[Game Takes] Oilers 5 Flames 3

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2016/10/g...rs-5-flames-3/

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The Goat
Created three clear cut or odd man breaks by turnovers on his own. Only one of them resulted in goals but he was a tire fire the whole night.

who is...dennis wideman

[Strange Brew]

Great observation on the middle blue liner holding the line instead of retreating a little to cover. It has happened often resulting in breakaways and scoring attempts. Gio and Wideman aren't fast enough to do that and against McDavid, no one is. If that is coaching, might be time for an adjustment. Risk/reward doesn't seem worth it.

[Dion]

I'd like to see only one d man holding the line with the other leaking back as insurance against the odd man breaks. Too many blocked shots resulting in odd man breaks.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

1. Came out of the rebuild way too early after a fluke playoff appearance in another desperate attempt by the Flames at being a playoff team. Makes me wonder about Edward's mingling. Surely not all management teams are stupid enough to think that garbage rosters (Kris Versteeg on the top line ffs, even if you make the playoffs you're going to fizzle out in 4 or 5 games), but it seems we've had 3 management teams in a row that have tried to do this. We are certainly headed for a retool as we replace all of the garbage overpaid "veterans" on the team. Not uncommon for teams to retool after the initial rebuild fails, it's all about getting chemistry right.

2. What else can you possibly expect to happen to your team chemistry when you sign a 2nd/3rd line washed up right winger to be your top line guy a day before the season starts. Add in a new coach and another winger playing his first few real games with the Flames and you're going to have an offensive disaster. Things should get better, but I just don't see this as a very good team.

3. We need players that can control the puck. You can't just have Johnny with absolutely nobody else on the team to share the load. First round exit material even if they do make the playoffs.

4. I don't even care about losing to the Oilers. The display of diving tonight has made me lose any respect that I could have had for McDavid. Much worse than Crosby was.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'd like to see only one d man holding the line with the other leaking back as insurance against the odd man breaks. Too many blocked shots resulting in odd man breaks.

Yeah that's hockey 101. Seems like through 2 games they are trying to be more aggressive in holding the line - are these just brain farts or part of a change in attitude/philosophy? In either case, the execution is lacking. You don't risk breakaways or two on ones just to keep the puck inside the blue line.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by CampbellsTransgressions

4. I don't even care about losing to the Oilers. The display of diving tonight has made me lose any respect that I could have had for McDavid. Much worse than Crosby was.

Agreed, not sure Lucic is the guy to teach him to be a pro. That said, he may win the Art Ross by 40 points this year.

[The Original FFIV]

Stajan outmuscled by Eberle. Ouch. He needs to sit then and Freddie becomes the fourth line C.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Stajan outmuscled by Eberle. Ouch. He needs to sit then and Freddie becomes the fourth line C.

The 4th line isn't the problem.

[ricardodw]

Versteeg as 3rd star? Has Game Takes gone full Troll-mode.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

The 4th line isn't the problem.

Maybe not all that ails us, bit getting outmuscled by eberle is not good. Think we need to look at different options at 4th line C. Stajan not a natural fit there and seems to have lost a step. Ideally need someone a bit bigger and grittier. Look internally first and go outside if we can't find a fit.

[Badgers Nose]

I miss Bob. I dont see a system here and the players dont look as ready. Conditioning not as good.

Easier practices though, probably.

[Flashpoint]

Way less disciplined team thus far.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I miss Bob. I dont see a system here and the players dont look as ready. Conditioning not as good.

Easier practices though, probably.

I see a system...though I agree the optics are somewhat clouded. What I do see is a coach that doesn't seem to fully understand what the strengths and weaknesses of the individual players are. This will get ironed out, but hopefully doesn't take too long to do so.

The biggest dissapointment for me (aside from the losses to the Oilers) has been the play of the "fringe" players (not necessarily rookies)....the players most fans agreed needed to step up this year.

Notably, Wideman and unfortunately Ferland and have been the stand outs to me in that department. Ferland has been really disappointing for me....because you can see the potential. He needs to use his size and simply refuses to do so. I seen numerous fly-bys from him last night....opportunities to really deliver a solid check and he did nothing. To be honest as much as I love the player, I just don't see him as a useful piece at all on this team if he's not playing physical...yet, at the same time, believe that if he did play physical he could play in the top 6 on the Flames.

Ferland has one registered hit in two games...one! You have to think that the coach's are telling him to hit more...

Such a frustrating player...my guess would be that if he doesn't figure it out within next couple of months he'll be traded by Christmas (and probably figure it out on another team!) .

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Versteeg as 3rd star? Has Game Takes gone full Troll-mode.

You don't have to agree with me, I have never had a problem with that, in fact I think I have about 18 years of proving just that.

But give your head a shake. He was one of the only plus players on a team that didn't have a whole lot going for him. His pass to Jokkipakka was great.

Trolling? For what? I'm now a company man?

You can be such a knob

[indes]

It looks to me as if GG is trying to play 2 systems at once. Hes stated he wants the team to transition as a 5 man unit (I really think we lack the team speed to play this way) and also have the defenders go deep on the strong side while the forwards come back deep on the defensive side.

1. That is a lot of skating.
2. Normally teams that roll as a 5 man unit limit pinches for the D.
3. As a 5 man unit the wingers should be playing high in our end and deep in the offensive end, not deep in both zones allowing cross ice passes all over the place.
4. That's a #### ton of skating.

Basically it looks a lot like the "swarm" game of Eakins.
Strong side chases and supports while weak side attempts to cover the cross ice pass or just float and wait to receive one. There is almost no cycle which leads to a lot of flat footed players "chasing" the play unless we're on the rush.

In theory this is fantastic...unless the other team is able to win a battle on the strong side and get it past the supporting player. Also fails if the other team gets a cross ice pass through as you have 3 players on the puck and 1 deep (hence the odd man rushes)

This better get figured out and soon. Pick a system and stick with it.

So far I'm very disappointed in the lack of positional play and having our system revolve around where the puck is. If we don't change this soon our goalies are going to have PTSD 20 games in from odd man rushes and breakaways.

Anyways just my take!

[dirk diggler]

keep hearing about the speed of edmonton, if anything they arent as quick as last year as they traded Hall and Lucic is there now. besises most of the breakaways were 3rd and 4th line plugs..

[OutOfTheCube]

Jokipakka's goal was an absolute laser.

[browna]

My concern is with Brodie. Looks slower and certainly not as agile as previous. He got beaten pretty well by Letestu.
He doesn't seem that fluid on the PP.

Having Hamilton lumber on the power play, certainly as one of the options down the wing through the neutral zone on the PP is also a bad idea.

Overall, the Flames defense is failing. Yes for defensive coverage but more for poor passing and decisions in the neutral zone and just not being either quick enough or in correct positions for combating speed the other way. Once the Flames set up in the offensive zone they've been fine. They're also not running a round a whole lot in their own zone, but the Oilers chances these games have come from turnovers and indecision with the puck at key spots in the neutral zone or at the Oilers blue line.

Once that gets sorted out, forwards will gell, but right now, the problems all stem from the guys at the back.

Rough sequence so far. The marathon ceremonies at latest start the team has ever probably had to have at 845pm Wed., then pepper the Oilers in the first last night but only a one goal lead to show. Now a back to back game with probably more ceremonies tonight in Vancouver to sit through. No excuses and maybe playing so quickly after last nights disappointment is the ideal scenario, but a chance to breathe and sort some things out after tonight before Tuesday will be good. Hopefully a complete game tonight and a win.

But the melodrama, handwringing, and ridiculosness by "fans" here is as bad as it's ever been after 2 games in the almost 15 years on this board.