QOTD: Why the disparity between periods 1/2 and 3?

[HOWITZER]

I said conditioning. Mostly think that for the first two periods opposition teams do an excellent job keeping up and stifling the flames' attack and intensity. However, around the 10 minute mark of the third period every game you really start to see Calgary be better than the opposition. Last year, you could expect Berra to let a goal in with 5-6 min to go that would simply break the team. This year, having the confidence of above average goaltending and the ability to out-run your team has made for a big difference.

[bob-loblaw]

I said it's a bunch of things. Probably coaching and the teams mentality the most plausible reasons to me. Hartley has them brainwashed and if we get a goal in the third then they steam roll.

By the third it seems the coaches have figured the other team out and the team can buy into the plan in the second intermission. The first period they see what's going on, the second they make adjustments, in the third they adjust the adjustments and pour it on. We were tied against Buffalo then scored three in the third. We were buzzing against Minnesota in the third but ran into a hot goalie. Last night the Oilers we just the Oilers.

I think it's mental on the other team too. They know that we'll pour it on and it throws of their game plan as they have to adjust theirs because of us. They don't know how to exactly react and by then it's too late.

[smoothessence]

Many, combination of many things:

Aside from the obvious things, many of which are included as options in the poll, the team is playing more and more comfortably and consistently within Hartley's system.

As the season has progressed, we see the flames winning games earlier and further away from the final whistle as opposed the beginning of the season where we would score two goals in the last three minutes with the goalie pulled.

The progress of the team we see before us is in part due to a commitment to the process which Bob Hartley has talked about since day one.

[stemit14]

I think the play of the flames in first periods vs the rest of the game has to do with how the team plays once it scores. The Reason this team comes back so often when down by a couple goals is cause once the flames get a goal they gain momentum and follow it up with 1-2 more in short order. I think hiller (and to a lesser extent ramo) tends to be less sharp early in games. So goals are going in earlier in the games against the flames and they have to work to get momentum back.

I find the flames usually start well in the first few shifts of the game but rarely score. Then the other team goes and scores on their first decent opportunity. This happened last night as well. Not blaming hiller... Just a combination of the flames being a momentum-driven team and hiller starting slow in most games.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

1) Young and dumb. Nobody told these guys that you're not supposed to win in the NHL when you trail after 2 periods. Once you do it a few times, you always believe that you can find a way.

2) Conditioning. No doubt in my mind that there is a reason the Flames are fresher and quicker late in the game compared to most teams. Very few prepare well enough to deal with that factor and it shows mostly in the 3rd, and especially in OT.

3) Leadership. This team has a lot of character throughout the lineup, but the leaders really find a way to put the team on their back and push them late in games.

4) Coaching. If only because of the "believe" factor. Hartley and crew never consider themselves out of anything, and they always remain positive. You can often accomplish a lot more when you don't get upset that you're down after 2.

5) Desperation. I have no doubt that this team feels that more late in the games and it pushes them.

6) Clutch players. Monahan has shown it so far in his young career. Gio is clutch. Gaudreau has been clutch at times. Everyone chips in and they find a way.

It's a great problem to have, but I would like it if they could just dominate early and walk to an easy win once in a while.

[AcGold]

When the Flames are tied in the beginning of the game they are visibly very rigid and tight. Their passes are a second or two behind because they overthink things and don't want to make mistakes. In other words they try to play a perfect kind of game, then when it's the 3rd period they realize it's not working so they have to go with a do whatever you have to to score attitude;

passes are made quicker, players keep their feet moving more, they drive the net harder instead of being 50% offense while also being ready to go the other way immediately. It's obvious they are always primed to reverse course and backcheck immediately.

If they were able to be more loose and play like they are already losing in the first they'd do better, but they play like they are afraid to get scored on usually. Not often we see them storm out the gates in the first 10 minutes.

I'd used an analogy to Johnny's play. Against Minnesota in the first period he was trying to make the perfect passes and he'd stop skating and just look at his options. Then in the third he has the puck and just decides to take it in himself by force of will (and incredible reflexes). If only more guys could make the play to win the battles or to move the puck on their own in the first we'd do better.

