[Game Takes] Blues 6 Flames 4

[Bingo]

Blues 6 Flames 4

- great night for rejigged fourth line
- Flames core had a rough night (Lindholm -3)
- Markstrom had a rough one
- homestand ends 2-3-1

[Flamesfan05]

Is Sutter going to ride Markstrom to the ground? Can’t blame him last night, but he needs to be the best goalie not 2nd best

Tkachuk has looked stupid lately. Toffoli hasn’t looked good also

Lewis also doesn’t need to play every game. Provides nothing except killing time

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Is Sutter going to ride Markstrom to the ground? Can’t blame him last night, but he needs to be the best goalie not 2nd best

Tkachuk has looked stupid lately. Toffoli hasn’t looked good also

Lewis also doesn’t need to play every game. Provides nothing except killing time

Good to see you happy again! Rough season with all that winning. Happy to see you back in the saddle!

Welcome back!

In all seriousness, yeah Tkachuk has had a tough homestand. Gaudreau has been solid on that line, but sticks are dying on Tkachuk and to a lesser extent Lindholm's stick.

Don't see much point in a drive by on Lewis, solid vet that doesn't have a lot of offence / transition in his stick, but he's solid defensively and more than you suggest.

Not even sure I'd blame Markstrom last night, their first three goals were all tough to stop.

[The Cobra]

I think Marky is playing too much, he’s even playing back to back games sometimes.

I would have thought Sutter would want him fresh for the playoffs?

The Flames aren’t really playing that poorly, there is a fine line between winning and losing sometimes. They certainly aren’t getting largely outplayed by any metric.

[Erick Estrada]

I don't think it's even debatable at this point that Markstrom is playing too much. I get that Darryl wants to win every game but they aren't winning games playing Markstrom in every single one and I think he's a goaltender that needs to be managed a bit when his play drops off.

[Red Slinger]

Overall, I think the team played pretty well but had some defensive lapses. We've seen more and more of these lately. I guess it's to be expected for a team to have a lull, particularly when they play such a rigid, structure style. I sometimes wonder if Sutter isn't already starting to wear on the players. He seems relentless in demanding perfection. Obviously, that can help a team reach the next level but it can also be psychologically exhausting to the point of leading to occasional apathy, particularly later in the regular season. On the other hand, it's possible that's what we see on the outside but in the room Sutter is more positive and heaps praise on players more regularly.

A few weeks ago it looked like this team didn't really have any weaknesses. They could play tough, they could grind, they could cycle, they could trade chances, they could transition, they could attack, they could defend. Lately, something that's a little concerning is the defense seems to be susceptible to getting beat with speed. That could be a problem against quick, attacking teams in the playoffs.

I'll echo the sentiment that he seems to be overplaying Markstrom. Maybe it's what Markstrom wants but a coach sometimes has to save the player from themselves.

[Enoch Root]

PDO sums it up. People freaking like the team has forgotten how to hockey are just ridiculous. A few things that I thought made the difference:

1) Blues scoring on their first shot. When you score early, you feel like you have a chance to win, even when you're being outplayed

2) Special teams - the PK was red hot for a while, and now it is cold. These things ebb and flow, it'll be fine. Also, better to cool off now than a month from now. Giving up the PP goal to make it 2-2 kept the Blues in it, despite the Flames dominating them.

3) A red hot goalie - give him his due

4) Markstrom isn't currently red hot. Again, PDO. For that reason alone, it makes sense to rest him - if he isn't winning us games, why work him hard? Let Vladar get some action (we may need him at some point)

I don't see anything to worry about. I see a great team that is currently not firing on all cylinders. They have 4 weeks to get back into hot mode.

Relax people - they are going to be fine, they are going to win the division, and they are going to be ready for the playoffs.

[Erick Estrada]

They are going to make the playoffs so first goal achieved. Now it comes down to positioning and hopefully getting an ideal 1st round opponent. This Flames team is no different than any other in that the first round is top of the mountain as they need to exercise that demon.

[Strange Brew]

Is the demon fat?

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They are going to make the playoffs so first goal achieved. Now it comes down to positioning and hopefully getting an ideal 1st round opponent. This Flames team is no different than any other in that the first round is top of the mountain as they need to exercise that demon.

“Exorcise“

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Is the demon fat?

Hail Santa

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

PDO sums it up. People freaking like the team has forgotten how to hockey are just ridiculous. A few things that I thought made the difference:

1) Blues scoring on their first shot. When you score early, you feel like you have a chance to win, even when you're being outplayed

2) Special teams - the PK was red hot for a while, and now it is cold. These things ebb and flow, it'll be fine. Also, better to cool off now than a month from now. Giving up the PP goal to make it 2-2 kept the Blues in it, despite the Flames dominating them.

3) A red hot goalie - give him his due

4) Markstrom isn't currently red hot. Again, PDO. For that reason alone, it makes sense to rest him - if he isn't winning us games, why work him hard? Let Vladar get some action (we may need him at some point)

I don't see anything to worry about. I see a great team that is currently not firing on all cylinders. They have 4 weeks to get back into hot mode.

Relax people - they are going to be fine, they are going to win the division, and they are going to be ready for the playoffs.

When you think about it ... you go from a 1.02 for three months to a 0.98 team for six games ...

In a game with 30 shots each way that's a swing of 1.2 goals per game against you.

Boom lose close games.

Teams that get up 12-4 in high danger chances and 30-10 in shots on goal through two periods are doing a lot right.

Just not getting the results.