[PGT] Avs 6 Flames 2

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Monahan is the biggest concern to me.

Does anyone have any inside knowledge of what is going on with him? Because this is not the same player we saw in November/December.

I have never seen him look so ineffective.

No idea. I know everyone assumes he's injured, but he had those 2 amazing games against New Jersey and Anaheim in the final few weeks of the season, so personally I think it's an effort thing, or maybe he's just not built for the playoffs. For a big guy, he shys away from contact a lot and doesn't seem willing to take a hit to make a play. His back checks irk me the most though. Slow and forgets to cover his man a lot.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Flames have no answers for MacKinnon.

Was thinking the same thing as a poster above who compared him to 2004 Iginla.

He is carrying the Avs on his back right through the Flames defense. What a performance.

The Flames depth is supposed to at least put them on top for the 35 min where MacKinnon is not on the ice.

That’s a problem.

Now MacKinnon is playing so well that they have no answer for JT Compher

For that matter, the Avs taking the Flames lightly enough to play Makar should be bulletin board material

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Yup, I watch every Flames game I can and have done so since day one. I appreciate your opinion but respectfully disagree. MacKinnon is their super star. Gaudreau is supposed to be ours, not Monahan. Johnny couldn't carry Mac's equipment bag when it comes to effort. I said once before that we should move Gaudreau to another line. Put him with speed and toughness. I'd try Hathaway and Tkachuk. I'd also sit Jankowski and Neil. Czarnik and Dube could replace the lack of effort those two have displayed. I also wonder if Lindholm is being over played. He gets a regular shift, is on the power play and penalty kill.

For me right now, I see the effort from Gaudreau which is something I'm not seeing from Monahan. Gaudreau clearly has physical limitations in his game, but the expectation for him to do all the heavy lifting and create virtually all the offense all time is very very difficult. Monahan and Lindholm need to pick it up in this area IMO. Personally, I'd put Gaudreau with Ryan at this point because the 2 can keep up with another and Ryan is excellent defensively.

[Ashasx]

nm

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Monahan has lost his mojo offensively. But his play without the puck in this series is the same as it's always been - extremely weak. My sense is he's just one of those players who feels his job, his only job, is to score goals. If Peters can't light a fire under him, we'll just have to accept that's who Monahan is.

Well if this is the case the Flames have a desperate need for a legitimate number one centre then. A top line centre either needs to be someone who drives the play and dictates the pace of the game and/or be extremely defensively responsible while producing offence like a Kopitar or Bergeron. Right now Monahan is none of those.

Usually I feel optimistic about a team coming back from a 2-1 deficit, especially the team i cheer for. This feels different though. The Flames just don’t look good at all and I’m not seeing much indicating a turnaround. Personally I think the Flames are ####ed.

[Coach]

I think Gaudreau just doesn't know where to go right now. He's being physically closed in, and his usual weapons (linemates) have been cold for more than a month. We wonder why he missed seeing a wide open Monahan in game 2? He's been feeding him gimmes since the trade deadline with nothing to show for it. And Lindholm? Where is he? Is he even in the zone? The defensemen are better targets. And by the time his brain has made this calculation his result is a giveaway.

I think putting Bennett on his other side would give him a little more confidence to drive to the middle of the ice a bit more. We need Gaudreau to find the level Mackinnon has. He's done it before, there's no reason he cant. And he might keep us alive for a round (if Smith continues to hold up). But if the Flames want to do as well as expected, Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm will need to be a thing.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Too much radical change being bandied about. Comments from the players and coaches spot on. Up the compete level first and foremost. Then play your game. Stick together but play your game.

There has to be zip in their play. It’s gotta be just a fast aggressive style of hockey. I believe in them. CGY has a lot to give.

[Toonage]

If I can make predictions based on what I think Peters will do, and not necessarily my own feelings I'd say we see small changes.

Valimaki & Czarnik come in. Fantenberg & Neal come out.

Brodie goes back to playing with Gio.

Smith stays in the net.

We start with our usual lines and go from there. Curious to see if anything comes from the media availability this afternoon.

[RogerWilco]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Too much radical change being bandied about. Comments from the players and coaches spot on. Up the compete level first and foremost. Then play your game. Stick together but play your game.

There has to be zip in their play. It’s gotta be just a fast aggressive style of hockey. I believe in them. CGY has a lot to give.

...and stay out of the penalty box!!!

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Exhibit A on why hockey players don't like playing in Canada.

What an embarrassing post.

You are not entirely wrong. Was out of lingering anger from last night's debacle.

