Quote:
Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour
I'm going to predict all the posters continuing on about tanking this year are going to end up disappointed. I'm certainly not predicting a run to a playoff spot, but the Flames underlying numbers have been pretty good all season;
#4 right now based on xgoals for %
They've been top 10 for most of the year and have been steadily creeping up.
PDO has been below 100 for most of the season and still is. But, Wolf is playing better, Cooley solid as well, and defensively they've found a rhythym (Andersson/Bahl are killing it, Kuznetsov a steadying presence for Weegar). I mean they are scoring more as well, but I have more faith in the goaltending and defensive improvements being more sustainable.
I don't think they end up crawling out of the hole they've dug, but do expect them to be closer to that mushy middle many talk about. I'm not suggesting this is a good thing, but it's what I'm personally observing.
Go Flames Go! |
When you look at their lineup on paper it is kinda incredible that this is true. Some folks have to the frustrated that Bahl looks like a solid defensive dman at the age of 25 in the mode of an Esa Lindell, Kuznetsov looks capable of playing too 4 minutes at the age of 23. Coronato looks like a legit top 6 winger at the age of 23. The Flames are definitely getting all the juice possible out of this lineup with those underlying numbers.