[Game Takes] Game Takes: Flames 5 Devils 3

[Bingo]

Game Takes: Flames 5 Devils 3

- Flames get up 4-0 early and survive a bumpy third
- Mangiapane with two more goals
- Lindholm returns to the goal list
- Vladar with win #2

[Enoch Root]

Great write-up, this format works great.

I agree about Vladar - sure, there were a couple incidents, but he was solid. And he is 2-0.

Just win, baby.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Thanks for doing these, Bingo. I appreciate it

Totally agree on Vladar as well. Two non repeatable and addressable goals on a young guy. I really am optimistic about this kid

Up front it’s the same as strange as it seems … Elias Lindholm with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund with Blake Coleman and Tyler Pitlick, Dillon Dube with Andrew Mangiapane and Brett Ritchie, and finally Sean Monahan with Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis. Not what I would call ideal, but then how do you argue against winning?

^ I think this is an interesting point

Sutter talks about the idea of having 4 lines, that can all play with pace, and that the ES minutes even out. This team is in a very good spot to accomplish that. Truly 4 lines you can roll.

We should know by now that Backs is a stud, Mang is blowing up, and on the arguable 4th line Monahan has the capability to score 25+ while Looch is a huge presence.

There is a method to the madness perhaps. No easy shift for the opponents to take advantage of

Awesome that Mangiapane is breaking out after representing Canada (both Iggy and Marchand come to mind as having elevated their game after the confidence boost from being selected for international tournaments)

[FanIn80]

Calgary 4th overall, according to a bunch of stats I don't fully understand.

https://moneypuck.com/power.htm

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Sutter talks about the idea of having 4 lines, that can all play with pace, and that the ES minutes even out. This team is in a very good spot to accomplish that. Truly 4 lines you can roll.

I'm still hoping for a tweak that puts Monahan and Tkachuk together. Gaudreau-Lindholm is obviously money, while Tkachuk has looked out of place with them so far. Monahan needs a playmaker to max his contribution, and Tkachuk is a playmaker.

Not sure who moves up to play RW on L1 in that scenario, and all in all, the 4th line ends up being a true 4th line and an obvious weak link, which Sutter seems to want to avoid. Splitting up Mangia and Dube seems like a bad idea too, given that seems to be working. Same with Backlund-Coleman. But playing Monahan with plugs isn't going to get full value out of him.

Obviously leaves some holes.

JG-Lindholm-??
Mangiapane-Dube-??
Lucic-Monahan-Tkachuk
Pitlick-Backlund-Coleman

Leaves a grab bag of Ritchie, Lewis, Richardson. Ugly.

[Bingo]

I think the easiest thing to do is just swap Monahan and Ritchie for now. Leave the top line alone, leave the shut down line alone, upgrade the kid line, and create a true fourth line.

[Toonage]

If Ritchie goes to the 4L who plays C? Lewis?

Richardson should be ready soon. Maybe Ritichie takes a seat next to Zadorov for a few?

[Strange Brew]

Rasmus with a much better start to the season. Just a guess, but I'll bet conditioning is a big reason.

Still don't really know what to think of Vladar but really happy that Sutter has given him two games already. A young goalie is going to need to play, this isn't some veteran who is used to the backup role.

Remember last year when the Monahan Gaudreau line would spend entire shifts stuck in their own zone with no opportunity to create offense? This year so far the top line isn't always dangerous, but I can only think of one or two shifts that have been like that. That is part due to moving Monahan down the lineup, coaching and some renewed focus from the top players.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Rasmus with a much better start to the season. Just a guess, but I'll bet conditioning is a big reason.

Still don't really know what to think of Vladar but really happy that Sutter has given him two games already. A young goalie is going to need to play, this isn't some veteran who is used to the backup role.

Remember last year when the Monahan Gaudreau line would spend entire shifts stuck in their own zone with no opportunity to create offense? This year so far the top line isn't always dangerous, but I can only think of one or two shifts that have been like that. That is part due to moving Monahan down the lineup, coaching and some renewed focus from the top players.

Me too. He seems fine for his experience level, I guess. But he has some glove issues IMO. and there were a few pucks he blocked but then completely lost track of. The team did a decent job of protecting him from second and third chances, I thought.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think the easiest thing to do is just swap Monahan and Ritchie for now. Leave the top line alone, leave the shut down line alone, upgrade the kid line, and create a true fourth line.

