[Game Takes] Flames 4 Predators 2

[Bingo]

Flames 4 Predators 2

- Flames give up two in the first but score four unanswered to win their second straight
- Nazem Kadri with a night ... two points, eight shots.
- Huberdeau benched in the third period.

[icarus]

Interesting that Huberdeau finished top in xGF 5-on-5. But totally agree, his megashift on the PP got him benched. If you take that long of a shift and don't score, that's a benchin'.

[Strange Brew]

"Was absolutely floored that the Calgary broadcast crew didn’t notice Jonathan Huberdeau was missing in the third until six minutes left in the period."

Are these guys totally left to their own devices or is anyone watching the game and talking to them? Millen would have noticed.

As for Huberdeau, I don't know if it was the long PP shift that broke the camel's back. Maybe. I'm sure he was desperate to find some success. It's going to be interesting to watch.

[Five-hole]

Preds were poo all game long, did not deserve the lead they had.

Sharangovich had a great game, noticeable everywhere.

[Dion]

I was at the movies and missed the game. Your game takes are a great read when one was not able to watch the game. As always I appreciate the effort and insight you put in.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Dion

I was at the movies and missed the game. Your game takes are a great read when one was not able to watch the game. As always I appreciate the effort and insight you put in.

Likewise. I miss a lot of games, living abroad. When I do I always check out Bingo's game stories to get both the facts and insights into what I missed. And have been doing so for more than 20 years!

[shutout]

Think that Sharangovich looks good with Kadri and Zary and would not break up that line.
Agree that Dube does not look like he is doing much to help the top line.
I would swap Ruzicka and Dube.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Ruzicka
Greer - Dube - Duehr

Dube has the speeed to play and compliment the bottom line and maybe it will help to simplify his game.

Ruzicka has the size and skill to play with Huberdeau and Lindholm and last year looked good with Lindholm.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by shutout

Think that Sharangovich looks good with Kadri and Zary and would not break up that line.
Agree that Dube does not look like he is doing much to help the top line.
I would swap Ruzicka and Dube.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Ruzicka
Greer - Dube - Duehr

Dube has the speeed to play and compliment the bottom line and maybe it will help to simplify his game.

Ruzicka has the size and skill to play with Huberdeau and Lindholm and last year looked good with Lindholm.

I concur - don't think it's simply speed Huby needs on his line. Ruzicka's skill could really augment Huby's game if they're given a bit of time to develop some chemitry, letting Lindy be the glue while it percolates.

[D as in David]

With Mangiapane back next game, who sits? After Burner last night was suggesting Duehr possibly.

Maybe too early in his career for Pospisil but would his speed and skill be a compliment to Lindholm and Huberdeau?

[Toonage]

I'd leave the Kadri & Backlund lines alone. Greer or Duehr could sit without disrupting anything. Probably Greer.

[Bingo]

Ruzicka looked lost last night while Dube was fully engaged and contributing.

I'm hoping Ruzicka was just adjusting to being back in the lineup. His reads playing center would have made a U12 coach snap.

[Erick Estrada]

I agree with sitting guys in the 3rd period and playing the guys that are going. I try to avoid the Sutter discussions because it's all been discussed to death but one thing that drove me mad was his insistence to roll all four lines in the 3rd periods of games they were trailing.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Ruzicka looked lost last night while Dube was fully engaged and contributing.

I'm hoping Ruzicka was just adjusting to being back in the lineup. His reads playing center would have made a U12 coach snap.

He doesn't really make up for it in hustle the way some others do.

I just like seeing so many younger players being given the chance to prove themselves. I think with both Ruzicka and Duehr we are seeing how hard it is to carve out a permanent NHL career. Both guys still on the fringe.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

He doesn't really make up for it in hustle the way some others do.

I just like seeing so many younger players being given the chance to prove themselves. I think with both Ruzicka and Duehr we are seeing how hard it is to carve out a permanent NHL career. Both guys still on the fringe.

Yeah Duehr not taking the step we all assumed he would. Looks very much a fourth liner, and not the guy looking for third line minutes.

Ruzicka was a huge disappointment last night. Out of position often, weak on pucks, took the "Jokinen" route to the forecheck, and as you said when he made a mistake he almost gave up on the play.

Hoping he was out of synch from missing 5 games. But feels more and more like a guy that's going to get left behind.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Ruzicka was a huge disappointment last night. Out of position often, weak on pucks, took the "Jokinen" route to the forecheck, and as you said when he made a mistake he almost gave up on the play.

Hoping he was out of synch from missing 5 games. But feels more and more like a guy that's going to get left behind.

It's a shame because there's a good player there. He's got middle-six skill but the effort level at times just isn't good enough.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's a shame because there's a good player there. He's got middle-six skill but the effort level at times just isn't good enough.

And maybe he's just not aware of the effort required, or where it's lacking? I don't know.

But yeah he's just a passenger.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bingo

And maybe he's just not aware of the effort required, or where it's lacking? I don't know.

But yeah he's just a passenger.

Kind of strange that he would put in the effort off the ice and not understand what it takes on the ice.

By all accounts he worked hard to put on size, that doesn't just happen.

He was played pretty well prior to his injury.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Kind of strange that he would put in the effort off the ice and not understand what it takes on the ice.

By all accounts he worked hard to put on size, that doesn't just happen.

He was played pretty well prior to his injury.

A player that doesn't know where he should be may have an internal uncertainty that looks like a lack of effort is what I mean.

Like the first goal when skated out to the blueline even though both of his wingers were already there.

Later when he was back to the wing, Lindholm was covering for him on the point once, then Ruzicka showed up and Lindholm had to move back down the high slot to cover the hole Ruzicka left.

He didn't have a clue.