[PGT] WCQF Game 4: Ducks 3 - Flames 1; Anaheim wins series in sweep

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

The PP was decent in the series but I still think we need to move Brodie to the 2nd unit.

He won't shoot... and the lack of a big shot as an option on the first unit stuck out like a sore thumb all season.

Maybe they should use Stone more often. Dude has a hell of a shot.

[Flamenfame]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It's amazing how people expect Gaudreau to take punishment. His hand probably never healed properly.

Enough excuses on him . He has been in the league long enough for teams to know his tendencies . He cheats on offence which sometimes works but also backfires. He is what he is a talented small winger. But he can't lead this team, even during 10 game winning streak yea he was getting points but Monahan was leading the way.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Sad that the season is over. You have to look at the silver lining here, and who thought playoffs were going to be a realistic thing in November? Even January when the team stumbled, I thought playoffs was just a silly dream.

Getting into the playoffs and playing those games is still a benefit to the core. It is a learning experience. Every forward on this team should look at Versteeg and Monahan. Those two cranked up their games and were effective everywhere.

I thought that throughout this series, the Flames carried most of the play. I feel bad for Elliott - there is probably nobody in YYC that feels worse than he does right now. Flames won't re-sign him, but I hope he lands somewhere next season and finds consistency in his game. With that being said, I do think that Gulutzan got out-coached, but that was really to be expected heading into the playoffs. As much as the Flames players gain experience from the playoffs, so does a coach, and Gulutzan is a rookie playoff coach. I mean that in the most honest and positive way.

Hartley was a much more tenured coach, and I have no doubt that he would have made more adjustments and would have managed the goalies better. Hartley pulled off a win with a much less talented and smaller team that limped into the second round (who wasn't hurt? Even Ferland had broken ribs). This isn't to say that the Flames should go out and get Hartley, or go out and fire Gulutzan - Gulutzan is just very much gaining experience like the rest of the team. I bet next time around, he pulls Elliott earlier in the series. Carlyle definitely out-coached him, and game 3 was the most evident with his line juggling, pulling the goalie, and so on. Again, not a slight at Gulutzan, but you can't expect him to manage the team and make in-game adjustments as readily as a guy like Carlyle or even Hartley - guys who have a lot more experience and actually won the cup.

Johnson was pretty solid the rest of the game. Poor rebound control on the one and only goal he let in, but it is the type that should be an easy clear.

Next silver lining here is that the Flames have 2 spots open in net for next season, and I can't think of a better year in which to actually go out and obtain a starter on the cheap. Lots of young guys and vets. Hopefully the Flames solidify this position, as it has been wildly inconsistent for too long.

Ducks are a team that is well coached, they have a tonne of experience, and know how to squeak out those wins. People forget that they were just as resilient as the 2014-15 Flames, but continue to be that resilient team. They don't quit, no matter how badly they get outplayed. Flames just need to continue to get a bit bigger and a bit faster, and experience will take care of the rest.

One thing that really struck me is how probably nobody would have been complaining this playoffs if Brouwer and Versteeg traded contracts. Brouwer wasn't as bad as people felt the need to complain about him, but I am sure Treliving wouldn't have inked him to that deal knowing that he would have ended up on the 4th line with PP time and strong side face-offs.

Chiasson is a good depth player - happy with him. Wouldn't mind him getting re-signed on a similar contract (raise is to be expected, but he has to come cheap to make me like him). Versteeg needs to be re-signed.

One thing I would really like to change is splitting up Monahan and Gaudreau. I felt Monahan played his best this playoffs (and throughout the season) when he had the puck on his stick more. Throw Gaudreau and Bennett together. Versteeg and Monahan is a good combo, and I think makes the Flames a more difficult team to shut-down. Just what I have felt for a while this year.

I won't touch the D. So up and down. Not sure if it was being rattled from the poor goals or not, but as a unit they all pretty much were terrible at different points. Had good games as well individually, but it seemed that the top 6 all had terrible individual performances throughout this series. Even Engelland, who is always 'Mr Reliable' had some shaky games.

I expect a lot of changes this off-season, and it will be interesting. I also expect that next season will be another forward step, and I am assuming that goaltending will improve. Ducks showed the Flames one important lesson - resiliency. Even though they got outplayed through LONG stretches, they never gave up and didn't seem to stay rattled for long. I can't say that about the Flames during any game. Hopefully with more stable goaltending, this team will have that incredible resiliency that they did in 2014-15.

Looking forward already to next season!

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Also, I acknowledge he's a rookie, but Tkachuk's playoff performance was pretty disappointing.

Definitely can't blame the series on a rookie, but I too was expecting more from him. I was hoping for Ferkland levels of energy. He was barely noticeable.

