[PGT] Flames lose 3-2 in Montreal

[Dion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1054919405014986753

[Wolfman]

After the effort on that road trip, it's time of a wake up call.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

This game was a continuation of what we’ve seen from opening night. The defence is bad. Not average, bad.

Hanafun has been okay, but is a downgrade from Hamilton. You’re fooling yourself if you think otherwise. Brodie has not rebounded by playing with Gio. Stone doesn’t make the roster of any other playoff team. The kids have been good. But good for guys expected to play 10-15 minutes a game.

This team struggles to move the puck. They give up a ton of shots. The bottom six is better than last year, but marginally given the upgrade of on-paper talent.

Smith has been brutal. Rittich stole two points for us but is a backup.

In my view, so far we are looking at the same team we’ve always had. A borderline playoff team.

Defensively, yes, they've been bad. Way too many grade A chances and shots given up. But offensively they've been one of the highest scoring teams in the league so far, and when they use their speed and get their forecheck going, they've looked absolutely deadly. If they can tighten up the D and get the PP going, they'll be fine.

They were thoroughly embarrassed tonight and I'm sure the coaching staff tore a strip off them after this game. I think we'll see a much better effort against the Pens on Thursday.

[Savvy27]

Some positives:

-Backlund's playmaking and his overall pushback in the third. A couple of great passes for his assists and he was a leader out there.
-Rittich held the fort for a long time out there and who knows what would have happened in the game if Neal would have scored on one of his chances. He looked calm and made some great saves. The third goal was a really quick release and I think Drouin scores there on a lot of goalies in the league.
-Bennett looked pretty decent yet again. Love the battle he brings out there.
-Lindholm woke up in the third period and made some quality plays.
-Andersson again looked like a promising NHL defenceman.
-Matthew Tkachuk is so good and such a leader. He was one of the first guys that won battles and turned the tide a bit.

Negatives:
-Monahan's worst game of the year... looked hungover and behind the game all night.
-Hanifin with an enormous number of giveaways
-Gaudreau didn't seem to have it tonight either. First line was real bad.
-Gallagher was unbelievably effective, which is frustrating to see.

[FireGilbert]

I only caught the 3rd. If that was the Flames best period then I feel sorry for everyone who watched the 1st and 2nd.

[Rtown]

Man is Montreal ever a bunch of dirty D-bags

Man are the Flames still a bunch of soft bitches.

Man I wish the Flames played like the Habs.

[AC]

@WesGilbertson
#Flames alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk: “That’s an embarrassing effort. That’s a bad way to play.”

[TheChief]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Unlike Neal and Ryan, Monahan has a long track record of excellent play for this team. What, are you part of that pitiful group that thinks he only scores "garbage goals"?

Did you watch the game!


Brouwer had a history of scoring 15 plus goals a year before he joined this team, he had a.....history of excellent play.



Hockey is what have you done for me lately. Guys are paid big MONEY and should not be immune to criticism for poor play.



Monahan is not helping this team at all playing like he did tonight! I believe the position of "centre" comes with the most defensive responsibilities of the forward positions! When this guy is floating back and not picking up his man and the line is one of the worst in the league defensively what does that tell you.

[TheScorpion]

One of the things that always frustrates me about the Flames is that they can never seem to be good enough to lose in overtime. It was like this last year, too -- whenever they lost, it was always in regulation.

I know I'd rather they be 5-2-2 or 5-3-1 right now than 5-4-0.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I kind of thought we would be a borderline playoff team though so it's about par for the course. Did you think they were all of a sudden better than Vegas or San Jose who picked up Karlsson?

I was hopeful a change in coaching and big upgrades up front would mean they would solidly in a playoff position. I was worried about the d, and Brodie specifically.

But, to your point, no. I am not shocked or anything. Just disappointed. I just dont see a really good hockey team here.

[Kybb79]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Unlike Neal and Ryan, Monahan has a long track record of excellent play for this team. What, are you part of that pitiful group that thinks he only scores "garbage goals"?

Hard to argue with someone who can't see how bad Brodie is too.

[tvp2003]

Can they take the train back home, maybe have a couple of beers and figure it out?

Oh wait, that was the last coach. Hope Peters can get this team out of the funk they’re in — shake up the lines, get Monahan and Gaudreau going, wake up Neal.

[kermitology]

Time to start a Calgary is No Good thread. What an awful defensive play this team has outside of the 3M line.

Woof. This team needs a massive change to clean that up. What garbage.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by TheChief

Did you watch the game!


Brouwer had a history of scoring 15 plus goals a year before he joined this team, he had a.....history of excellent play.



Hockey is what have you done for me lately. Guys are paid big MONEY and should not be immune to criticism for poor play.



Monahan is not helping this team at all playing like he did tonight! I believe the position of "centre" comes with the most defensive responsibilities of the forward positions! When this guy is floating back and not picking up his man and the line is one of the worst in the league defensively what does that tell you.

[TFF]

Sit Ryan... and separate Johnny/Monahan for a few

Gaudreau Lindholm Tkachuk
Bennett Backlund Neal
Czarnik Monahan Frolik
Same 4th line

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by NewFan

Everybody is so passive.... some other words

this is what the NHL regular season is now though. It's kind of weird how passive it is (or at least looks). It's been like this for awhile where in the season the intensity is kind of down and then in playoffs intensity rises dramatically and the rules aren't called anymore for some reason.

It seems to be slightly worse now more than ever. I don't think it's just the Flames either. It's kind of a boring sport and lifeless when you remove the physicality and everyone's afraid of suspensions. A solid body check gets you a fight with the other team, like Andersson the other night with the Rangers. Why was that almost a bench clearing brawl? Honestly? Nobody knows what is a fair hit or what isn't. The game at this speed, you can't split hairs the way people do on each millisecond of a hit.

If there aren't the hits or physicality the game just seems so lifeless. And the Flames are one of the worst teams for this. No push back, or intensity, or give a care. Just millionaires floating around collecting their paycheques. I have been thinking about going to watch the Hitmen or something. I suspect the caring rises dramatically and by extension the sport is probably far more interesting to watch. After all once you've "made it" and your pay is guaranteed, what really is there to care about anymore?

For most of these guys winning isn't enough to motivate them, or doesn't seem to be. Neal is the perfect example. He signed his retirement contract and now he's not really too interested in working anymore. I guess I could take those couple extra strides but meh, there's always next game. What's that? My teammate just got mauled? Meh, next game.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Kybb79

Hard to argue with someone who can't see how bad Brodie is too.

I'm not arguing that Brodie has been anything better than slightly-above-average in general, and that his (terrible) mistakes often seem to overshadow his otherwise steady play.

I'm arguing that Hanifin is much, much worse and should sit first.

[TheChief]

Wait a second. Your saying that Hanifin has been worse then Brodie?


IM OUT PEACE!!!!!

[heep223]

I still just can’t believe that there was no penalty on the Gaudreau hit. What in God’s name is going on out there.

[Saint Troy]

Going to have a few beers and try to forget that happened, just a gutless, lethargic effort by so many tonight.