Agree — but Monahan at wing? Has he ever done that?

My worry is that Sutter doesn’t want a ‘true 4th line’ — which I understand, but it also means an underutilized asset in a $6.5 mln C.


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[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Agree — but Monahan at wing? Has he ever done that?

My worry is that Sutter doesn’t want a ‘true 4th line’ — which I understand, but it also means an underutilized asset in a $6.5 mln C.


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I think Monahan's first few NHL games were on the wing.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Me too. He seems fine for his experience level, I guess. But he has some glove issues IMO. and there were a few pucks he blocked but then completely lost track of. The team did a decent job of protecting him from second and third chances, I thought.

I think the size and athletic abilities are there but his game is a little raw and needs more work. I think there's a good goalie there but he will need good coaching to bring out a finished product.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think Monahan's first few NHL games were on the wing.

Also nothing wrong with 2 C’s on the line. Do they switch off? Sutter really seems to want to give Dube a real shot at C.


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[edslunch]

Originally Posted by BigRed

Agree — but Monahan at wing? Has he ever done that?

My worry is that Sutter doesn’t want a ‘true 4th line’ — which I understand, but it also means an underutilized asset in a $6.5 mln C.


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If Monahan starts playing closer to his contract value then he ought to feast on 4th line matchups. If he does then he could rise up the lines, or keep him there to keep the line dangerous. He still needs to get his game back first.

[Harry Lime]

I'd have to agree with the Tkachuk suggestion. He was MIA for most of last night. His value comes not only from his playmaking ability, but from his ability to draw the defense towards him and open up the ice for his teammates. That hasn't happened at all this season.

Tkachuk just playing hockey and getting points makes him a solid 6M/year player. If he wants that 9M/year paycheck, he has to be visible on the ice, and unfortunately he has been a ghost.

Maybe it's a chemistry thing, and I'd love to see him feeding pucks to Monahan.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I'd have to agree with the Tkachuk suggestion. He was MIA for most of last night. His value comes not only from his playmaking ability, but from his ability to draw the defense towards him and open up the ice for his teammates. That hasn't happened at all this season.

Tkachuk just playing hockey and getting points makes him a solid 6M/year player. If he wants that 9M/year paycheck, he has to be visible on the ice, and unfortunately he has been a ghost.

Maybe it's a chemistry thing, and I'd love to see him feeding pucks to Monahan.

You give up speed putting them on the same line though.

[Tacoman]

I also thought that Valimaki had his best game of the season. Starting to see a little bit of confidence creep back into his game which is huge for the team.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by edslunch

If Monahan starts playing closer to his contract value then he ought to feast on 4th line matchups. If he does then he could rise up the lines, or keep him there to keep the line dangerous. He still needs to get his game back first.

Monahan has no real chance of producing with Lucic and Lewis. He's actually playing very well, but I saw a half dozen plays where he needed help - a guy in position to take a pass, or a guy able to pass to him in a great spot - and just didn't have it.

Frankly if he was playing RW in place of Tkachuk on the top line I doubt the top line production would be any less. In other words, I think Monahan is playing at least as well as Tkachuk, probably better.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by edslunch

If Monahan starts playing closer to his contract value then he ought to feast on 4th line matchups. If he does then he could rise up the lines, or keep him there to keep the line dangerous. He still needs to get his game back first.

It looks like it is coming. I thought Monahan looked more dangerous in the offensive zone last night, and may still be working on getting his timing back. His confidence with the puck is slowly but surely getting better as well.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Frankly if he was playing RW in place of Tkachuk on the top line I doubt the top line production would be any less. In other words, I think Monahan is playing at least as well as Tkachuk, probably better.

I agree with better. Tkachuk is barely visible playing alongside two super talented players on a tear.

The Tkachuk-Monahan combo makes a lot of sense. MT is a bit at sea with the mobility/skating game with JB and EL — they move their feet along with the puck and make plays in the fly. MT’s game is quick hands in tight, making something out of nothing on the wall or behind the net. And we all know Monahan’s best attribute is getting quality shots in tough spots with no space. Seems like a good fit.


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