I did re-watch those plays that directly resulted in COL goals. I would not suggest you do the same.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Toonage

If I can make predictions based on what I think Peters will do, and not necessarily my own feelings I'd say we see small changes.

Valimaki & Czarnik come in. Fantenberg & Neal come out.

Brodie goes back to playing with Gio.

Smith stays in the net.

We start with our usual lines and go from there. Curious to see if anything comes from the media availability this afternoon.

I don't see Neal sitting. I think if anyone it would be Janko.

Brodie I can see coming out, he had a pretty rough game. Valimaki and Kylington could come in.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Toonage

If I can make predictions based on what I think Peters will do, and not necessarily my own feelings I'd say we see small changes.

Valimaki & Czarnik come in. Fantenberg & Neal come out.

Brodie goes back to playing with Gio.

Smith stays in the net.

We start with our usual lines and go from there. Curious to see if anything comes from the media availability this afternoon.

I would welcome all those moves except for the usual lines, they have needed a shakeup for months.

I also think we need to bring back the long bomb stretch pass. Haven't seen it all series and it could break the Avs' mojo.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I don't see Neal sitting. I think if anyone it would be Janko.

Brodie I can see coming out, he had a pretty rough game. Valimaki and Kylington could come in.

I only think Neal will come out after watching that chat he had with Peters yesterday. No idea what they were saying but it was pretty animated. Neal didn't look happy and Peters' (while they didn't show his face) body language suggested the same.

Brodie could absolutely come out, but I think they covet the speed and experience (and accept the warts). Kylington has speed, but I don't see them bringing Valimaki in and then another rookie to go along with him and Andersson in Kylington.

But who knows. Could go with the exact same lineup as yesterday. Ultimately it doesn't matter who is in, its the effort that needs to change first and foremost.

[Strange Brew]

Of all the things that could happen, I feel confident saying:

Neal won't sit
Kylington won't draw in

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

You are not entirely wrong. Was out of lingering anger from last night's debacle.

I did re-watch those plays that directly resulted in COL goals. I would not suggest you do the same.

Sorry I shouldn't have been so blunt. I get it though. Being a fan is tough some times.

deleted my post

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Toonage

But who knows. Could go with the exact same lineup as yesterday. Ultimately it doesn't matter who is in, its the effort that needs to change first and foremost.

That's the hard decision before Peters. Do you trust your starting guys will up the effort and complete level necessary to win game 4? Or do you give the young guys a chance in hopes they will come out like a hungry pack of dogs.

If you wait until game 5 to bring in fresh bodies, it may be too little, too late. Hopefully he knows his guys well enough to make the right call.

[Mayo]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I only think Neal will come out after watching that chat he had with Peters yesterday. No idea what they were saying but it was pretty animated. Neal didn't look happy and Peters' (while they didn't show his face) body language suggested the same.

Brodie could absolutely come out, but I think they covet the speed and experience (and accept the warts). Kylington has speed, but I don't see them bringing Valimaki in and then another rookie to go along with him and Andersson in Kylington.

But who knows. Could go with the exact same lineup as yesterday. Ultimately it doesn't matter who is in, its the effort that needs to change first and foremost.

Is Kylington a very physical player? From watching Kylington play this season I recall him being pretty offensively minded and fast, but prone to mistakes. Very similar to Brodie...IMO the only edge Kylington could bring to the game over Brodie is physicality. But then you lose chemistry with Gio. I'm not sold on Kylington over Brodie.

Definitely agree with swapping Neal with a quicker player, even considering Neal was noticeably better last night.

[CaptainYooh]

Guys, does anyone know a way to watch Peters’ post-game interview online?

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Sorry I shouldn't have been so blunt. I get it though. Being a fan is tough some times.

deleted my post

You are a good man. I did the same.

Hoping for a big turn in Game 4!

[NewFan]

One thing I noticed yesterday that, Flames very few times skated out with puck of their zone. D stuck own zone or just shoot to center for a tip. Need more help from Forwards.
And I put Jankowski with Gaudreau and Lindholm. Our 1st line was the weak link against McKinnon, so Jankowski and Lindholm may help to slow their big guys a little bit as these two plays well in PK.
Scratch Neal. Put Czar with Backlund and Tkachuk and hope that is our scoring line to get some goals.
Bennett-Monahan-Frolik needs to outscore matching lines or at least have some circle going in O zone.
Put Brodie with Gio on 5 on 5, but put Hanifin in PP2 instead of Brodie.
Valimaki with Andersen. Valimaki will help to get some goals.