[PGT] Pens 1 Flames 2 in OT

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Shoutout to Backlund who’s excellent forechecking lead to Jarry giving away the puck to Tkachuk.

Absolutely. Watching the replay on that goal, I was most impressed by Backlund's positioning. Got in the Penguins' grill just far enough, taking away their space without over-committing. If he's not where he is, Tkachuk may not get the puck in the first place, and certainly doesn't have the open lane to pass to Giordano.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Cortez

Are you? Are you really?

It's a long season - We need bad wins as much as good wins to make the playoffs. I am. But I'm critical of a team I was expect to 'contend' and 'open their window' this year.

[btimbit]

Pens came out flying in the first, Flames endured and played better the rest of the game. It's really not as bad as it felt after the first. Not an awesome game but not bad either.

Watching 3m shut down Crosby was a treat

[Robbob]

Great win today. The team knows they need to work on things, which is good. What is even better, is that they are currently tied in points for the 3rd pacific spot. As much as it has been a struggle they are in the mix with lots of room for improvement.

[1991 Canadian]

Originally Posted by smoothskatingbrodie

Kulak impressed me again in this game

It was good to see Gullitzan put Stone and Kulak on with ~ 2 minutes left in the third. Kulak was solid all game and deserved the icetime. Hopefully this game helps solidify his confidence.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Pat Steinberg‏Verified account @Fan960Steinberg




After rough start, #Flames end up winning scoring chance battle. High danger chances 15-13, 5v5 possession 53.4%.

I thought the Flames got better as the game went on after that real bad first. Holding teams like the Caps and Pens to only 1 goal is nice to see.

Quick! thymebalm! close your eyes!!

[TheFlamesVan]

Lose = "if only we had a goalie!"
Win = "well yeah but if our goalie didn't play so well...."

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Team gave up 40+ shots on a team playing their second night in a row. They didn't score for basically the entire game against a rookie goalie with a sub .900 save percentage. But yea, I'm the no fun downer. Let's just pretend they slaughtered them and anyone who disagrees must be a misanthrope...

So anyone who disagrees has a general hate or dislike of people and the human race? Umm that is a little over the top. Jesus tap dancing Christ on a cracker man, we just beat the SC champs, stop focusing on the negatives!

[Karl]

Nice win.

That 4th line though....hard to watch. It needs speed and a few other things, badly.

All 3 players way too slow.

[Gaudreau is a Ninja]

Thank-you Smith!
Gaudreau looked dangerous all night
Hamilton could have had a couple of goals
Tkachuk with an amazing move on Crosby in OT
Janko and Bennett really looking good together
Love Hamonic's toughness
Brodie and Gio good game
Kulak is in the lineup indefinitely, strong game
I did think Frolik struggled tonight but that's me nit-picking
Great win Flames!!!!!

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Penguins don't win back to backs... didn't we discuss this Sunday after the jets won?

[Cortez]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Team gave up 40+ shots on a team playing their second night in a row. They didn't score for basically the entire game against a rookie goalie with a sub .900 save percentage. But yea, I'm the no fun downer. Let's just pretend they slaughtered them and anyone who disagrees must be a misanthrope...

hahah you don't have to pretend we slaughtered them. We can just realize we won a game in overtime against the defending cup champions. It's an 82 game season. I actually prefer winning games against solid teams - even if they are playing games in back to back nights.
Maybe try enjoying a win?

[TheMagicMan]

Is this the first time tkachuk has played ot? Could this be a sign of the future? How was his foot speed? Thanks!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by zamler

Here's a little known fact. The last two Cup champions at times rode their goaltenders even in the playoffs.

Here's another little known fact: The last two Cup champions have lost 5 in a row to the Flames.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Downer? Did you watch that game? Flames pulled that horseshoe right from their arse.

I'm happy about the win, but if you think this team is going anywhere playing like that, you're setting yourself up for a hurt, real bad.

Gotta disagree about the horseshoe comment

They had a bad first period where Smith kept them in the game. We were the better team in the second and parts of the last period. The Pens did not dominate us.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Pitty.

No
Nyet
Nee
Non

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Tkachuk was a 70%CF% player tonight on the Backlund/Frolik line playing against Crosby. ZS ratio was only 17%. They got buried in the defensive zone against the best player in the world but get 70% towards thier net.

This post needs to be stickied or something to the forum; like a quote that you see at the top of the forum home page/

Benning bro... theirs Two Granlunds sure. That’s confusing, I get it, but how do you pass on Tkachuk that year??? I’m still stunned when I think about that day ‘vancouver canucks are proud to select’ breath completely held ‘from the London Knights’ complete dejection ‘Olli Juolevi’ complete jubilation!!!

Still pumped we got this kid, absolute gem.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Great teams gut out wins like this.

You knew Pitty was gonna come out flying on a back to back and they handed it to the Flames in the first - we weathered the back to back defending champs well in the first and even pushed back near the end of the first and had solid 2nd and 3rd periods. And yea Smith was huge for us but can’t we be thankful we finally have a goalie that can carry a team through important times??? It’s 3-0 if it’s Hiller, 2-0 if it’s Elliott tonight. Same goes for Johnson and Ramo, Ortio, MacDonald, McBackup and on and on. Can’t people be friggen happy for once with this team??

We aren’t playing to our 100% level clearly but at this time last year many doom and gloomers were drafting top 3 and writing the season off after a 2-7-1 start. Now we have a good start and look poised to start pushing here; Johnny has 16 points, Mony is flying, MMM line is as sexy as ever, Bennett is due, Janko is finally staying... we have Jaromir freaking Jagr for crying out loud.

Give your head a shake man. Things aren’t that bad and they could get great once the depth starts producing and they are due - all of our top players right now are being top players.

Amazing - I don't say one untrue thing and I'm the one that needs to give my head a shake.

Do you know the Penguins record on back-to-backs? Do you know the stat line of their rookie backup goalie? Do you know how many* goals we've scored this year?

This is not a run around the room jumping and screaming win. This is "whew, we aren't below .500 again thanks to Mike Smith and the our top guys".

This team has problems. Show me the evidence otherwise. Mike Smith stole that win.

When did it become a problem to be honest when you assess a performance? Why are so many posters jumping on me for this? I gave the credit where it was due. And I gave the criticism where it was due? When did we decide every fan had to be a complete homer or they were out of the cp club?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

It's a long season - We need bad wins as much as good wins to make the playoffs. I am. But I'm critical of a team I was expect to 'contend' and 'open their window' this year.

For me it's still to early in the season to make judgements of the team. That however doesn't mean we can't be critical of how they are playing. I just feel in the end that this team will get better as the season goes on.

[Benched]

Not an overly convincing win, lots to work on.

But smith. Wow.
Kulak stood out tonight in a good way. Me like.
4th line far too much ice time on a shift in the third, hunting for offense, tired then trying to change instead of back checking when they got caught out there too long. Believe that led to another epic Mike smith save on a 2-1 pass/deflected shot. Brain dead. They need to be less selfish and have quick shifts.