[Game Takes] Habs 4 Flames 2

[Bingo]

Game Takes: Habs 4 Flames 2

- Tough night for Valimaki
- Flames have solid first and stinker second
- Rittich bad line, but not really at fault

[Boreal]

The Canadians are rolling. Valimaki will live & learn.

The Flames broken through in the 3rd, now carry it forwards & let Markstrom show his stuff. Saturday should be a bigger stage that they rise to.

[Strange Brew]

I was interested to see how Rittich would perform as a clear backup getting spot starts this season. This game was not informative in that regard.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I was interested to see how Rittich would perform as a clear backup getting spot starts this season. This game was not informative in that regard.

He was lights out in two seasons behind Smith.

The lights went out early tonight.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

He was lights out in two seasons behind Smith.

The lights went out early tonight.

The last goal was on him, but the others I can’t really blame him.

The first goal had no defensive structure in front to clear out the pass, it was a powerplay and the play was somewhat broken.

The second goal was deflected.

The third goal was a rebound knocked out of the air. Those saves would be nice, but you can’t expect them, especially after not playing in almost a year.

[Red]

Valimaki looked great on the Flames 2 seasons ago. That was the team that was flying out of the gate so everyone looked great. Is he not what we thought he was? I hope not.

[DeluxeMoustache]

You mention the top pairing looking like a third pairing

Fancy stats aside, anybody else notice that Rasmus has quietly put up 5 points in 6 games?

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Red

Valimaki looked great on the Flames 2 seasons ago. That was the team that was flying out of the gate so everyone looked great. Is he not what we thought he was? I hope not.

The penalty call on him was crap.

The deflection was just bad luck and he will learn from it.

The 3rd goal was defiantly more on Nesterov leaving him out to dry.

I thought Nesterov had a less than spectacular game even though Valimaki was the one under the spotlight.

Valimaki will be fine. As the season goes along and he gets more comfortable we will start seeing more out of him. You can already see certain aspects of the game he is already advanced at but he does seem to have some rookie jitters that we didn’t see during his other stints, which to me isn’t anything to be concerned about this early.

As much as I like Nesterov he is a guy who hasn’t played in the NHL in a few years so even he is prone to make some blunders. I almost wonder if the team will sub him out for a game.

Everyone who is worried about Valimaki should realize he is playing 15-18mins a night and getting PK time as a rookie.

Once he gets that boost of confidence I think he will start to take off.

[Erick Estrada]

I have never been big on Kylington but I can say without a doubt that he's never played as poor as Valimaki has to open this season. I get that the Flames invested a 1st in Valimaki and they are going to give him every opportunity but they invested a 2nd in Kylington. Time to swap these guys and let the better player stay in the lineup. Not saying Valimaki is a bust but this is probably the last kick at the can for this core of players and maybe the GM as well and games shouldn't be wasted on development of a defenseman that may simply not be ready.

[Enoch Root]

This is why Canadian fans can't have nice things - absolutely no patience. Valimaki will be fine. Fans are questioning him after 6 games, 4 of which he played pretty well.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This is why Canadian fans can't have nice things - absolutely no patience. Valimaki will be fine. Fans are questioning him after 6 games, 4 of which he played pretty well.

I'm not questioning him as he's a rookie. I'm just questioning why he's in the lineup when he's struggling. The Flames need to be focussed on icing the best team every night in this condensed schedule.

[cross16]

Is Valimaki really the problem?

I see some growing pains for sure but overall I see a young player generally playing pretty well but showing up on highlight reels due to bad bounces and his partner being a bit of a wild man.

The stat sheet sure looks bad he last few games and I get that, but I think i can only look at 1 goal where I was upset with his play. The rest are alot of odd man rushes due to bad pinches by Nesterov, Backs failing to get to his man while backchecking, and several unlucky bounces.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by cross16

Is Valimaki really the problem?

He's directly resulting in goals against (either via penalty, mistakes, or deflecting multiple pucks in his own net) at a time when the team is in a fragile state. Yes he's currently part of the problem.

[bdubbs]

Yes, the best way to teach our young budding defenceman is to... sit him after he has a rough game. Let him play and let him learn.

[Enoch Root]

When the team is playing with no heart, the defensemen are going to look like crap because they are going to be under pressure all the time.

Blaming them for that does not solve the problem

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not questioning him as he's a rookie. I'm just questioning why he's in the lineup when he's struggling. The Flames need to be focussed on icing the best team every night in this condensed schedule.

Valimaki is easily one of our top 5 dmen..

And if you think that was a penalty last night you’re just as blind as the refs.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

When the team is playing with no heart, the defensemen are going to look like crap because they are going to be under pressure all the time.

Blaming them for that does not solve the problem

Again he's directly resulting in goals against. His issues are measurable on the scoreboard. The team will continue to struggle as long as he's playing like this. He either needs to play better or sit.

[ricardodw]

The Flames will likely do a lot better when they get to play Ottawa.

How much of the Flames success over the last 2 years came from having an easy schedule? playing in the Pacific division.


The Flames got a more easy games (LA, Ana, SJ, Arz) against teams that won less than 50% of their games and had fewer games against elite teams. Vegas ... the only elite team in the Pacific was 8th in the league. The oilers were 12th.

this year's Canadian division is harder than the last year's Pacific.

Huge 4 game series coming up with the Jets.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

You mention the top pairing looking like a third pairing

Fancy stats aside, anybody else notice that Rasmus has quietly put up 5 points in 6 games?

You almost have to say 5 on 5 aside, not just fancy stats.

4 of 5 are on the powerplay, which he gets a lot of credit for believe me.

But 5 on 5 that pairing has struggled, but last night his numbers were much better.

Sleepy game five on five though.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The Flames will likely do a lot better when they get to play Ottawa.

How much of the Flames success over the last 2 years came from having an easy schedule? playing in the Pacific division.


The Flames got a more easy games (LA, Ana, SJ, Arz) against teams that won less than 50% of their games and had fewer games against elite teams. Vegas ... the only elite team in the Pacific was 8th in the league. The oilers were 12th.

this year's Canadian division is harder than the last year's Pacific.

Huge 4 game series coming up with the Jets.

That would hold some water if true but the fact is the Flames have done better against the Central Division than the Pacific Division over the past four seasons.