[Game Takes] Canucks 5 Flames 2

[Bingo]

https://www.calgarypuck.com/2018/10/...ks-5-flames-2/

[The Boy Wonder]

Thanks for the write up!

Makes it not seem so gloomy

[JetsFlamesFan]

[Red Slinger]

Random thoughts:

It seemed like the Flames were having issues generating high quality scoring chances. I don't know if the stats back up the eye test on that or not. It also seemed like the Canucks weren't really concerned about point shots and were mostly blocking shooting and passing lanes, both 5 on 5 and the PP. I wonder if the Flames had a real threat from the point if the middle of the ice would open up at all. It could have made a difference on the PP at least.

The team seemed tentative and discombobulated in general. Especially, in the first period the puck support was pretty bad and looked like nobody was on the same page. There were a few good individual performances but they didn't seem to play together. I suppose that can be expected but, for the 7th year running, I would have hoped that's what they used the preseason for.

I was really disappointed in some of the vets who are supposed to be difference makers, especially early on. Gaudreau and Neal were largely invisible for 2 periods. I can give Neal a pass since it's his first game with the new team and he's not really the straw that stirs the drink. But Gaudreau has no excuse. He needs to be better and more consistent for this team to have a real shot at being contenders.

It looked like Frolik's woes from last season continued into this game. Hopefully he can get out of his funk. If not, they need to move him down the lineup permanently and make room for someone like Bennett, Czarnik or even Dube.

While he didn't have a great game I really liked what I saw from Hanifin. He has the makings of a great all-around defenseman. He had physical play, great skating, great defending, good puck-handling, nice outlet passes, controlled the play and was involved. He had some mistakes but when he irons out the wrinkles in his game I think we will be looking back and saying "Dougie who?"

In one of the preview shows (TSN I think) they talked about how the NHL is getting faster. However, they also pointed out that the biggest team in the league won the Cup last year. There were also other big, fast teams like Winnipeg and Nashville that are in the elite of the league. After the hit on Dube and the beat-down of Hamonic it sure showed that this team isn't physically intimidating to anyone, even a very young Vancouver team. It's good to have a fast, skilled team but it's even better to have a fast, skilled, big, tough team. Even against a relatively small team like the Canucks the Flames couldn't really answer. This could be a problem against some teams. Even one big guy in the lineup that can play a regular shift could make a big difference.

[SuperMatt18]

Biggest problem last night wasn't that they were small, it's that they looked slow.

Vancouver beat them to every loose puck and closed every gap or inch of free ice the Flames had.

Considering how quick they looked in pre-season at times I am chalking that up to them just not being ready or working hard enough last night. The amount of times where Flames players were just not moving their feet and standing still were very noticeable.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

Random thoughts:

It seemed like the Flames were having issues generating high quality scoring chances. I don't know if the stats back up the eye test on that or not. It also seemed like the Canucks weren't really concerned about point shots and were mostly blocking shooting and passing lanes, both 5 on 5 and the PP. I wonder if the Flames had a real threat from the point if the middle of the ice would open up at all. It could have made a difference on the PP at least.

With the Canucks either shorthanded or getting run most of the night they generated 13 high danger chances. The Flames with 7 powerplays generated 20 so you have a point.

The biggest issue was the PP killing their momentum. One high danger chance in 14 PP minutes is brutal. They had 19 high danger chances in 46 minutes of five on five play.

With all that said Markstrom was a save he didn't see or two away from that game going to overtime the way things collapsed late.

I think the team was telling themselves to stay patient at 1-0, but when it got to 3-0 they put the hammer down. They may want to try just putting the hammer down to start.

[Strange Brew]

The Flames looked nervous in the half of the game. Couldn’t handle the pick well and tentative. You’d rather that not be the case but it’s first game of season and really not a good barometer.

Hoping they gained some confidence with how they played after they were done 3 to zero and don’t look back.

But eventually this team has to learn to stop losing games with a horrid burst of bad play.

[8sPOT]

It's never a good sign when you cringe as your team goes on the powerplay.

Thats the #1 issue in my books. And should be the main focus between now and Saturday.

[Split98]

It's one game, but there's a good amount of games behind this that led to this being a much more disappointing game than it should be. New team, new coach, new optimism, same result. There's a lot of 1st day jitters to get out of the way, but I hoped a trip to China, a long off-season, and years of being unprepared for game 1 would have led the way for a change of scenery.

I think the biggest piece of optimism in this this article is here:

Looking back in order of recent to old …

0-3 in Edmonton
4-7 in Edmonton
1-5 vs Vancouver
2-4 vs Vancouver
4-5 (SO) in Washington (Point!)
1-4 vs San Jose
3-5 vs Pittsburgh
0-4 in Edmonton
5-3 vs Vancouver
0-6 in Vancouver
2-3 vs Philadelphia
1-3 in Edmonton
3-6 in Minnesota
1-4 in Vancouver
0-3 vs Vancouver

That's a lot of garbage, but there are a couple fun seasons tucked in there. Hopefully we have a team that can finish those seasons differently..

