I’m not entirely sure it’s primarily the lack of high end talent. The combination of the compressed schedule (more so for the Flames in the past 2 weeks than most other teams) combined with the absence of Zary and Bahl, players not being slotted properly, and the absolute dumpster fire of the 3rd pairing and 4th line and shortening of the bench every game has led to everyone being exceptionally tired, leading to breakdowns and mistakes. If the Flames could have rolled 4 lines and 3 pairs, they might have been able to maintain a lot more energy. But the combination of these issues all occurring simultaneously has been deadly.
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