QOTD: Is this team heading for a slide? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 02-18-2015, 10:42 AM

Completely outclassed by Pittsburgh, rebound game in SJ, looked like children against LA, great game against Vancouver, spotty miracle comeback against Boston.

On paper they are 3-2-0 in those 5 games, but could easily be 1-4

Is this a case of a team finding points even though they've already started a slide? Or do you take the positives from the battle and the points and suggest they find ways to win?

GirlySports · 02-18-2015, 10:44 AM

not at all. It's still a rebuild remember. How can it easily be 1-4? SJ and Van were comfortable wins.

Pittsburgh was an off night for Hiller and LA was just really hungry at home that night.
Great comeback against Boston shows the still have class.

dino7c · 02-18-2015, 10:49 AM

Flames were not outplayed by Boston, they made some stupid mistakes but those can be easily fixed

codynw · 02-18-2015, 10:50 AM

I don't think so. If it weren't for a few stupid mistakes against Boston that game looks much different. Pittsburgh game was just Crosby being Crosby, and LA was the defending champs playing like the defending champs. I think they'll be fine.

My2Cents · 02-18-2015, 10:59 AM

I voted "headed for a skid". I would like to add the caveat "unless they change". You cant expect to win games not showing up for 10 min into the first and making blunders like they did against Boston. I believe those mistakes can be fixed, but if you continue to make them they will start to result in losses. We have the momentum now but after a few losses those comeback wins are tougher.

GranteedEV · 02-18-2015, 11:01 AM

A slide? Come on now, look at it the other way - if the Flames don't lose those two games (or don't have to face Pittsburgh / LA)... they'd be on a 9 game winning streak.

SuperMatt18 · 02-18-2015, 11:02 AM

Don't think so.

San Jose and Vancouver were two of their best games of the year.

L.A. was a bad game with a team who knew they needed to win, Pittsburgh was more that Crosby just outclassed us.

Boston was a weird one but a few mistakes got us down early, but for the last 40 we were easily the better team IMO.

mrdonkey · 02-18-2015, 11:02 AM

I think it's a mix of A and B. Other teams like LA and Minny are really starting to heat up after slow starts. These teams can also afford to coast by on talent on their off nights, while the Flames don't have that same luxury. I think they will tumble below those teams when all is said and done, but SJ and Van with their older cores are also starting to show signs of the grind. Those are the teams we will be competing with for the playoffs.

terminator · 02-18-2015, 11:05 AM

bad question.

Cali Panthers Fan · 02-18-2015, 11:05 AM

The competition might be getting tougher each night, but this team is definitely responding to the challenge. Playing easily their best all-around hockey all season.

Roof-Daddy · 02-18-2015, 11:06 AM

Hope I'm wrong but I think they're in trouble. This stretch of games is going to be brutal, and they have been terrible vs the east this year.

Bingo · 02-18-2015, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terminator

bad question.

There are no bad questions!

Bad response!

I see the Pittsburgh game as getting dominated, not a Hiller issue at all.
Thought they were great against San Jose
Awful in LA
The better team against Vancouver (played the night before)
Outclassed in the Boston game until the Bruins felt they had it on ice.

They get a lot of credit don't get me wrong, but lately teams that were supposed to be contenders (LA, Boston, Pittsburgh) seem to have the ability to turn up the pace and leave Calgary behind.

indes · 02-18-2015, 11:08 AM

It's a tough call. I think the eastern division's style is better suited to defend against our stretch/transition game than the west. Lots of fast teams out there and I think we'll have to change our approach to have success on this swing.

Gaudfather · 02-18-2015, 11:13 AM

Competition is getting tougher - no doubt about it. Many teams on the bubble meaning the level of play will become even more desperate. Flames will have to play some of their best hockey here in the next 25 games - and I expect they will.

Cali Panthers Fan · 02-18-2015, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

There are no bad questions!

Bad response!

I see the Pittsburgh game as getting dominated, not a Hiller issue at all.
Thought they were great against San Jose
Awful in LA
The better team against Vancouver (played the night before)
Outclassed in the Boston game until the Bruins felt they had it on ice.

They get a lot of credit don't get me wrong, but lately teams that were supposed to be contenders (LA, Boston, Pittsburgh) seem to have the ability to turn up the pace and leave Calgary behind.

Just to address the bold, even great teams get dominated once in a while for no good reason. Anaheim recently lost 6-2 to Florida when the Panthers had been struggling to score goals and win games. This is why they play the games and don't just chalk it up in the standings.

And they were definitely NOT outclassed in the Boston game, but you could see that Boston was very desperate for a win. Rask had to stand on his head for the first two periods to keep us off the score board. We had a couple careless turnovers that ended up in the back of the net, and then a poor goal on Ramo. The Flames still played much better for the full 60 minutes than Boston did, and the score showed that.

Just not sure if you're expecting the Flames to be a dominant team. They're not. They are a good team that will almost 100% be in the playoffs.

GranteedEV · 02-18-2015, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

Awful in LA

It was still a tie game going into the third, despite the most onesided officiating of any game the Flames have played this season. And LA is a team that came back from 0-3 just a year ago, when they're turning it on there's few teams that can take them. They ARE the defending Cup champs for that reason.

Quote:

Outclassed in the Boston game until the Bruins felt they had it on ice.

No way were they outclassed. They were unfamiliar with the opponent, not skating very hard, and not playing very smart, but even when it was 3-0 i thought the score more than flattered Boston.

Regarding Vancouver playing the night before? That's rich, since all Vancouver has done is feast on teams on the tail end of a back to back. No asterisks for me.

troutman · 02-18-2015, 11:26 AM

If they have a skid it will because of a long road trip, not because they aren't playing well.

Huntingwhale · 02-18-2015, 11:28 AM

Now that this thread is made, we are due for a skid

MrMastodonFarm · 02-18-2015, 11:34 AM

There is no way they were outclassed against the Bruins. I think that's just someone looking at the score and assuming how the play went. Flames had some glorious chances in the first with a flurry of scoring chances and Rask shut them down, highlight reel saves. Think Boston controlled the play but outclassed? Not a chance.

dammage79 · 02-18-2015, 11:37 AM

Thread title/QOTD is premature at best. A bit of consternation as well.

Flames are still 9-10 games above the .500 mark and keep battling.

I voted it's expected as everyone is ramping up their efforts in the playoff drive now.

The Flames are battle ready and have been all year. They're not going to win every game but you cannot count them out of any of them.
Which was what I was hoping for out of them heading into this season. To be as competitive as they can win or lose.

I find there's a little too much fretting over things right now. but it is understandable too as even sniffing a chance at the playoffs is exceeding most peoples expectations for this season.