are. I have sat through too many boring games in the Gultuzan through Ward era, and even that last season with Sutter was about as fun to watch as being poked in the eye with a stick.

First big loss of the season, and it was a statement in my opinion. The Flames are a fun, gutsy and hard-working team. Any team not expecting that will get run over. This isn't a pushover of a team. However, it is a team bereft of high-end talent. They have not had enough high end talent since '89, arguably.

I went into this season thinking that this team is a bottom 3 team. Defence has held up much better than I anticipated. Goalies - both of them - have been really good too. I still think they will end up being in the bottom 5, as long as Conroy doesn't make any moves to prop them up (which I doubt he will).

Last night they played a top-end team. On paper, it was no contest. Theory won out last night. You can not realistically expect a hard-working, lunch-pail group of players to always outwork, the opposition. Heck, I think the Flames outworked the Knights most of the night. Knights just decided to turn it on and either matched - or came close to matching - the Flames in effort, and they ended up blowing Calgary out.

Calgary has a great culture. I hope they keep it up. I do expect many more losses than I expect wins, but wins are fun. I am not getting too down or too up for wins and losses. Just give me entertaining hockey where the team I cheer for cares and they play hard. Give me a product that I can stand behind.

Enjoy the losses because they are fun, they are more exciting and much more rewarding. However, don't take the losses so seriously. Know that they will eventually allow the Flames to get better by finally finding a #1 centre - something that they really haven't had since Nieuwendyk and Gilmour left town (and Savard, though he wasn't that here at the time, though he was well on his way).

As for the Flames giving up and mailing it in - I disagree. They got outplayed. I didn't see an effort level (though like many, I do wonder what Huberdeau was laughing at near the end - I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but you really hate to see a player laughing as their team is getting blown-out, as it is just a terrible look). I thought they played hard, and were probably the harder working team. They lost because Vegas decided to work hard for the last 25-30 minutes.

I also disagree with Vladar 'sucking'. There is a lot of wiggle room between "Elite level steal every game" goalie vs "Sucks so bad beachballs find their way through". I think Vladar was more than good enough to win this game. A goalie doesn't have to stand on his head in order to win a game, nor should that be the expectation. I thought he played very well through the first two periods, and I only see one goal (even that was arguable) that I felt Vladar should have had.

I guess in the end it comes down to expectations. I expect this team to be a bottom 3 team. If you expect this team to be a top 10 or 12 team, then I can understand how one can be down on this team after last night. This season has been beyond my expectations, and if they continue winning more than they lose, than I will keep cheering until I lose my voice. I don't enjoy losses. i just comfort myself in knowing that the losses will bring back a top pick. The worst case scenario is finishing 11th this season. I am sure that the Flames will fall back down to Earth, and that's fine. Whether it's Hagens or McQueen or someone else, then that's taking a big step forward by taking a step back. If the Flames make the playoffs and even win a round, that's awesome too - winning is fun.

I thought the Flames played well, but just couldn't match Vegas. I think the problem with relying on hard work to win games is that sometimes the more talented team will turn it up in a game, and make you look silly. Hard work should be the backbone of the Flames' culture no matter how talented or not they may be. Just work hard so that as talent is slowly injected into this lineup, they learn how to win the right way. They can still win when they are tired, or just have an off-night. Just crank it up for a half period. I also think it much be exhausting to constantly work harder than opposing teams.

Great season so far. Flames are entertaining this year, even if last night got kind of ugly.

I will also like to highlight Zary. It is really fun watching his evolution. He definitely makes the Flames better. What a treat to have him on the team.

10-29-2024, 12:58 PM	#105
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I am not overly concerned at this point with wins and losses. Towards the trade deadline, if the Flames are in a playoff position, then I will hate losses, and if they are at the bottom of the standings, losses will be easier to accept. Right now, I am more focused on how this team is playing and how entertaining they really are. I have sat through too many boring games in the Gultuzan through Ward era, and even that last season with Sutter was about as fun to watch as being poked in the eye with a stick. First big loss of the season, and it was a statement in my opinion. The Flames are a fun, gutsy and hard-working team. Any team not expecting that will get run over. This isn't a pushover of a team. However, it is a team bereft of high-end talent. They have not had enough high end talent since '89, arguably. I went into this season thinking that this team is a bottom 3 team. Defence has held up much better than I anticipated. Goalies - both of them - have been really good too. I still think they will end up being in the bottom 5, as long as Conroy doesn't make any moves to prop them up (which I doubt he will). Last night they played a top-end team. On paper, it was no contest. Theory won out last night. You can not realistically expect a hard-working, lunch-pail group of players to always outwork, the opposition. Heck, I think the Flames outworked the Knights most of the night. Knights just decided to turn it on and either matched - or came close to matching - the Flames in effort, and they ended up blowing Calgary out. Calgary has a great culture. I hope they keep it up. I do expect many more losses than I expect wins, but wins are fun. I am not getting too down or too up for wins and losses. Just give me entertaining hockey where the team I cheer for cares and they play hard. Give me a product that I can stand behind. Enjoy the losses because they are fun, they are more exciting and much more rewarding. However, don't take the losses so seriously. Know that they will eventually allow the Flames to get better by finally finding a #1 centre - something that they really haven't had since Nieuwendyk and Gilmour left town (and Savard, though he wasn't that here at the time, though he was well on his way). As for the Flames giving up and mailing it in - I disagree. They got outplayed. I didn't see an effort level (though like many, I do wonder what Huberdeau was laughing at near the end - I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but you really hate to see a player laughing as their team is getting blown-out, as it is just a terrible look). I thought they played hard, and were probably the harder working team. They lost because Vegas decided to work hard for the last 25-30 minutes. I also disagree with Vladar 'sucking'. There is a lot of wiggle room between "Elite level steal every game" goalie vs "Sucks so bad beachballs find their way through". I think Vladar was more than good enough to win this game. A goalie doesn't have to stand on his head in order to win a game, nor should that be the expectation. I thought he played very well through the first two periods, and I only see one goal (even that was arguable) that I felt Vladar should have had. I guess in the end it comes down to expectations. I expect this team to be a bottom 3 team. If you expect this team to be a top 10 or 12 team, then I can understand how one can be down on this team after last night. This season has been beyond my expectations, and if they continue winning more than they lose, than I will keep cheering until I lose my voice. I don't enjoy losses. i just comfort myself in knowing that the losses will bring back a top pick. The worst case scenario is finishing 11th this season. I am sure that the Flames will fall back down to Earth, and that's fine. Whether it's Hagens or McQueen or someone else, then that's taking a big step forward by taking a step back. If the Flames make the playoffs and even win a round, that's awesome too - winning is fun. I thought the Flames played well, but just couldn't match Vegas. I think the problem with relying on hard work to win games is that sometimes the more talented team will turn it up in a game, and make you look silly. Hard work should be the backbone of the Flames' culture no matter how talented or not they may be. Just work hard so that as talent is slowly injected into this lineup, they learn how to win the right way. They can still win when they are tired, or just have an off-night. Just crank it up for a half period. I also think it much be exhausting to constantly work harder than opposing teams. Great season so far. Flames are entertaining this year, even if last night got kind of ugly. I will also like to highlight Zary. It is really fun watching his evolution. He definitely makes the Flames better. What a treat to have him on the team.