It's a tad too much team think almost and it makes it easier on the defense as opposed to the approach in the third where it's completely unpredictable, it's that factor that makes it harder to defend against. Much like martial arts, a predictable offensive strategy is generally useless against a well trained opponent. An unpredictable offensive strategy is what the best in the world use.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Honestly, it's the players in the dressing room. There isnt a lot of confident, vocal, 2 rings having talkers. The personality is that of Calgary, quiet, patient and productive. when it's time to complete the task, they turn it up.

Look at the players, Gio, Monahan, HUD, gaudreau, Brodie all very quiet. Desire to win, but very conservative personas. This can change as they achieve more success.

[Bourque's Twin]

Focus and conditioning

[ForeverFlameFan]

I really think it's the conditioning.

[Vulcan]

I voted conditioning because that's where it begins. The Flames are still the lightest team in the NHL and that probably has something to do with low body fat.

http://mirtle.blogspot.ca/2014/10/20...eight-and.html

The home high elevation also makes conditioning a bigger factor for out team.

Yeah coaching, confidence and desperation etc. has something to do with it too but another thing going for us is age. In average age we are only the 11th youngest team but our young players such as Backlund, Bouma, Byron, Colborne, Gaudreau, Jooris, Monahan and Brodie are most of our best players and see a lot of ice time. One thing about rookies and young players, they don't know any better than to think they can do it.

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams

[FBI]

Hartley rolls 4 lines throughout 2 periods and once we are losing, the big guns get a lot more icetime.

[DazzlinDino]

I put "Many, combination of many things", I think a big factor is that they players "believe". Hartley never seems to have a shortage of praise to go around for all his players and makes believers out of every single one of them. Often even the ones that are whipping boys on CP still receive occasional praise from the coach! These guys believe they can come back win in the 3rd period that's going to be huge once they get into the playoffs. I believe this is a big part of what Hartley was talking about when he said they had to learn how to win. It doesn't matter so much right now that we are trailing in the first or second it's the belief that they can will it and turn it on when the game is on the line.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Conditioning is the biggest reason, but that in itself says many things about the team and coaching staff.

Last year it seemed the Flames early and late season success was largely attributed to their conditioning. Hartley had them nearing mid-season form at game 1 and everyone else seemed a step below. Once other teams caught up, the Flames had their atrocious losing streak last year and this year.

Perhaps now, we are seeing a well conditioned team who can strike in the 3rd period when everyone else is a step below. Hartley can roll four lines for 2 periods and shorten the bench when it matters.

New meta NHL coaching.

[Jason14h]

We stop playing our 3rd defensive pairing and our 4th line....

[debil]

I'd like to believe it's conditioning. Worse 2nd might be a result of good 3rd. They might not feel the urgency in the 2nd given they know they can come back in the third.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

We stop playing our 3rd defensive pairing and our 4th line....

So do a lot of other teams.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Every poll on CP should include as a possible answer: "The Oilers suck"

[codynw]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Every poll on CP should include as a possible answer: "The Oilers suck"

"How Many Years Should the Flames Extend Bouma?"

A: 1-2
B: 3-4
C: 5+
D: Don't re-sign
E: Oilers suck

I like it!

[GioforPM]

I think it's a combinations of things because these comebacks have not had the same pattern. Last night I thought the Flames played at least even with the Oilers, if not a bit better in the first, but got burned on a couple bad plays. I thought they widely outplayed them in the second but didn't have the finish. And in the third the dam burst. So it wasn't just a third period, just a steady progression of playing better and better.

But, say in the LAK OT win, they were shut down well for over 2 periods and then Johnny decided to score three times, and Gio decided to finish it off. So individual effort.

Against Buffalo I thought they were the better conditioned team.

[Erick Estrada]

IMO it's simply effort. They seem to go through the motions early in games and then really start to dictate play in the 3rd period. I'm not sure if it's a rope-a-dope strategy of conserving for the 3rd period but it would be nice to see some complete games down the stretch as we have seen the 3rd period deficits have started to amount into more losses as the season has progressed.