[ricardodw]

The Flames did not come out and try to win the game in the first 10 minutes.

That was the consistent mode of operation last season. Someone need to convince Gaudreau/Monahan that it as important to get goals to take the lead as it is to cut into a 3-0 lead.

I think that they got out worked last night.

Where the heck was Valamaki on the Canucks first goal? He was Hamitonesque being so far out of the play that he did not take the blame for Stone not being able to stop the 2 on one. If Keenan was coach he would been pinned to the bench and off to Stockton for the rest of the year.

Czarnik looked to be the best a fair margin of the new players. Whatever line he was on sparkled.

Jankowski had 4 goals the last NHL game.

PS. The Flames wasted the exhibition games on the AHL players and did not focus near enough on getting the 5 new important players integrated into the line up. First 10 games of the season count in the standings.

[868904]

I had forgotten how often Hamonic Fought to defend a teammate last year. It really should t be his role and it takes away from his ggame. In NY, he didn’t fight nearly as much as he has had to as a Flame. It’s not right, your top 4 defender should not be dropping the gloves that often.

You aren’t paying him to fight. You are paying him to be a stabilizing force on the backend and he can’t do that if he’s in the box or if he’s physically tired or injured from fighting.

If Stone isn’t going to make a positive contribution every game, then they need to sit him for Prout for the sake of the others. You have a guy like Prout in the lineup, every guy is a bit taller and more confident. Did Tkachuk even get a scrum last night? It’s like his balls were taken away from him just like the rest of the team.

[ForeverFlameFan]

0/7 in PP
Hot opposing goalie (Markstrom got lucky)
Flames not shooting enough high danger shots

Seems like GG hockey warts that we still have to fix.

[belsarius]

So frustrating watching the second period and seeing the 4 line roll start to take hold and dominate the Canucks, only to be derailed by those inept PPs. I get it is game 1 and you want them to work it out but after the 5th listless attempt I was ready for a good ole Sutter 5D set up just to shake it up.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

PS. The Flames wasted the exhibition games on the AHL players and did not focus near enough on getting the 5 new important players integrated into the line up. First 10 games of the season count in the standings.

The China trip didn't help, but I agree to a degree.

[ricardodw]

Flames are in 2nd place in SAT% .... 68.2 %

The other 5-2 loser San Jose leads with 70.2 %

[Bingo]

Here's my biggest concern with Peters system ...

He plays a tight gap game with everyone playing "up". That works great if your players are a) fast and b) fast mentally because you put so much pressure on the opposition that you are relentless and suffocating.

As a result you'll get the majority of shot attempts, shot and scoring chances ... GOOD

But also as a result is a team that could be flat footed when a mistake happens and you turn the puck over. That happens enough and you're down because you've given up two or three grade A chances and the other team has managed to score. Suddenly you're chasing the game and score effects once again drive your shot attempts way up.

Hope I'm wrong.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

The Flames did not come out and try to win the game in the first 10 minutes.

That was the consistent mode of operation last season. Someone need to convince Gaudreau/Monahan that it as important to get goals to take the lead as it is to cut into a 3-0 lead.

I think this is an important point. The team so often last year seemed to react to the game unfolding, rather than go out and put their stamp on the game. Not sure if its purely a mental approach or tied to the system, but I think it was clearly a problem. I really want the team to develop more swagger this year.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Flames are in 2nd place in SAT% .... 68.2 %

The other 5-2 loser San Jose leads with 70.2 %

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Jankowski had 4 goals the last NHL game.

Did you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds? D'you know that bees and dogs can smell fear?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Lots of questions from that one
- Ryan - 40% meets the eye test. Why does Peters use him on the PP? Really, is this guy a top 6 forward out of the group?
- what the hell was with the drop from Gio to Johnny inside the Flames zone on the PP? The general usage of the drop as I have seen involves pushing the puck forward and opposing team back and preferably to one side, then dropping to the guy who can read where he has a likely chance of entering. That drop pass was happening too soon to be of any use
- Neal starting on the third line was pointed out by the intermission guy


It is only game 1 and I will do my best to wait until after game 10 to wonder if Peters is just a more surly Gulutzan

The encouraging thing I saw was that the team has so many good players that they should be able to get some production, with any coach

[Toonage]

^ Grumputzan

Actually this is a good comparison. Treliving wants his team to play a certain way. Gully coached it, and Peters does as well. Just with more gravel in his voice and some differences (obviously).