[PGT] Flames win 6-3 over Vegas!

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

Vegas does rely heavily on Fleury, that is true. But to write them off as a non threat in the playoffs is dangerous. They are a very fast team and we saw how deadly they can be off the rush last night. And in Vegas, in front of that crowd, there isnt a team that would have a tough time winning there.
I think the Flames are the better team, and I think they’d pull out a best of 7, but a combination of Fleury, and playing in that building would make it a scary series in my opinion

VGK has lost more home games than the Calgary Flames, and they are a 0.500 team on the road. It would be a tight series without question, but the Flames are the scariest of the two teams. And while Fleury is a wildcard for the Knights, he has played a tonne of games this year. Most goalies are spent by around Game #80—Fleury is most likely going to get there by the second round.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

VGK has lost more home games than the Calgary Flames, and they are a 0.500 team on the road. It would be a tight series without question, but the Flames are the scariest of the two teams. And while Fleury is a wildcard for the Knights, he has played a tonne of games this year. Most goalies are spent by around Game #80—Fleury is most likely going to get there by the second round.

And Fleury is the epitome of hot/cold, you don't know what you're going to get.

People talk about him in fear, but his numbers are pretty average this year. He's either shutting you out or getting destroyed.

He's 24th in save percentage, 19th in GSAA, 54th in high danger save percentage, and 24th in his quality start % at .569.

I think the fact that he leads the league in shut outs is more damning than flattering when you see his numbers.

[The Yen Man]

While I'd prefer Flames playing a team like the Coyotes or the Wild, I have no problem playing Vegas if Flames end up second in the division. The x-factor with Vegas has always been Fleury, but they're just running the guy ragged, so who knows if he loses steam by the time playoffs start. The rest of the team doesn't scare me. Flames can go toe to toe with them no problem.

As mentioned though, it'd be preferable to finish first just for the sole reason of Vegas and San Jose playing each other, and one of them seeing an early exit.

[Duffalufagus]

I think they can beat Vegas, but it would be a really tough series that could go either way.

I love their chances to beat any of the wildcard teams and, like others have noted, Vegas gives the Sharks all kinds of trouble.

A Flames Sharks second round series would be epic. We need to get home ice. Big win streak coming up with the top-line igniting. please.

[Imported_Aussie]

I think the top line is worth persisting with, but they need to go over the tape to see how to break out of this slump. They ran teams ragged early on, but to me it looks like they have been "solved" and this results in Gaudreau trying to do too much and Monahan not being a factor.
They need to work out some different zone entries and offensive zone plays, perhaps using Lindholm as a puck carrier more often
If it really stalls, you could try moving Lindholm to centre and bringing Neal back, when fit, to that wing. Then Monahan centering Bennett and Mangiapane/Czarnik and Jankowski as 4LW. I just don't want Peters to break up the 3M line: having a 2 way line that can score will be vital when games get tighter

[corporatejay]

I watch somewhere around 100 NHL games and year and I couldn't tell you what the rule is on goalie interference. Just a complete disaster of a rule right now.

[sa226]

Monahan isn't particularly noticeable, even when he is playing well. I have made a bit of a point of watching him more because of the struggles and my criticism would be that maybe he is trying to do too much. Which sounds crazy. He's getting to the areas he needs to be and skating how he should be. A couple boneheaded decisions, I think can be attributed to trying too hard to get out of the slump.

Gaudreau is pushing, everyone can see it, but sometimes he has "trying too hard itis" When he does, he makes extremely high risk plays. I do feel like he is starting to come around. The plays that were there in November, just aren't anymore. It looks like he is starting to fins his way.

To me partly, Lindholm is dragging the line down a bit. What has made that line dangerous was the added puck possession skills of Lindholm. That line owned the puck. To me he is having just as hard of a time fighting to find space as the other two. Last night I didn't think he was particularly good. That line needs him, just as much as they need Gaudreau. Otherwise the dynamics of how they play reverts back to the revolving wingers from years passed.

The name quality on the 3M line doesn't really scream 2nd scoring line. But man oh man, when Frolik can just be the smart veteran he is and support the play of the other 2 they can be so good. The way they play is built for playoff hockey.

I would prefer to avoid Vegas, but they don't really scare me. They have a really solid lineup, but their top end players aren't really elite. In my opinion. Patches, Stastny, Karlsson and now with the addition of Stone, are all really good. But I can see their top end guys being outmatched by more elite offensive players. Where their scorers are spending more time checking than scoring. Leaving it up to the bottom 6. Which is really good as well.

X factors for Vegas to me are:

A hot Fleury
Home record (If they can steal one on the road, thats a tough out.)
Experience. (They're not just a plucky bunch anymore, but their secondary players are all battle tested from a long run, that can't be discounted)

[Bingo]

Chart I put up on Twitter showing Monahan.

Looks like he's about to come out of it.

