[PGT] Anemic offense, Flames lose 2-1

[motorcrosser]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

I can honestly say a young Theoren Fleury would have made Johnny look like he was on the wrong planet. If Theo was on that ice today the team would have been flying... emotionally! Too many players on this team playing casual hockey.

Kids today making their millions...

[nieuwy-89]

I’m not giving up hope, but let’s face it - this franchise in general, and this core specifically, have a history of playoff failure. A Game 7 series win seems improbable.

There is plenty of blame to go around. But the guy I’m most disappointed in is Captain Giordano.

He has never won a playoff series. I would have thought that with his history he would understand that playoff runs are rare. I thought after last year’s debacle he would be hungry.

Instead, he looks like the absolute shell of a Norris winner. His leadership by example this series has mostly consisted of shooting wide, making bad giveaways, and taking stupid penalties. He is at best our fourth best defenceman this series, and is being absolutely outclassed by Dallas’s top four defencemen.

I’m such a fan of his, but I’m hugely disappointed in him.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Reider's speed has been giving the Stars problems all series...wasn't surprised to see him there and it was one of the Flames better periods of the series

IMO one of the Flames issues is that they have too many guys that don’t play big and/or aren’t overly quick.

In the playoffs the NHL becomes a different sport and being a guy that has physical qualities like size and speed starts to become more important than say hockey sense.

Why is the third line good?

Lucic: Big and plays big
Bennett: Not big, but skates well and plays big
Dube: Great skater

But what other players really have that skill set for the playoffs.

Gaudreau: Small and honestly hasn’t looked dynamic as a skater this year
Monahan: Doesn’t skate well or play big but will go to dirty areas
Lindholm: Can play physical and skates okay but hasn’t brought it in the playoffs

Mangiapane: Small, tries to play big, but isn’t the best skater
Backlund: Skates well, throws the odd hit but doesn’t play big consistently
Tkachuk: Doesn’t skate well, but will use his size and body

Reider: Skates really well and has been good this series
Ryan: Okay skater but not big, relies on hockey sense
Janko/Quine/Rinaldo: Borderline NHLers

Honestly it’s an issue with the NHL playoffs and it seems that guys that usually rely on hockey sense to be effective (Gaudreau, Monahan, Giordano, Ryan, Mangiapane) can be nullified by guys that are big and quick.

So as a whole the Flames aren’t overly big as a team, and really don’t look quick as skaters, and come playoff time they just get overmatched.

It’s also where I think coaching needs to help overcome some of the individual player deficiencies with better line combos.

If Tkachuk is healthy next game I want to see:

Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm: This should be our best 200ft line
Gaudreau - Bennett - Lucic: Gaudreau can’t find room on the ice, let’s put him with two guys that can make room.
Dube - Monahan - Reider: Puts Monahan who is a poor skater with two guys with speed to burn
Mangiapane-Ryan-Jankowski: Mangiapane and Ryan were great as a pair last season, let’s try to get them a favourable match up and see if they can take advantage .

[zamler]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

I can honestly say a young Theoren Fleury would have made Johnny look like he was on the wrong planet. If Theo was on that ice today the team would have been flying... emotionally! Too many players on this team playing casual hockey.

I guess we'll never know but I want to know, is Gaudreau simply very unhappy being a Calgary Flame? He wants out? Or is he above hard work and mucking it up? Is his confidence shot? At minimum I'd like to see some passion in his game, even if he is sucking at it.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dino7c

As usual people are just assuming every top coach wants to come here like every UFA

True, it’s a tough sell - but money talks. If you can’t convince him, how about just finding a good up and coming coach for once.

Gully was a failed head coach being given a 2nd chance.

Peters? A failed (and hated) head coach being given a 2nd chance.

Enough of that !@#$. If you can’t attract one of the top coaches, do a better job at selecting one of the up and coming ones. Not the complete cast-off crap Tree has hired to this point.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Well have to wait as 2020 just wasn't our year.

As Gelinas would say "Rinse an repeat".

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Flames since winning cup:
90: 1st round exit
91: 1st round exit
92: 1st round exit
93: 1st round exit
94: 1st round exit
95: 1st round exit
96: 1st round exit
97: no playoffs
98: no playoffs
99: no playoffs
00: no playoffs
01: no playoffs
02: no playoffs
03: no playoffs
04: finals!
06: 1st round exit
07: 1st round exit
08: 1st round exit
09: 1st round exit
10: no playoffs
11: no playoffs
12: no playoffs
13: no playoffs
14: no playoffs
15: 2nd round exit
16: no playoffs
17: 1st round exit
18: no playoffs
19: 1st round exit (#1 seed)
20: verge of 1st round exit

Guys, we know what happens next.

That is a damning record. This franchise has been one of the worst, if not the very worst, in the entire league for the past 30 years.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Makarov

That is a damning record. This franchise has been one of the worst, if not the very worst, in the entire league for the past 30 years.

