[Game Takes] Flames 4 Sabres 3 OT

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2016/10/g...4-sabres-3-ot/

[Karl]

So much better having a 4th line that can actually really generate some scoring chances.

No Brandon Bollig there helps that out A LOT.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah that 4th line is great. Two big physical wingers that can skate well and not handle the puck like a grenade, and Stajan looks decent too. Looks like he got back that step he lost last year.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Nice write up. Re: the flames playing wound up tight, I think in part it's the early days of a new system. Almost every play has just a moment delay where it's like they are thinking about what to do. Especially the D. So many passes off skates and sticks because the check gets an extra half or full stride closer. And rarely hitting a F with speed. It probably goes hand in hand with confidence but I think the broken plays will just get a bit better each game. But there's a ways to go. Yeesh it gets scrambly at times.

[Strange Brew]

Good write up as always. Weird to see the " bottom 9" carry the forwards but if that's what it takes right now, so be it. Stajan and Ferland with strong games.
Benett was great in the dot, but Backlund and Monahan were putrid.
I thought Gio was ok. He made some nice plays but definitely not as steady as you would like.

Versteeg is bad. He is a candidate for the press box. Unfortunately with Monahan and Gaudreau struggling, there is really no one to put on their line to get them going. That's not ideal.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Good write up as always. Weird to see the " bottom 9" carry the forwards but if that's what it takes right now, so be it. Stajan and Ferland with strong games.
Benett was great in the dot, but Backlund and Monahan were putrid.
I thought Gio was ok. He made some nice plays but definitely not as steady as you would like.

Versteeg is bad. He is a candidate for the press box. Unfortunately with Monahan and Gaudreau struggling, there is really no one to put on their line to get them going. That's not ideal.

Faceoff stats for those curious:

Sean Monahan: 7/22 - 32%

Sam Bennett: 10/12 - 82%

Mikael Backlund: 4/17 - 24%

Matt Stajan: 7/10 - 70%

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Good write up as always. Weird to see the " bottom 9" carry the forwards but if that's what it takes right now, so be it. Stajan and Ferland with strong games.
Benett was great in the dot, but Backlund and Monahan were putrid.
I thought Gio was ok. He made some nice plays but definitely not as steady as you would like.

Versteeg is bad. He is a candidate for the press box. Unfortunately with Monahan and Gaudreau struggling, there is really no one to put on their line to get them going. That's not ideal.

Maybe they try Freddie Hamilton on the top. Worked well last year while he was up.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Faceoff stats for those curious:

Sean Monahan: 7/22 - 32%

Sam Bennett: 10/12 - 82%

Mikael Backlund: 4/17 - 24%

Matt Stajan: 7/10 - 70%

Don't see backs and Monahan get killed like that often.

[gunnner]

Great write up. Thought Ferland was awesome all game, hands looked good and was hitting. I know that 4th line was clicking, but I wouldnt mind seeing Ferland on the top line to see if that frees up a little space for Johnny and Monahan.

[Da_Chief]

Weren't the lines mixed up when the goals were scored?

Tkachuk-Stajan-Chiasson was a line I saw out there couple of times.

Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer when Ferland scored.

Versteeg was bad out there. He sits next game and Hamilton should get a try with the top line. Might get Dougie going too.

Bouma-Backlund-Frolik stick together.

[Bingo]

Well the Flames can use the advanced stats for their benefit this year. Rather than having a decent record and putrid advanced stats they actually have a record under .500 with all signs pointing to bad luck.

6th in the NHL with a corsi for at 55%
29th in the NHL with a PDO of .942

that usually spells team that isn't getting the bounces

the PDO breakdown is save % at 29th and shooting percentage at 20th

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Weren't the lines mixed up when the goals were scored?

Tkachuk-Stajan-Chiasson was a line I saw out there couple of times.

Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer when Ferland scored.

Versteeg was bad out there. He sits next game and Hamilton should get a try with the top line. Might get Dougie going too.

Bouma-Backlund-Frolik stick together.

Pretty much love all of the line combinations in the bottom 6.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Good write up as always. Weird to see the " bottom 9" carry the forwards but if that's what it takes right now, so be it. Stajan and Ferland with strong games.
Benett was great in the dot, but Backlund and Monahan were putrid.
I thought Gio was ok. He made some nice plays but definitely not as steady as you would like.

