[GDT] Flames @ Islanders, 5 pm, SNW

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Not sure if HD forgot or not, so I'll just start this one quickly.










Flames: 2-6-0, 6th in Pacific, 13th in West, 28th in NHL.

Islanders: 5-2-1, 3rd in Metropolitan, 5th in East, 9th in NHL.


I won't rehash the last game, just read the PGT.

Derek Grant likely impressed enough to stay in the lineup tonight. Joni Ortio is the confirmed starter for tonight. Quick turn around for the team after a disappointing result but a good effort. The psyche is still a little fragile for a team that never had problems believing last year. Signs still point to them getting out of this funk, but you never know when.


Flames
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Colborne-Backlund-Frolik
Bennett-Grant-Jooris
Bollig-Stajan-Jones

Giordano-Wideman
Russell-Engelland
Smid-Hamilton

Ortio


Islanders
Lee-Tavares-Strome
Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo
Kulemin-Grabovski-Nelson
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Leddy-Boychuk
DeHaan-Hamonic
Hickey-Zidlicky

Halak



Go Flames Go!!!

[Toonage]

I honestly believe Ortio is the real deal and should have started the season for this team. Hope he has a solid game tonight so the Flames can get something done in front of him. I also hope he's vocal and helps direct the defence.

[Vinny01]

Hopefully tonight is the beginning of a big win streak with Ortio taking the reigns as the number 1 for the rest of the year. Hopefully he takes off like Kipper did in 03/04 and the flames charge back into the race and go on a very long run

[sureLoss]

Thomas Hickey is out with a lower body injury

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Tonight Ortio is going to make Treliving look like an idiot for re-signing Ramo (more than he already does). As well as a few nameless posters who have had little faith in Ortio's abilities.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Tonight Ortio is going to make Treliving look like an idiot for re-signing Ramo (more than he already does). As well as a few nameless posters who have had little faith in Ortio's abilities.

Two things for you my friend:

1. Treliving was not an idiot for signing Rams. The idea was to sign him and trade him or Hiller before the season. At the very least you would have two capable NHL goalies. Treliving's sin was having 3 goalies show up to work everyday.

2. Just because a poster (let's say CroFlames) believed having 2 NHL goalies signed was a good thing, doesn't mean we are idiots or don't have faith in Ortio. It's not unheard of that a highly touted goalie prospect fizzles out.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Tonight Ortio is going to make Treliving look like an idiot for re-signing Ramo (more than he already does). As well as a few nameless posters who have had little faith in Ortio's abilities.

Can we not discuss the upcoming game without hurling disparaging remarks at team management, players, and other fans?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Can we not discuss the upcoming game without hurling disparaging remarks at team management, players, and other fans?

No.

[driveway]

I think I started saying this around game 4 or 5, but we need to come out of our first ten games with at least 8 points to have a shot at the playoffs.

We have 4 points with two games left in that first ten. It's October and we're in a must-win game. Regulation, OT, or Shootout, we need these two points.

[Yrebmi]

I just want to quit looking like an idiot myself for laughing at all the people telling me Flames would fall back to earth this season

[polak]

If we don't win this, things will be grim. We need to get some wins strung together.

Unfortunately unless Gaudreau has a huge game, I don't know where else the offence will come. We have no one outside of the top line. Offense is the biggest problem for this team.

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

I just want to quit looking like an idiot myself for laughing at all the people telling me Flames would fall back to earth this season

Yup this is the worst part.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by polak

If we don't win this, things will be grim. We need to get some wins strung together.

Unfortunately unless Gaudreau has a huge game, I don't know where else the offence will come. We have no one outside of the top line. Offense is the biggest problem for this team.



Yup this is the worst part.

Having the worst GA in the West and 2nd worst in the entire league (behind winless Columbus) is a pretty significant problem. I argue that is the bigger problem.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Having the worst GA in the West and 2nd worst in the entire league (behind winless Columbus) is a pretty significant problem. I argue that is the bigger problem.

Columbus isn't winless anymore.

[killer_carlson]

Really hope Smid puts in a solid stretch of games on this trip.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Smid looks like the player we got directly after his trade a couple of years ago. I'm still not sure what the problem was last year, but he's always been a reliable defensive player with a bit of a physical edge and a strong compete level.

I think the time away made him hungrier. Good to see him contribute positively to the team again.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

I just want to quit looking like an idiot myself for laughing at all the people telling me Flames would fall back to earth this season

If the Flames have taught me anything over the years it's don't believe the hype. I figured they would regress a bit, it would be near impossible to replicate half the team having career seasons last year. But when Hamilton and Folik came on board and Bennett starting on the big club I hoped that they would be able to counter the downswing from other players enough that the Flames could still compete. So far that hasn't happened

[polak]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Smid looks like the player we got directly after his trade a couple of years ago. I'm still not sure what the problem was last year, but he's always been a reliable defensive player with a bit of a physical edge and a strong compete level.

I think the time away made him hungrier. Good to see him contribute positively to the team again.

Yeah Smid was a completely serviceable defensemen.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

I just want to quit looking like an idiot myself for laughing at all the people telling me Flames would fall back to earth this season

I have had to eat crow on numerous occasions, it hasn't been fun.

I still believe, however.

GFG Bennett breaks out tonight

[Benched]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

I just want to quit looking like an idiot myself for laughing at all the people telling me Flames would fall back to earth this season

Truth.

So many cheering for us to fail that it's been rough to be a fan with the 'I told you so' crowd howling.

Honestly, this is sort of the season I expected last year.


Got to just remember we're rebuilding. And maybe it's good for all of us, the team included, to remember that. Not get too high too early.

[vicarious]

A win tonight puts us even with the Oilers