[Game Takes] Oilers 7 Flames 4

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2016/10/g...rs-7-flames-4/

[bigrangy]

Very fair analysis.

I thought the Flames played ok as a whole, but they were down most of the game so it might have been score effects. Brain farts in the first were to be expected since this is the first time the lineup has been together, it just sucks that they were made (predictably) by Grossmann. I thought he was actually fairly decent after the first, but those two plays were not great.

Backlund was his usual fantastic self and Brodie was really solid as well. Fix the d-pairings, but other than that I'm confident that the Flames will start 1-1.

[Savvy27]

Nice, I think this is a very reasonable review of the game. It was frustrating to watch but there were some positives and a lot of the bad will be wiped out with a solid win on Friday.

I would like to see the defence pairing fixed up and a more cohesive showing from the top line and I think this group will be right on track.

One complaint would be about Ferland though. He has to start finishing checks on the forecheck. He doesn't do enough to be a guy who picks his spots to be physical. Very unhappy with his play and becoming more and more convinced that this is likely his last contract in the NHL.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Nice, I think this is a very reasonable review of the game. It was frustrating to watch but there were some positives and a lot of the bad will be wiped out with a solid win on Friday.

I would like to see the defence pairing fixed up and a more cohesive showing from the top line and I think this group will be right on track.

One complaint would be about Ferland though. He has to start finishing checks on the forecheck. He doesn't do enough to be a guy who picks his spots to be physical. Very unhappy with his play and becoming more and more convinced that this is likely his last contract in the NHL.

where is the Ferland that carried the Flames to their playoff series win? He can't play like that all the time but he absolutely has to be able to dial it up once in a while.

[ricardodw]

The Flames seem okay to go head to head with other teams top lines. The Flames top line does not match up with the other teams top line.... Eberle-McDavid-Lucic is better than Gaudreau-Monahan-Vertseeg.

The Flames would have won the game if Gaudreau-Monahan-Brouwer would have played 15 minutes against McDavid-Lucic-Versteeg.

If your #1 line is going to get beaten by the other teams #1 then you have to play your other lines more. Frolik-Backlund looked as better than Gaudreau Monahan. The Flames should have been doing everything they could to match them up against the McDavid line.

even strength ice time -
Monahan 15 Minutes
Gaudreau 15 minutes
Backlund 8 minutes
Frolik 9 minutes


Gaudreau has not justified his ice time on the road.

[BigFlameDog]

Good write up...I will copy and paste from the other thread.

Looked exactly how you would expect a game where there is a 45 minute delay due to back patting for the home team. Home team gets a lift from the crowd, visiting team looks like they hit snooze 5 times before getting up.

But....Wideman is done, can't keep up anymore, at all. Agree that that would have been a Kevin and Kulak game.

[Bingo]

I think if they want to have one of the big three on the ice at all times then they have to have a quicker sidekick with them. The bottom three vets or rookies are going to make mistakes, but given how they rolled things out I think Kulak's skating especially would have been a better fit.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think if they want to have one of the big three on the ice at all times then they have to have a quicker sidekick with them. The bottom three vets or rookies are going to make mistakes, but given how they rolled things out I think Kulak's skating especially would have been a better fit.

Would be great to see Grossman and Wideman sit. Putting Kulak and Kevin in their place.

I really hope if Kulak gets in he kills it and makes it impossible for the coach to sit him.

[ricardodw]

Last night Gaudreau got hit 3 times..... not counting the un-called cross check that stung him on the delayed penalty.

Last night the Flames hit McDavid twice... none after Engelland jostled him through the slot and got to dance with Lucic.

Gio took 2 hits from Lucic within 3 minutes of him hitting McDavid....

Engelland knew Lucic was coming for him as soon as he pushed McDavid.

Gaudreau is going to have to keep his head on a swivel with other teams taking him seriously this year and having Versteeg/ Monahan on his line. He really has trouble making it through the season taking 3-4 hits a game. Bouma can skate well enough to play some shifts on the #1 line

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only one game but Nurse was quietly effective as the #5 defenseman. Moving him down to #5/6 with the addition of Larsson and Russell might make him a lot better.