[heep223]

Goaltending sinks the Flames season again. Elliott was simply horrible in the playoffs - I'd be surprised if he played in the NHL again. I hate to single him out but the reality is that he pretty much single handedly lost this series for the team. So disappointing.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

I'd trade McDavid for Barkov if the Flames had him.

He's going to be the best player in the league.

Cp needs a "No Thanks" button.

[goodyear]

Not much to say besides getting swept sucks!

The crowd was there tonight but the Flames was flat for the first half of the game. Their goalie played well too.

Great regular season but guys like Johnny and Tkachuk need to ramp it up for the playoffs. Looking forward to new goalies.


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[Flamenfame]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

I'd trade McDavid for Barkov if the Flames had him.

He's going to be the best player in the league.

Barkov is a beast and by far the best pick in 13.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Surprises that there isn't more criticism of Gio's play tonight. Gulutzan talked about how the team was jittery tonight and Gio was the epitome of that. Indecisive, nervous and just not the player we were used to in the regular season. I wonder for a guy who's been in a league as long as him but with limited playoff exposure it might have been a struggle for him to find another gear.

I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the amount of shot he put right into a dman tonight. Just incredibly poor decision making from Gio on offence tonight.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Flamenfame

Enough excuses on him . He has been in the league long enough for teams to know his tendencies . He cheats on offence which sometimes works but also backfires. He is what he is a talented small winger. But he can't lead this team, even during 10 game winning streak yea he was getting points but Monahan was leading the way.

He's a young player who had an off year after being an all star every year he's been in the league.

And even in that off year he *DID* lead this team in scoring, despite playing ten less games.

Find another narrative. You sound like the guy in your avatar looks. There are a lot of things to discuss in the wake of this season. Actively trying to trade one of our young cornerstones isn't one of them.

[dino7c]

they lost 4 one goal games and their goalie had a save % in the .800s

bottom line

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Elliott was shaky the entire game 3. You could tell from the first shot he was fighting the puck. He should have been pulled after the second goal. Gulutzan not doing that probably cost us the series (outside of Elliott's performance). Anaheim wasted no time pulling Gibson.

??

Gibson let in 4 before he got pulled.



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[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flamenfame

Barkov is a beast and by far the best pick in 13.

by far? lol
When Barkov has a season with more goals or points then Monahan you let me know. It's 4-0 right now. And Barkov is a fantastic two way player but so his Monahan.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Any team would love to have him...he would go first overall in a re-draft not in the fourth round

you are posting guys that aren't even in the stratosphere as far as offensive talent goes...he is not a ####ing grinder he was 6th in league scoring one year ago

I never said they were as good . Merely pointed out the learned to take the punishment. Girly sport said she was surprised that people were expectimg him to take the punishment. I pointed out yhe smaller playera who learned to take said punishment.

Saying he can't take the hiys is a pretty bad defense. He has been around long enough to adjust.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah not sure how anybody could be down on Monahan after that series.

A true bright spot and a huge step in his development.

Also $:#^ off Brian Elliott, just lazy and inexcusable goaltending on his part the last three games.

Gaudreau needs to be better as well. Non-factor in this playoffs and just didnt seem to have his handles. Do wonder if hand wasn't 100%, just uncharacteristic giveaways and misplays with the puck on his stick.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by smiggy77

??

Gibson let in 4 before he got pulled.



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He was not originally fighting the puck, as soon as he started to, he was yanked.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by heep223

Goaltending sinks the Flames season again. Elliott was simply horrible in the playoffs - I'd be surprised if he played in the NHL again. I hate to single him out but the reality is that he pretty much single handedly lost this series for the team. So disappointing.

I agree with most of this, but I could see Elliott come back as a backup somewhere and have a pretty nice season with the pressure off.

He can't come back to the Flames. But I do hope him the best. Seems like a great guy and he has some skills. He's not done yet.

Next year for the Flames I'd like to see a #1 (can dream, right?) and a Rittich/Gillies backup. Clear slate.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

And that's been the organizations biggest failure in the last 20+ years. The Flames have been unable to draft or develop goaltenders, got lucky with a homerun trade by Sutter, but have been floundering since with a merry-go-round of flash-in-the-pan goalies. Treliving is just continuing that trend

Who else was Treliving supposed to go after?

It was always Elliott vs. Bishop in the off season

[Saint Troy]

Complete mental & physical breakdown by Elliott was the difference, shouldn't have been considered to play tonight let alone start. Pray Treliving doesn't have a handshake extension in place...

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by Flamenfame

Barkov is a beast and by far the best pick in 13.

Nope.