[PGT] Flames Shutout Predators 3-0

[Lanny_McDonald]

Really good road game by the Flames. They played the Preds square 5-on-5 and then owned the special teams play. First time in a long time we were able to say that. Smith had a good game, but a lot of that credit goes to the team defense play. They made sure Smith was able to get square to pucks and eliminated the cross ice opportunities. LOL at the Nashville off ice crew. Someone got a little trigger happy on the shot count. Smith will take the bump in SOG, but it seems everything directed at the net by the Preds in the 2nd half of the game was considered a SOG. Can't say enough about the defense. Great game by all of them and nice to see the young guys (Hanafin, Valimaki, and Andersson) playing strong. Would still like to see more balance up front, but when that first line is hot, you ride them, and ride them hard. Any win in Nashville is great win, so the Flames should take this and feel good.

[Ryan Coke]

Great game all around.

But even as a founding member of the fire Gulutzan fan club, I have some vague recollection of a few games where the team played well in spite....I mean under him.

But hopefully this kind of performance becomes the norm under Peters, and not a continuation of the one step forward, two steps back pattern under GG.

[Shazam]

That was a good ol' fashioned butt whumpin'

[kukkudo]

Couple things

- Bennett just needs to score one and I believe he will break out. You can tell the kid has loads of talent and swagger.

- Neal needs to start producing soon

- Valamaki is a beast that one shift where he kept the puck in twice seemed like he was a 10 year vet.

- Overall the team we saw last night is on the right path hopefully they build and create a nice win streak.

[FlamingHomer]

Does this mean I don't have to be nervous anymore when the Flames have a 3-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the third?

Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

[Erick Estrada]

It's only one game but I really liked the Andersson/Valimaki pairing. Stone for that matter is looking okay with Hanafin in the 2nd pairing.

[puckedoff]

Preds forwards hammered our D all night long. Good to see they were able to make plays while being abused.

[calumniate]

The preds board seems pretty chill.. Thanks gaskal!

[sureLoss]

Bill Peters shoots down Francis' report that Rittich will start in St. Louis.

Says no decision has been made. Maybe later today.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by calumniate

The preds board seems pretty chill.. Thanks gaskal!

I figured them to be a board that didn't give us a lot of salt. I found it amusing that they described the Flames as typically fast when that hasn't been a trait for as long as I can remember. Funny that they discovered the boring sean twitter.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I figured them to be a board that didn't give us a lot of salt. I found it amusing that they described the Flames as typically fast when that hasn't been a trait for as long as I can remember. Funny that they discovered the boring sean twitter.

I assume most of the posters are American and may not harbor ill will to small market Canadian teams like the Flames where there's not really a rivalry or connection. That said the Flames seem to have their number recently in Nashville.

[Bingo Jr.]

i’m praying that this power play is here to stay

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ah so the answer is no, you cannot read. Moving on now... You are clearly a person who when proven incorrect stubbornly keeps going. Let's talk hockey instrad huh? Can we?

I think proof and victories claimed in arguments are a little more powerful when one of the combatants isn't the one suggesting the victory itself.

I find PC in our society annoying as hell, for sure. But to what point? We have to evolve too don't we? We used to use the heck out that word without meaning offence to anyone, but now we can't and don't because some find it offensive. Personally the word isn't important enough me to plant a flag and die on that hill.

Kind of like how we used to always say "that's gay" without ever really meaning sexual preference. No longer.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

i’m praying that this power play is here to stay

I couldn't agree more, the Flames' poor PP was a huge part of why they missed the playoffs last year.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

i’m praying that this power play is here to stay

I think more work needs to be done on zone entries, but once they are in the first unit at least looks MUCH better. I hope that over the next few weeks the Flames develop alternative strategies to Gaudreau carrying the puck in. every. single. time.

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by devo22

Team is a pleasure to watch when they come to play like yesterday. Absolutely love the speed and the forecheck - it's no coincidence they had 17 PPs in 3 games. Great work Peters, I hope they keep it up!

Valimaki is going to be a stud. Goes from 10 minutes in game 1 to almost 18 and killing a 5-on-3 in game 3 ... just a very smart and mobile defenseman, he'll be very good for a long time.

Elias Lindholm and his muffin of a shot are under contract for 6 years. Don't know about you guys, but that makes me smile.

For 4.8 mill too

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

i’m praying that this power play is here to stay

What do you mean? The brouwerplay is totally here to stay!

[Textcritic]

How much does the first three games of this season remind other posters of last year?

2017:
· Game 1 debacle in Edmonton in which not one player other than Smith showed up.
· Game 2 home-opener shaky defensive start against Winnipeg, but culminates in a big win with lots of scoring.
· Game 3 shutout in Anaheim in which Smith was stellar.

2018:
· Game 1 disappointing loss to probably the worst team in the NHL.
· Game 2 home-opener shaky defensive start that culminates in a dominant win.
· Game 3 shutout against a top-five team; Smith was great, but they won also on the strength of a terrific forecheck and balanced attack.

It's a bit eerie, but there are some encouraging differences:
· Most notably, the Flames are playing ALOT faster, and I would add to this that their forecheck has been dynamite most nights.
· I think that while Games 1 and 2 featured a handful of colossal zone-breakdowns, the Flames as a whole have looked generally better and much more poised defensively.
· Perhaps the most encouraging thing to me is the way this team is pushing back: In game 1 after trailing by a couple goals, the Flames mounted a pretty notable pushback. But last night is where I saw this most obviously: in the Game #3 win in Anaheim the Flames crumbled in the third period, and it honestly felt like a bit of a miracle that they escaped the final 10 mins of that game without surrendering a goal. Last night was a completely different story. Nashville made a big push in the second period on the strength of a full 2 min. 5-on-3, but in the third period the Flames came out and carried the play in the first 5–7 mins. I know the numbers show that the Predators had a distinct zone-advantage in the third, but it never felt last night that the Flames were white-knuckling their way to victory with a narrow lead. I think they played pretty smart that whole game.

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf_Phan

Never said he was responsible for the win - but he was a positive factor for the team. I see opponents taking liberties on us when we don't have toughness in the lineup. NHL teams are smart and they'll find your weakness if you have one. Agree to disagree with you I guess.

Having a power play that's finally clicking must have at least as much to do with deterring dirtiness as having a tough guy in the lineup does.

[jessnuts]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Can we conclude his name is “Wade”?

I believe this is Bort, and he just found out there are no more novelty license plates for him