[Game Takes] Flames 4 Senators 2

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2014/11/g...-4-senators-2/

[nik-]

Comment and not a complaint. Is it possible to break up the Odds and Ends sections in these? They can have a lot of text, which is good. But the font makes it a little tough to read sometimes. Some paragraph breaks might help it a little.

[Two Fivenagame]

Or just add bullet points?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Game story:

Chris Neil stick on follow through hits Gio near the eye. Everyone watching panics.
Start of second: Gio returns. With 4 stitches near eye and visor. Sighs of relief

Also 2 points in regulation earned with scoring by committee

Mr Clutch: the part of Gio's face that directed Chris Neil's stick away from career threatening injury

[Vulcan]

I wasn't very confident in our third defensive pairing. Maybe it's time to call up Wotherspoon?

1.Lance Bouma: I’m a happy guy any time I can pick Lance Bouma as a game star. His shot blocking heart laden play was a big part of the Flames identity last year, and this year he’s shown his puck work in the off season is paying off. Scores his 5th of the season (he had 5 in 78 games last season) and added a classic assist to pace the Flames.

Yeah, I remember him mentioning that he took extra time to sharpen his puck skills. He still looks like a bull in a china shop to me but that was a fine pass to Granland and as you say you can't argue with 5 goals in 18 games. He's the guy that most embodies hard work, on a team known for hard work.

Another fine article Bingo.

[killer_carlson]

Glencross really stepped up and played like a veteran tonight. He did a lot of little things right.

on the Jooris goal it wasn't his pass that was impressive, it was his play in the Flames zone to race in and stop the keystone cop impression that the rest of the powerplay was doing about 10 seconds before the goal.

Stajan is out. Raymond is out. Setoguchi is irrelevant. Hudler was quiet, Jones goes down and the Flames started to look young and rattled. Glencross really stepped up and made sure that when the puck was on his stick, the right things happened. I thought it was his best game of the season.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Glencross was quite effective and steady tonight. I have questioned him this year as well. But... Generally solid though not over the top impressive or electrifying. Heck of a shift on the Jooris goal.

Sven was very noticeable with some good offensive plays that were rewarded, and some defensive plays that were very good.

[Major Major]

I'm not sure if Bouma has refined his puck skills as he has his skating. He is incredibly fast out there.

[robbie111]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I'm not sure if Bouma has refined his puck skills as he has his skating. He is incredibly fast out there.

Boumas got better hands than I thought. He is fast as well.

Might be worth a shot to start Bouma and Granlund together on a line and see if they might have a bit of chemistry together, was interesting to see them get a couple together tonight even though they are not on the same line.

When everyone comes back from injury I wouldn't mind seeing a Bouma-Granlund-Ferland energy line.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by D'Arcy McGrath

"Earlier in the day I heard an interview with McGrattan about the lack of fights on his recent appearance list, and he hinted they happen more as the year goes on, and that he doesn’t have to go looking for them, they need to come to him. Is that wise? If I’m a fourth line fighter on a team that is gaining success as a four line team, wouldn’t it make sense to get in a dust up and show the coaching staff how you can manufacture energy for your team? Does to me. He can’t stay in the lineup scoring, or playing a shut down roll, and he doesn’t have the foot speed to get in on the forecheck and cause mayhem."

We all knew the day would come when McGrattan became an obsolete player for this team. Playoff teams play well with the puck, and win by playing well, without depending on the on-ice momentum shifts that potentially can occur following a fight. Teams with middling skill and who struggle to score and to win are those that seem to require and benefit from the presence of an enforcer like McGrattan. The problem for McGrattan is that the Flames are becoming a good enough team that they no longer need him. Not only do they not require the kinds of momentum shifts that he occasionally once provided, they also are proving to be too good of a lineup for him to crack, period.

So. Should McGrattan go looking for fights in an attempt to get noticed? The problem here is not so much one of will on his part, but opportunity generally. The team is good enough that the momentum shifts are becoming less and less necessary. And when they are needed, the Flames are proving that they are a skilled enough group to generate that shift entirely on their own ability to play well. The problem for McGrattan is that positive momentum shifts are occurring with rapidly increasing regularity without him. And then when he is on the ice, he is not capable of playing the same kind of game at the same level and speed as the rest of the team to sustain puck possession.

It is too bad for him. Especially because he is a good guy and is enormously popular in the room. But the Flames don't need McGrattan any more, and there really is nothing he can do about that. I personally hope he gets traded to another club—not because I don't like him, but because he probably still can be moderately useful on another team that can't survive on their ability to play hockey at a consistently high level. Unfortunately for McGrattan, there are not many teams in the NHL for whom he is good enough to play.