[twitter]1105146713449279489[/twitter]



https://twitter.com/calgarypuckcom/s...46713449279489

[calf]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Hamonic is the modern day Regehr. An absolute warrior, the heart of a champion, and somebody you don't want to run into in the corners.

He needs to find himself a Hemsky

[SmoggyFlamesFan]

The flames have officially played 69 games this season. Nice.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by sa226

Monahan isn't particularly noticeable, even when he is playing well. I have made a bit of a point of watching him more because of the struggles and my criticism would be that maybe he is trying to do too much. Which sounds crazy. He's getting to the areas he needs to be and skating how he should be. A couple boneheaded decisions, I think can be attributed to trying too hard to get out of the slump.

Gaudreau is pushing, everyone can see it, but sometimes he has "trying too hard itis" When he does, he makes extremely high risk plays. I do feel like he is starting to come around. The plays that were there in November, just aren't anymore. It looks like he is starting to fins his way.

To me partly, Lindholm is dragging the line down a bit. What has made that line dangerous was the added puck possession skills of Lindholm. That line owned the puck. To me he is having just as hard of a time fighting to find space as the other two. Last night I didn't think he was particularly good. That line needs him, just as much as they need Gaudreau. Otherwise the dynamics of how they play reverts back to the revolving wingers from years passed.

The name quality on the 3M line doesn't really scream 2nd scoring line. But man oh man, when Frolik can just be the smart veteran he is and support the play of the other 2 they can be so good. The way they play is built for playoff hockey.

I would prefer to avoid Vegas, but they don't really scare me. They have a really solid lineup, but their top end players aren't really elite. In my opinion. Patches, Stastny, Karlsson and now with the addition of Stone, are all really good. But I can see their top end guys being outmatched by more elite offensive players. Where their scorers are spending more time checking than scoring. Leaving it up to the bottom 6. Which is really good as well.

X factors for Vegas to me are:

A hot Fleury
Home record (If they can steal one on the road, thats a tough out.)
Experience. (They're not just a plucky bunch anymore, but their secondary players are all battle tested from a long run, that can't be discounted)

I agree with the line one analysis. I don't see Monahan struggling as much as most here - I see it more with Lindholm. Monahan is playing his game but not getting the pcuk or getting it too late because guys are really keying on Johnny. That's where Lindholm came in earlier - he could carry the puck and make passes as well. Plus, Lindholm excelled at digging the puck, getting turnovers etc. He hasn't been as good at that (and Tkachuk wasn't any better on that line). Lindholm hasn't opened himself up for the cross ice pass either. That used to give Gaudreau two options for shooters.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Chart I put up on Twitter showing Monahan.

Looks like he's about to come out of it.

[twitter]1105146713449279489[/twitter]



https://twitter.com/calgarypuckcom/s...46713449279489

One question on the chart, Bingo...

Monahan is over a point a game for the season, yet looks to be below 5 points most of the time on the chart (2 or 3 usually).

[Eubee]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K0FB_jYo-cc

NSFW

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

One question on the chart, Bingo...

Monahan is over a point a game for the season, yet looks to be below 5 points most of the time on the chart (2 or 3 usually).

Five on five only.

The PP production hasn't waned

[Toonage]

Anyone listening to 960 right now? Can someone tell me what in the blue hell Lou is going on about?

Didn't know where to out this, it sort of involves yesterday's game, but its borderline bizarre. He's taken it upon himself to ask the host questions but its going nowhere and I have no idea what point it is he's trying to make.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I said it on Wednesday night, and it bears repeating: VGK is NOT scary. The Flames have looked like the much better team in all four games they have played this year, despite losing both games in Vegas by the slimmest of margins.

I don’t know why people are freaking out about them. I like the Flames chances in a playoff series to beat them—with or without home ice advantage.

Excellent game last night.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This worries me lol. You say the same thing about the Sharks and they've continued to prove your hockey opinions to be quite off. Hope you're right this time...

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by activeStick

This worries me lol. You say the same thing about the Sharks and they've continued to prove your hockey opinions to be quite off. Hope you're right this time...

The Sharks have spent a grand total of three days in first place in the Pacific Division all season. They have proved nothing.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The Sharks have spent a grand total of three days in first place in the Pacific Division all season. They have proved nothing.

That is true, but your assertion going back to last year was that the Sharks time near the top of the west was done. Them not having proved nothing has nothing to do with what you've been saying... Regardless, hope you're right about Vegas

[jayswin]

I always figured Text was kind of playing a character when it comes to his take on other teams. If everything worked out like he predicted with all our rivals there'd be 15 teams at 80 points at the end of the year in the West.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by activeStick

That is true, but your assertion going back to last year was that the Sharks time near the top of the west was done. Them not having proved nothing has nothing to do with what you've been saying... Regardless, hope you're right about Vegas

Yeah, like most people I am terrible at predicting the future. This should not be remotely surprising. I still think that SJ is poised for a fall. It hasn't happened yet this season, but it's coming. They have a pile of old players, very few high end prospects, and almost no draft picks.

The fall is coming.