[Game Takes] Stars 4 Flames 2 (series tied 3-3)

[Bingo]

Stars 4 Flames 2 (Series tied 3-3)

- Flames great in the first, but poor the rest of the way
- Oettinger keeps them in it in the first
- Flames putrid on face offs, turn too many pucks over
- Tanev hurt
- Zadorov fine or suspension?

[Erick Estrada]

It's really unfortunate that they are facing a goaltender on a career run. They have played one bad game out of 6 but Oettinger is stealing this series. At this point they have to bring their best game tomorrow and just hope that Oettinger becomes human. Tkachuk and Toffoli with zero goals each in this series has really hurt the Flames. They both just haven't been good enough.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's really unfortunate that they are facing a goaltender on a career run. They have played one bad game out of 6 but Oettinger is stealing this series. At this point they have to bring their best game tomorrow and just hope that Oettinger becomes human. Tkachuk and Toffoli with zero goals each in this series has really hurt the Flames. They both just haven't been good enough.

I don't see it as an individual finger pointing thing.

The team itself is shooting 5.5% in the playoffs, which is insanely low. Seems like the perfect combination of a team that needs lots of shot volume to create offence, as they did all season, meeting the reincarnation of Ken Dryden.

Toffoli specifically is 2nd on the team in expected goals in the series, if he wasn't getting chances he'd be an issue, but he is.

Tkachuk ... beginning to wonder if his hand is a problem.

[chedder]

Goalie is playing incredible but not that much better than Markstrom. How much of it is we just don't have enough guys that can finish when most needed?

Not enough clutch. We all thought Toffoli would provide this and that hasn't happened. Mange, 2 points, 1 goal. Coleman, 1 assist. Dube, doughnuts.

I don't think we can entirely blame the lack of secondary scoring on a hot goalie. All of these players cooled down (if they were ever hot) as the season wore on (except Dube).

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't see it as an individual finger pointing thing.

The team itself is shooting 5.5% in the playoffs, which is insanely low. Seems like the perfect combination of a team that needs lots of shot volume to create offence, as they did all season, meeting the reincarnation of Ken Dryden.

Toffoli specifically is 2nd on the team in expected goals in the series, if he wasn't getting chances he'd be an issue, but he is.

Tkachuk ... beginning to wonder if his hand is a problem.

It's a big problem when a player that got over 100 points in the regular season vanishes in the playoffs. If he's hurt so be it but there's just so much pressure on Johnny now because he's having to carry more of the burden offensively without guys like Tkachuk and Toffoli chipping in.

[Bonded]

Yeah, that Andersson and Klingberg thing could also be pointed at a turning point I this series if Tkachuk got so riled he injured his hand.

[Bingo]

To each their own.

I get on players more if they stop creating chances, vs getting chances but getting stoned.

Toffoli has had two or three sure goals go in, that just happens.

Tkachuk doesn't have the same stats, he hasn't generated as much, and sits more in the 7th to 8th spot for generation. I think his hand is messed up as I said.

[Samonadreau]

Underlying numbers support what I saw as Stone looked good until he was hemmed in his own zone and then seamed to struggle defensively.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Underlying numbers support what I saw as Stone looked good until he was hemmed in his own zone and then seamed to struggle defensively.

Yeah he's no Chris Tanev.

The Flames will have no choice but to lean heavily on the top pairing.

Wonder if they'll build a new second pairing if Tanev is out with Kylington and Gudbranson.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I don't see it as an individual finger pointing thing.

The team itself is shooting 5.5% in the playoffs, which is insanely low. Seems like the perfect combination of a team that needs lots of shot volume to create offence, as they did all season, meeting the reincarnation of Ken Dryden.

Toffoli specifically is 2nd on the team in expected goals in the series, if he wasn't getting chances he'd be an issue, but he is.

Tkachuk ... beginning to wonder if his hand is a problem.

When you look at the big picture with Toffoli though, He is a -5 this series. Worst on the flames. So while he isnt getting 'Luck' offensively there seems to be a bit of a problem on the other side too.

I know Sutter defended him by implying he is doing other things than scoring, so Maybe he is just unlucky at both ends right now. But ya, at some point he is going to have to make his own luck.

Maybe Flames win Tomorrow and he has 2 points and we all eat crow, but we gave up a lot to get him and its fair to expect a little more.

[kipperiggy]

I hope Oettinger never wins a thing!

[Brick]

If Tkachuk would have finished his check on Heiskanen instead of doing a drive by, Dallas would not have gotten the go ahead goal.

I was wondering if he broke his hand earlier but does he have a shoulder injury as well?

[Manhattanboy]

I think the coaches have some things to answer for here. The meltdown after we tied it is inexcusable. You have to manage the game. Flames desperately needed to get it to the end of the second period tied up and reset for the third.

Francis should have asked Darryl about that.

[BlindMilwaukee]

IMO coaches coach and players play.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I think the coaches have some things to answer for here. The meltdown after we tied it is inexcusable. You have to manage the game. Flames desperately needed to get it to the end of the second period tied up and reset for the third.

Francis should have asked Darryl about that.

The Flames tied it, why did they need a reset from the coaches? The Stars responded big time.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

When you look at the big picture with Toffoli though, He is a -5 this series. Worst on the flames. So while he isnt getting 'Luck' offensively there seems to be a bit of a problem on the other side too.

I know Sutter defended him by implying he is doing other things than scoring, so Maybe he is just unlucky at both ends right now. But ya, at some point he is going to have to make his own luck.

Maybe Flames win Tomorrow and he has 2 points and we all eat crow, but we gave up a lot to get him and its fair to expect a little more.

Exactly. At the end of the day execution is all that matters. No one is going to be counting scoring chances at the end of the series and then deciding who advances based on that. The Flames need his goals. Hopefully they are coming.

[Number 39]

When does this team not get goalied in the playoffs by the opposition? Been a theme for decades.

[D as in David]

This was an unusual one for me; where in the past Flames' teams would often be guilty of not moving their feet in important games but they were full marks for skating hard yesterday. Their issue last night seemed to be mental mistakes - even in the 1st period.

[Mathgod]

I wonder if it's time to pull the plug on the Jarnkrok experiment. He can't win a faceoff to save his life. Maybe move him to wing and bring Ruzicka into the lineup. Maybe that's not the solution, but the Flames definitely can't afford to be as bad in the faceoff dot in game 7 as they were in game 6.

[iamca]

I’ve noted in at least 3 different threads going back to game 4, the offense is really struggling as are several players (maybe a few too many to list).

Ruzicka has the a big frame, long reach, and can dig out pucks along the boards/corners, so yeah it’s time to give someone fresh and very well rested an opportunity to show how much he wants to win and step up in game 7.

Past performance so far in this series from some of the goal scoring forwards and for that matter defenseman, is absolutely brutal.

The Stars are in the Flames heads or at least the goaltender is, so a minor lineup change is warranted.

Need to step up in a game 4 kind of performance as there is no tomorrow.


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