[GDT] Tonight! Live from the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames take on The Golden Knights.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by colbym72

I would like to see them try Dougie on the first unit, but starting to think it doesn't matter the personnel at this point. Its the execution of whatever this system is

It's very predictable. That is one of the issues.

EVERY SINGLE TIME... Gaudreau gets the pass back in the neutral zone and tries to carry it in. You would think that they have 2-3 different options?? Maybe a set play with a dump-in or surprise the other team and pass it to someone other than Gaudreau.

It's just really frustrating to see.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Going to say this is a high scoring 7-3 one-sided game.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by keenan87

They scored on the first shot in Edmonton.

It's not that they aren't prepared.. they just get bored during the 3rd period. I wouldn't blame them, 2 periods should be more than enough for a hockey game.

Now that I agree with - they definitely suffer from a bit of complacency with a lead, heading into the third. They seem to be a little surprised at the push back from professional hockey teams (mind you, if they watched Oiler film this year they could have expected them to crumble).

But I was specifically responding to the argument that they don't come out with energy. They had that issue in the first quarter, but IMO they have addressed that one pretty well.

That said, they need to match the Knights energy. Those guys play with pace all game long - I haven't seen any team do it like them for a long time.

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by colbym72

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
1m
#Flames power play:

PP1:
Tkachuk
Gaudreau-Monahan-Backlund
Giordano

PP2:
Bennett-Jankowski-Ferland
Hamilton-Brodie

Wouldn't want to mess up the sweet mojo our PP has going on by putting Frolik in the mix...

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by keenan87

It's very predictable. That is one of the issues.

EVERY SINGLE TIME... Gaudreau gets the pass back in the neutral zone and tries to carry it in. You would think that they have 2-3 different options?? Maybe a set play with a dump-in or surprise the other team and pass it to someone other than Gaudreau.

It's just really frustrating to see.

I don't have beef with that entry. It actually works 95% of the time and most teams don't have an answer defending against it.

It's more so the in-zone possession, overpassing and lack of shooters that GMG. But whatever. It is what it is.

[WhiteTiger]

Go Flames go!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by keenan87

It's very predictable. That is one of the issues.

EVERY SINGLE TIME... Gaudreau gets the pass back in the neutral zone and tries to carry it in. You would think that they have 2-3 different options?? Maybe a set play with a dump-in or surprise the other team and pass it to someone other than Gaudreau.

It's just really frustrating to see.

I really don't mind the entries. It works almost every time, and if that ain't broken, don't try and fix it. IMO the issue is with the speed and crispness of their passes. They don't whip it to each other to create an open chance. They don't get to rebounds in time (how many were just poked away in Edmonton?). They don't get it to the high slot where Monahan should be. They don't get it to the back door, where Tkachuk should be. It's mainly the fault of the perimeter guys - Gaudreau, Gio, Backlund.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I don't have beef with that entry. It actually works 95% of the time and most teams don't have an answer defending against it.

It's more so the in-zone possession, overpassing and lack of shooters that GMG. But whatever. It is what it is.

Maybe it's not entirely the entry.. I just feel like he comes into the zone and no one is ready, which reduces its' effectiveness. There is usually a forced pass which is aggressively challenged by the PK and the puck is out of their zone. Just my opinion though.

It would also really help if we can get some shots to hit the net from the point. The Flames must be one of the worst teams on that front.

[edn88]

As season ticket holders, my son has had a chance to see many teams play here but one of the only teams he has specifically asked me to keep the tickets for was against the Vegas Golden Knights...

[Otto-matic]

My issue with the PP is they have zero idea what to do once they get into the zone. Its usually Johnny circling around dumping the puck off to the blue line where it usually is shot into the shinpads and they have to retreat back and kill off another 30-45 seconds getting back into the zone.

[Kovaz]

Originally Posted by Flacker

Wouldn't want to mess up the sweet mojo our PP has going on by putting Frolik in the mix...

We've had 18 players play >1 minute on the PP this year. Frolik ranks 18th out of 18 across the board in every offensive metric, even behind guys like Matt Stajan, Michael Stone, and Curtis Lazar.

I get being frustrated, but Frolik couldn't even score when the PP was working. He's not the solution we're looking for.

Our #1 PP has our best 4 forwards and our best defenseman, at this point if they can't figure it out the only way to improve the personnel is through making a trade.

[Toonage]

You'd think with the last few PP goals being scored by Tkachuk planting himself in front of the net they'd have a template to work from. Namely, get someone in front of the net.

I lose my #### when they pass it around the perimeter and there isn't any traffic

[killer_carlson]

It seems goofy to say it, but the PP needs to shoot more. Put the puck to the net.

[fire_starter]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

We've had 18 players play >1 minute on the PP this year. Frolik ranks 18th out of 18 across the board in every offensive metric, even behind guys like Matt Stajan, Michael Stone, and Curtis Lazar.

I get being frustrated, but Frolik couldn't even score when the PP was working. He's not the solution we're looking for.

Our #1 PP has our best 4 forwards and our best defenseman, at this point if they can't figure it out the only way to improve the personnel is through making a trade.

[shadowlord]

Originally Posted by fire_starter

Didn't Hoffman play under Dave Cameron when Cameron was the Head Coach? I think Ottawa's power play was also dismal as well back then.

[Otto-matic]

If Calgary acquires Hoffman, everyone can get their Jagr jerseys recrested.

[fire_starter]

Originally Posted by shadowlord

Didn't Hoffman play under Dave Cameron when Cameron was the Head Coach? I think Ottawa's power play was also dismal as well back then.

He did have 9 goals and 13 points on the PP in Cameron's 2nd season as coach but yeah I take it would have a negative impact this season somehow.

[Kovaz]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I really don't mind the entries. It works almost every time, and if that ain't broken, don't try and fix it. IMO the issue is with the speed and crispness of their passes. They don't whip it to each other to create an open chance. They don't get to rebounds in time (how many were just poked away in Edmonton?). They don't get it to the high slot where Monahan should be. They don't get it to the back door, where Tkachuk should be. It's mainly the fault of the perimeter guys - Gaudreau, Gio, Backlund.

Totally agreed that this is the issue.

Outside of Gaudreau at the absolute peak of his game, you can't beat a defense in one pass. The good PPs fire the puck around to change the angles and the passing lanes, and capitalize when the PKers don't react correctly, or quickly enough.

There are so many options we don't regularly take advantage of:

• Have Tkachuk move out to the corner to receive a pass
• Have the wing (Gaudreau/Backlund) without the puck go to the net for a backdoor pass
• Have Giordano slide over to the right faceoff circle for a one-timer
• Move Monahan more to the high slot to open up a shot, and create space for a cross-seam pass
• Rotate Tkachuk, Monahan, and Backlund: have Tkachuk move away from the net and receive a pass, Monahan goes to the crease, and Backlund goes to the slot

I think the other theme here is movement. Once we get all 5 guys into their spots, we don't move around a lot. Slow puck movement + stationary attackers is the easiest combo to defend against. Just a little bit of rotation and swapping places would go a long way.

[TheIronMaiden]

Obligatory

[Puppet Guy]

Finally, an encounter with the Golden Knights. Tonight, as a fan of creative anachronism, That Darn Puppet- aka Sir Mini Me of Disgraceland - recreates a famous battle of days past:

Spoiler!

Go Flames