Versteeg is bad. He is a candidate for the press box. Unfortunately with Monahan and Gaudreau struggling, there is really no one to put on their line to get them going. That's not ideal.

As a Gio fan I thought he was awful. Bobbling the puck on a regular basis, several give always, hesitation and poor decision making stood out to me. I'm sure he'll get it sorted out in a few games.

Hamilton was another standout showing the same mistakes but to a greater degree. I got the impression in the third period that Kevin was reluctant to pass him the puck after Hamilton lost the possession several times with no one around him or with only minimal pressure. I hope Hamilton and Gio pull it together because I think this team's forwards are capable of winning if the defence can stabilize itself.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Weren't the lines mixed up when the goals were scored?

Tkachuk-Stajan-Chiasson was a line I saw out there couple of times.

Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer when Ferland scored.

Versteeg was bad out there. He sits next game and Hamilton should get a try with the top line. Might get Dougie going too.

Bouma-Backlund-Frolik stick together.

I pretty much agree with all of this except I would let Chiasson have the first crack on the top line. He's already been in several games and has some flow that might spark Johnny and Mony. He had a really nice shot from the slot last night that Lehner had to make a pretty good save on. After a pretty below average training camp, Chiasson has earned a chance on that top line for a couple of games at least. This will let Hamilton get his game legs under him on the 4th line playing alongside two guys that are already going well. Put either of Tkachuk or Ferland on the 2nd line, depending on who's going better in that game.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Chiasson
Tkachuk/Ferland-Bennett-Brouwer
Bouma-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland/Tkachuk-Stajan-Hamilton
extra: Versteeg

[FlamesFan68]

Originally Posted by bucksmasher

As a Gio fan I thought he was awful. Bobbling the puck on a regular basis, several give always, hesitation and poor decision making stood out to me. I'm sure he'll get it sorted out in a few games.

Hamilton was another standout showing the same mistakes but to a greater degree. I got the impression in the third period that Kevin was reluctant to pass him the puck after Hamilton lost the possession several times with no one around him or with only minimal pressure. I hope Hamilton and Gio pull it together because I think this team's forwards are capable of winning if the defence can stabilize itself.

I agree. I would love to see the Flames pass the puck around like they did 2 years ago, however that isn't happening apart from Geaudreau. This win, if you want to call it that shouldn't have happened. That was a very blatant check from behind from Monahan, which is typical of this Flames team in the last 4 games. Very undisiplined penalties everywhre, from veterans! Also, the goal that was whistled down, yes it should have been a goal because the ref blew the whistle too quickly but is the first time I've seen them reverse their call even thought the puck wasn't in the net as the whistle blew. Wideman was out of the lineup, I'm wondering if the refs are now giving the Flames excessive slack now. Hmmmm...

Anyway the Flames should be 0-3-1 now, instead they are 1-2-1. There are still some very dysfunctional team play on the ice. We'll see where this goes.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by FlamesFan68

I agree. I would love to see the Flames pass the puck around like they did 2 years ago, however that isn't happening apart from Geaudreau. This win, if you want to call it that shouldn't have happened. That was a very blatant check from behind from Monahan, which is typical of this Flames team in the last 4 games. Very undisiplined penalties everywhre, from veterans! Also, the goal that was whistled down, yes it should have been a goal because the ref blew the whistle too quickly but is the first time I've seen them reverse their call even thought the puck wasn't in the net as the whistle blew. Wideman was out of the lineup, I'm wondering if the refs are now giving the Flames excessive slack now. Hmmmm...

Anyway the Flames should be 0-3-1 now, instead they are 1-2-1. There are still some very dysfunctional team play on the ice. We'll see where this goes.

Wow haha, we outplayed them the whole game and but we deserved to lose because their player flopped in OT?

[FlamesFan68]

Originally Posted by DJones

Wow haha, we outplayed them the whole game and but we deserved to lose because their player flopped in OT?

Yes, absolutely. We lacked execution. Many times under Daryl Sutter the Flames had the "green hard" hat and outworked the other team. Back then we lacked execution too even when we outplayed other teams.

[puckedoff]

Stajan was best player last night I thought.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Stajan was best player last night I thought.

I was thinking Ferkland was the best out there but Stajan had a really good game too. Fourth line has been really consistent all 4 games at generating not only energy but offensive pressure.

[FBI]

Man Versteeg has looked like crapola.
One good backhand pass in 4 games. That's it.

Definitely ready for him to be a scratch.