[transplant99]

So when do we start taking this team seriously? Almost at the quarter poll, and 5 games over .500? Seriously? The win tonight moves them back into a tie with the Canucks for 2nd in the division (third with extra games played), and a full 5 points up on the Hawks who sit out of a playoff spot. I’ve targeted US Thanksgiving (Nov 27) to be in a playoff spot because of the pageantry of the date for expectations. With only 12 days to go it seems pretty likely they’ll make that mark. But what does this mean for the season?

This is really the biggest question to me as well. I too, have bought into the Ken Holland mantra that if you are in good shape come Thanksgiving, you should make the PO with relative certainty. When it comes to this club however, I still don't believe it applies as it does to most others.

I think it is way WAY to early to start thinking about them as a post season player just yet, not because of anything more than the incredible lack of experience they have as currently constructed.

Soon the dog days of the season will be upon us and many of these guys will start to feel the rigors of a very long season. It happens to all teams and it comes down to how its dealt with. Not sure this group has that mettle as the majority of them haven't experienced it yet.

Will be fun to watch as we get ito December, and hopefully they defy the odds and keep this up...sure would make for a better April than the last 5 years.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Nice job Bingo.

You mentioned Arturs Irbe. Funny enough, he's now the goalie coach in Buffalo. Both Enroth and Neuvirth are small goalies and Irbe was a very good small goalie in his day, so they wanted him to teach them how to be effective as a smaller goalie. Neuvirth was incredible last night.

[badger89]

Originally Posted by transplant99

This is really the biggest question to me as well. I too, have bought into the Ken Holland mantra that if you are in good shape come Thanksgiving, you should make the PO with relative certainty. When it comes to this club however, I still don't believe it applies as it does to most others.

I think it is way WAY to early to start thinking about them as a post season player just yet, not because of anything more than the incredible lack of experience they have as currently constructed.

Soon the dog days of the season will be upon us and many of these guys will start to feel the rigors of a very long season. It happens to all teams and it comes down to how its dealt with. Not sure this group has that mettle as the majority of them haven't experienced it yet.

Will be fun to watch as we get ito December, and hopefully they defy the odds and keep this up...sure would make for a better April than the last 5 years.

We still haven't played a lot of the Western teams as well. Let's see how we do against LA, Anaheim, SJ, Minnesota, Dallas, etc. How we do against those teams will determine if we make the playoffs or not.

[Da_Chief]

Speaking of buying or selling. I think at this point you might as well buy but with caution and guys at discounted price.

Guy to consider:

Alex Semin - his offensive skill is undeniable, RH shot and not a small player but a lazy one. If you can get him to come and buy-in into the system he'd be a smart add. Carolina last wanted him given away; he has 3 more years left after this year at 7 mill per. Maybe Carolina retains some salary and we send Setoguchi and Reinhart the other way?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Speaking of buying or selling. I think at this point you might as well buy but with caution and guys at discounted price.

Guy to consider:

Alex Semin...

This might be the worst idea of all time.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This might be the worst idea of all time.

Have to agree. This guy could be poison around the youngsters. Only way we would consider it is if carolina threw in their first for this year, which they won't.

Not to derail but one thing we can use is a c who can win faceoffs. That and scratch Jones for the rest of the year so we can buy him out in the off season.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Will be fun to watch as we get ito December, and hopefully they defy the odds and keep this up...sure would make for a better April than the last 5 years.

I see the October November surge as a benefit for three reasons

1) Way more fun and interesting for the fans. When the Jays moved up the standings in July I was excited that they would at least be in it this year. They faded, but they at least made it interesting into August. The Flames may be doing the same thing.

2) Great for development. The one thing they won't lose from a good start and playing well into December is development for young players. To come out and suck from the opening face off and knowing you're done in November just doesn't do the same for bringing young players along.

3) This has to be torturing the hell out of Edmonton fans. They all grabbed on to those Feaster comments three years ago and completely expected the Flames to be door mats for 5 or 6 years. Last season they finish 10 points back, oh and look this year they're already 10 points back (games in hand don't count for teams that don't win)

[Gaskal]

Still can't get over the ridiculous saucer pass to assist on Byron's goal. Like a foot in the air right into Byrons tape in full flight.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Have to agree. This guy could be poison around the youngsters. Only way we would consider it is if carolina threw in their first for this year, which they won't.

Not to derail but one thing we can use is a c who can win faceoffs. That and scratch Jones for the rest of the year so we can buy him out in the off season.

Why would you want Jones bought out? He will have one more year on his deal and the team will still be close to the cap floor next year even with him on the roster. He is useful when he does play, and his ever-present injured status does not hurt the team much at all with the great performances the Flames have been getting from callups—most of whom won't suffer for time spent in the AHL in the first place.

[belsarius]

My Clutch player of the night was TJ Brodie. After Gio left in the first he was playing every other shift. Left side with Russell, right side with Wideman, take 30 seconds off and do it again. Then he lead all Flames in icetime with over 28 mins for the game. The Flames have a long long future ahead with Norris candidates.