WHOA WHOA whoa whoa... Let's not get out of hand here. Leave us never EVER forget, E=NG

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Makarov

That is a damning record. This franchise has been one of the worst, if not the very worst, in the entire league for the past 30 years.

Well no. Definitely not the very worst. Edmonton is far worse. The Jets/Coyotes are worse. Minnesota is worse. Columbus is worse. Florida is worse. Buffalo is worse. Nashville is worse. The Islanders are worse. Ottawa is worse. Atlanta/Winnipeg is worse. Toronto is worse. Vancouver is roughly on par.

Calgary's just been mediocre.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I see the exact opposite. I think Johnny is trying too much on his own and Lindy has been ok. Monahan has been downright terrible. Handles the puck like a grenade, soft along the boards, staying on the perimeter instead of in front of the net. I can't count the number of times in the offensive zone JG and Lindholm were in digging at pucks and there is Sean Monahan standing further back on the wall in no man's land watching. Just terrible.

Are you effing kidding me? Lindy has been ok.. Yeah if he was an Oiler. He is the REASON why we are down 3-2 and not up 3-2 right now. Down right garbage. And no you can't give him a reason for sucking tonight due to killing too many penalties... hahaha

[Two Fivenagame]

Originally Posted by Makarov

That is a damning record. This franchise has been one of the worst, if not the very worst, in the entire league for the past 30 years.

Maybe even a little.... No good?


*Runs and hides*

[Meers]

In the end, your top players have to perform.

That hasn't been the case yet this series. Chucky's injury has a lot to do with that, but good teams overcome injuries. Heck, the Blues have lost Tarasenko yet managed to come back with two wins.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by zamler

I guess we'll never know but I want to know, is Gaudreau simply very unhappy being a Calgary Flame? He wants out? Or is he above hard work and mucking it up? Is his confidence shot? At minimum I'd like to see some passion in his game, even if he is sucking at it.

Good question, 2 seasons in a row..., I wonder if there are other issues, late nights, Video games? They (Johnny and Mony) do seem tired, lacking, disinterested?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Two Fivenagame

Maybe even a little.... No good?


*Runs and hides*

Man we better not see a Calgary is No Good thread if they lose Game 6. That would be terribly silly.

[Two Fivenagame]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Man we better not see a Calgary is No Good thread if they lose Game 6. That would be terribly silly.

Honestly, it might be in the mail depending on how they do.

[zamler]

Ovechkin just scored the go ahead goal. That's what a leader does, stirs up #### and puts the team on his back.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by zamler

I guess we'll never know but I want to know, is Gaudreau simply very unhappy being a Calgary Flame? He wants out? Or is he above hard work and mucking it up? Is his confidence shot? At minimum I'd like to see some passion in his game, even if he is sucking at it.

I don't think it's a matter of effort level, at least on the ice.
I think it is
- Lack of willingness to commit to personal fitness levels, diet and building core strength. I don't think he needs to be a tank. He's not a small stocky guy like Theo, or Martin St. Louis. But he can still build overall strength and have a high fitness level
- Lack of commitment on the ice. Which I see as different than effort. It's having the mental strength and discipline to commit to how you need to play.

He's a guy that is amazing when he's feeling it and useless when he's not.

To me that's between the ears stuff.

[Two Fivenagame]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think it's a matter of effort level, at least on the ice.
I think it is
- Lack of willingness to commit to personal fitness levels, diet and building core strength. I don't think he needs to be a tank. He's a small stocky guy like Theo, or Martin St. Louis. But he can still build overall strength and have a high fitness level
- Lack of commitment on the ice. Which I see as different than effort. It's having the mental strength and discipline to commit to how you need to play.

He's a guy that is amazing when he's feeling it and useless when he's not.

To me that's between the ears stuff.

He and Bennett need to see a sport psychologist for the opposite reasons.

Bennett for the regular season.

Johnny for the post season.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by zamler

Ovechkin just scored the go ahead goal. That's what a leader does, stirs up #### and puts the team on his back.

I wish Gio was 1/10 of the player Ovi is in the playoffs.

That said Gio's slapper that went off the post today was prob the best shot he has taken from the point in the past 60 games.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Stats to back that up? Or are you pulling a Lowe? Visually the team look like ####?

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Well no. Definitely not the very worst. Edmonton is far worse. The Jets/Coyotes are worse. Minnesota is worse. Columbus is worse. Florida is worse. Buffalo is worse. Nashville is worse. The Islanders are worse. Ottawa is worse. Atlanta/Winnipeg is worse. Toronto is worse. Vancouver is roughly on par.

Calgary's just been mediocre.

There's no way Nashville has been worse. They haven't even been around for thirty years. Also, they've recently been to the Stanley Cup finals and several trips to the second round. So clearly more successful than the Flames.

I'm curious about the other franchises. I need to look into their records.