[Game Takes] Flames 2 Canucks 1 (Lead Series 1-0)

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2015/04/g...s-2-canucks-1/

How much fun was that?!

[burnin_vernon]

It was very much fun.
Great write up.

[pappa jan]

Good write-up, agree on all accounts. How great is it that the team can insert rookies instead of veterans and excel?!

[Dion]

You have to admire this teams tenacity and never quit character.

[Vulcan]

5 rookies and 2 second year forwards. If we can keep up our level of play, we can outwork and out hustle other teams. With our youth, I think this team should be strong for years whereas the 04 team was mostly vets.

[Scrambler]

Well written! Had a rough day but the big win really, really helped me This read certainly added to that

[Tinordi]

Thanks again for those who are overseas, middle aged and physically can't wake up at 3 in the morning to watch the games.

[FlameZilla]

My kid woke me up at 3:30am, so I tuned in halfway through the 1st period. It was such a great game that I couldn't turn it off. I was so wired by the win that I didn't get back to bed until 6am. It's gonna be a rough day...

I could potentially be jet-lagged for the rest of the month as my body clock shifts over to Pacific Standard Time. It's worth it if the Flames play like that, though!

[Freddy]

One of the undercurrents to this game was the fact that I thought the Flames played 'heavier' than the Canucks, specifically Ferland and Jooris. While Ferland was quick to drop the gloves with Dorsett and looked a bit silly for the penalty, Dorsett didn't choose to keep picking on Ferland. Then later they showed Bieksa and Ferland jawing at eachother prior to a face off, and despite Ferland face planting himself into the boards right after, he at that point had essentially 'made himself available' or 'offered an invitation' to the 2 guys the Canucks consider their modern day enforcers without even a hint of them pushing back to escalate the emotion. So while some would say it's just rookie vs veteran composure, I'd say there is an intangible lift to your team when a rookie openly challenges / shows disrespect to opposing "tough guys" without either saying a peep. And then setting up the game tying goal with a sexy feed was icing on the cake.
Great game by Ferland!

[Cheese]

Goood write up Bingo...
as I mentioned yesterday the Bennett factor elevating the second line and assistance from lines 3 and 4 are the x factors in this series. We know the first line will come through eventually, so its good to know we have something else to share with the Nucks now.

[Tinordi]

I assume Bennett was on the left-wing?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

I assume Bennett was on the left-wing?

Yeap.

[Gaudfather]

The one main concern is the status of Monahan - he clearly was not 100% last night. Lots of chatter about a shoulder issue. We have to hope his health status begins to improve rather than deteriorate - but if it remains an issue, the Flames will really need Bennett and Backlund and Stajan to carry the load. Are you listening Backlund?

[Ulrith]

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

The one main concern is the status of Monahan - he clearly was not 100% last night. Lots of chatter about a shoulder issue. We have to hope his health status begins to improve rather than deteriorate - but if it remains an issue, the Flames will really need Bennett and Backlund and Stajan to carry the load. Are you listening Backlund?

Agreed. He clearly wasn't 100% and the 1st line suffered because of it. Not to mention he got killed on faceoffs when he's normally quite good.

I'm hoping he's just sick rather than injured though, because he's a huge part of our team.

[BigRed]

Monahan is worrying for sure, but damned if the rest of the team didn't pick up the slack. That's what these guys have done all year long. They're like a machine, and credit for that goes straight to 'artley.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by Freddy

One of the undercurrents to this game was the fact that I thought the Flames played 'heavier' than the Canucks, specifically Ferland and Jooris. While Ferland was quick to drop the gloves with Dorsett and looked a bit silly for the penalty, Dorsett didn't choose to keep picking on Ferland. Then later they showed Bieksa and Ferland jawing at eachother prior to a face off, and despite Ferland face planting himself into the boards right after, he at that point had essentially 'made himself available' or 'offered an invitation' to the 2 guys the Canucks consider their modern day enforcers without even a hint of them pushing back to escalate the emotion. So while some would say it's just rookie vs veteran composure, I'd say there is an intangible lift to your team when a rookie openly challenges / shows disrespect to opposing "tough guys" without either saying a peep. And then setting up the game tying goal with a sexy feed was icing on the cake.
Great game by Ferland!

Great synopsis about Ferland's game last night.

3 or 4 years ago my buddies and I went to a Brandon-Hitmen playoff game specifically to watch Ferland. He was crashing the net, fighting, generating chances, and just generally imposing his will all night. It was the kind of game that made me imagine what he could become that at the NHL level, and last night's game was the realization of that. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite players on the team and hopefully he puts Burrows on his a$$ a lot more before this series is over.

[burn_baby_burn]

I really don't know what is wrong with Mason Raymond. Because at times this season he has shown flashes of the player he can be. However, the majority of the time he is completely useless.

Replacing him with Bennett was a no brainer for this armchair quarterback. However, I'm sure the decision wasn't an easy one for the coaching staff considering Bennett's lack of experience. Or maybe it wasn't. Still, really impressed with Sam Bennett, the sample size is small, but this kid looks like a difference maker.

[442scotty]

I think Raymonds injury while with Vancouver basically ruined him. Sure he has flashes of his old self but he cant put his body out there in harms way. No amount of money is worth ruining the rest of your life which he almost did that day in Vancouver. Im sure he struggles with this.

[undercoverbrother]

Mr. Clutch

Michael Ferland was a beast tonight. An absolute beast. He hit everything that moved and was a key part of gaining momentum for the Flames on a line with Matt Stajan and David Jones. Great night from a kid that I honestly didn’t expect to see as a regular this season let alone a starter in the playoffs

great shout out.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Hartley simply outcoached WD in game 1.