Are the Flames starting to forget the D in Defense?
The Flames Defense has been the best in the league on the offensive side this season. We are getting great production from all of our top 4 d-men, from either joining the rush, smooth passes, or great shots. It gives us some great games to watch, pretty play, and amazing comeback wins. So what's the problem?
The problem is that the Flames have given up 3 or more goals in 8 of the last 9 games, which gives us a GAA of 3.56 during that steak. Of course, you would also notice that despite the terrible GAA the Flames managed to get 6 wins in those 9 games. All this happened while the Flames stress a responsible game, rarely get caught on odd man rushes, and tend to stay out of the box. In fact, the Flames seemed to play a very sound defensive game in between breakdowns that lead to the goals against. Which leads to the question of how do we fix it? or should we even try to fix it(because the holes being exploited in the Flames game lead to more goals for than against)? So I am asking CP, why do you think this is happening? and how will it resolve itself?
Potential causes for the GAA(in the last 9 games)
There might be many causes, especially when we take into account the relative inexperience of our roster. After all young players are bound to make mistakes.
The PK seems decent when it is on the ice, but when it comes to results the Flames operate at a 73.8%, which puts them 29th in the league.
Our goalies were making less saves than usual. Hiller seemed to get a bit tired, from the constant games; meanwhile, Ramo got a bit rusty sitting on the bench.
We were just playing high offensive teams during the last games(WSH, TB, ANA, CHI). After all there is another team on the other side of the ice, and not everything depends on how well the Flames play.
Our defensive third pairing kept getting exploiting, mostly due to a lack of foot speed.
Russell's injury combined with the Flames missing Backlund and Stajan as a calming presence on the defensive side at center.
Those are just some observations, and right now is a great time to do something about some of them. I wonder if you noticed anything else, or how could we address them? Especially since now is the perfect time for it, meanwhile our offense is working on all cylinders.
Thanks in advance for your interesting thoughts and discussion!
Last edited by gvitaly; 11-23-2014 at 12:59 PM.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to gvitaly For This Useful Post:
Since Nov 4th (which is the last 9 games), Flames have the worst save percentage in the league at 875 and the highest shooting percentage at 13.6%.
So most of the games have been goal bonanzas. Pretty much been at least one bad goal allowed by the Flames in everyone one of those games and I'm sure opposing fans would say we get a clunker every game as well.
Since Nov 4th (which is the last 9 games), Flames have the worst save percentage in the league at 875 and the highest shooting percentage at 13.6%.
So most of the games have been goal bonanzas. Pretty much been at least one bad goal allowed by the Flames in everyone one of those games and I'm sure opposing fans would say we get a clunker every game as well.
Look at last night though - the quality of shots we gave up were ridiculous. Breakaways, leaving guys alone in front of the net, leaving players open for one timers, not closing down shooting lanes etc. etc. etc.
Our D is definitely sliding as of late - but we've also playing better teams as of late, so it has to be expected.
The Following User Says Thank You to ComixZone For This Useful Post:
I don't think they have forgot anything, outside Gio and Brodie last night, it just isn't a great defensive group.
Wideman has always been awful when not in the offensive zone, Russell is average at best defensively and paired with Wideman forced to spend way too much time covering for him, Engelland and Smid are both cement footed and don't have the hockey IQ to make up for it so guys are going to be open with them on against top 6 guys.
Our 3rd pairing definitely gets into trouble on most nights, and I would bet you a lot of our goals against happen when they're on the ice. But it's not just them right now. It seems over the last few games the Flames' overall defensive game has slipped a bit. However they seem to be able to score at will right now though, which is earning us wins and masking some of the the defensive lapses. No doubt the coaching staff (and players) are well aware of this, and I think we'll see them tighten up defensively over the next few games.
I'm not too worried about this team at all right now. Even if you look at our goaltending, yea, both guys have given up a stinker or two in each game they've played. But they're also making huge timely saves that are keeping us in games, like Ramo's amazing save in OT last night. Both guys have been big for us when we've needed them to be.
It's a combination of all those factors. The style the Flames play with the D constantly jumping into the rush will lead to more chances at both ends. Add in the lack of any real shut down defenders and a forward group largely made up of rookies, and you're going to give up some good scoring chances.
The Following User Says Thank You to Brewmaster For This Useful Post:
Personally, I wouldn't be to worried about it. Stretches like this happen, plus with the injuries that happened players were being thrown into situations that maybe were a little over their head. And there is always going to be that adjustment period, and we are starting to see players starting to get more comfortable. Shots against is still relatively low.
On your points though I'd go with the PK, and goalies not really making the saves we saw at the start of the year... but at the same time, the goalies do make those saves that give Calgary a chance to win so it's tough to be to critical of them
I'm comfortable letting it resolve itself. I'm sure the coaching staff is on it. The players are aware of it, yet if you get to strict about it the players might stop playing loose over think things, and become afraid to make a mistake thus gripping the stick a bit tighter. Its a young team, and this is just part of learning the game.
Although, it is exciting to me knowing that this team can win games many different ways, and at the end of the day, wins is all that matters. No point in stressing about how they happen.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to TjRhythmic For This Useful Post:
Last night was horrendous, but overall, I think the D has been fairly steady. Top pairing is outstanding, second pairing is serviceable and third pairing is drowning. The difference is that Hiller and Ramo haven't been able to bail them out as often. Except last night. Ramo probably should have given up eight, not four. He kept us in it long after we should have been buried.
I think it is more so giving up the lead early that is contributing to more goals against. Once the Flames get down, they open up quite a bit to try to level the score and consequently give up better scoring opportunities. If they can play in a tied game or with the lead I think we will see better team defence overall.
The Following User Says Thank You to slybomb For This Useful Post:
And for all the warts, the team is still finding success. These slips in play are going to happen. The real test behind all the questionable D play or Goaltending or Scoring is when things get rough, you find a way to earn points and keep up and not let yourselves slip down the standings so far you cannot climb back in. So far the Flames are doing just that.
For all the advanced stats and ticky tacky insights in the game, the only real stats that matter are the standings. And the Flames are all goo in that department.
The Following User Says Thank You to dammage79 For This Useful Post:
I think we are still trying to figure out a way of balancing out good defense and a good offense. The good part is we are still finding ways to win, just can't seem to figure out the balance between both attacks. November definitely hasn't been a good month for goalies, but I am glad that we are starting to find some offense.
The defense on this team are always pinching, always joining the rush - that is a good thing!
lets lose some games 7-6, focusing on us scoring 6 goals vs. giving up 7.
There is a show up North which was supposed to be uber-talented offensively and can barely score a goal a game.
It appears we are a playoff team, but lets not act like one just yet. Let the young players have a chance to create offense and become confident doing so.
There are 1000000000000000000000000000000 out of work ex-NHL coaches who can help our players learn to play boring hockey and win games 1-0.
You really want Backlund and Stajan back so we can sit Jooris and Granlund? They are not long term solutions for this team, they are part of old team that we blew up.
The coverage on the Cammallari goal was awful. I don't know who to blame as Giordano was on the wrong side and Brodie was standing around watching. I also noticed that Chicago was putting a lot of pressure on Brodie the other night and he seemed to be getting a little rattled and it carried over to the Devils game. He wasn't as smooth and confident as he usually is.
Part of our goals against problem is that the goalies haven't played as well and the defence hasn't been as good either. Maybe they are getting carried away with padding their stats.
Are the Flames starting to forget the D in Defense?
