[PGT] Flames Win Home Opener 5-3!

[SportsJunky]

From an Athletic article today. Talking about Lindholm's faceoff skill.

Lindholm won 857 faceoffs last season — the sixth most in the NHL — while succeeding on 55.7 percent of his draws. He’s elite at that aspect of the game.

He went 21-for-25 against Winnipeg on Wednesday, including the post-icing faceoff that led to Calgary’s game-winning goal. It was an absolute clinic against a team that knows it’s going to be in tough in the faceoff circle.

Not a single Jets centre finished above 50 percent on Wednesday: Scheifele won 13 of 27. Kupari won six of 16. Perfetti won three of 11, while Adam Lowry won eight of 20.

[GioforPM]

Namstnikov sure set himself up for that Zadorov hit. Backing into the zone like that? I wonder if Zad had something to say in Russian afterwards.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Namstnikov sure set himself up for that Zadorov hit. Backing into the zone like that? I wonder if Zad had something to say in Russian afterwards.

I always loved this guys name. It’s like a generic EA sports Russian name. Name…stnikov

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I always loved this guys name. It’s like a generic EA sports Russian name. Name…stnikov

I misspelled it but I’m not editing - I’d just screw it up again

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I think it’s more of a natural byproduct of playing zone defense as opposed to playing man on man. If you’re going to look to defend the house more, then the opposition will likely end up with more open looks, but from the outside. The team’s analytics will definitely take a hit, but who knows, Markstrom might be more effective with that style.

Secondly, I think the turnovers had more to do with the team’s lack of success breaking out than the way they defended. It’s still early though and there’s definitely some chemistry issues that’s for sure.

The turnovers - at least quite a few of them - came from rather stupid blind passes. Huberdeau made one from behind his net, blind behind his back to "someone" who wasn't there...and Jets got a great chance. That one sticks out. There were a few others as well. Clean that crap up and the breakouts look a hell of a lot better.

I thought the ice was terrible tonight - especially at the start of the third. The puck was bouncing everywhere for both teams...very scrambly hockey, with no fluidity at all.

I liked the pace, the speed the attack mentality of the Flames and the PPs (both!) looked decent. Rusty, but decent. Fast movement...or at least faster than the stand still and see what happens from last year.

Marky? Just keep 'er going.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I mentioned this a few times in the game, but you can tell that guys just aren't sure where to be yet in the D-zone, and that hesitation or skating slightly the wrong way is giving openings to the attackers. That will get cleaned up as the season goes on, I know that Huska can get them to play the system he wants defensively. I can see signs of what they want to do offensively, but again, a work in progress. Plays to the middle, creativity to confuse the defense, bodies to the net when possible. It all makes sense and isn't a perimeter style of offense. The powerplay looks a lot better so far, so that's encouraging.

However, there shouldn't be a lot of judgement about this team's level of play until about game 10. It's gonna take some real game action for a lot of these guys to adjust to the new system, and even after game 10, mistakes are still going to happen for a bit. I just hope that Marky continues to be strong to start the year while they figure it out.

The good news is that they now go on the road for almost 2 weeks against a group of teams that aren't locks to be in the playoffs this year. Pittsburgh, Washington, Buffalo, Columbus, Detroit. A couple of extra days in between games to practice these systems. No distractions from home life. It's the perfect recipe for fine tuning their game. Let's hope they take advantage of the favorable schedule to start the year.

So....wonder if Johnny will have a group over for dinner this year....?

[btimbit]

Watched what I could when I was at work so don't have many thoughts, other than 'Huh, well Mangiapane's shoulder surgery clearly went well'

Great game from Eat Bread

[Buff]

[just_tim]

Happy to see a reversal of last season’s trends. Emotional on many levels for the team (season opener on home ice, jacked fans, Snowy’s family with the puck drop, funeral today) so hard to take anything from this one. Chalk up a win and move on - glad to know it’s a 5 game roadie next.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by AC

Ah yes, the ol' "Requiem for a Dream" play.

My immediate thought as well…

[bax]

Not a pretty game and definitely some kinks to work out, but the big boys showed up when it mattered the most!

Markstrom was awesome. Sometimes all you need to do is win the goalie battle and the special teams battle.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Namstnikov sure set himself up for that Zadorov hit. Backing into the zone like that? I wonder if Zad had something to say in Russian afterwards.

"Eff Putin!"

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Namstnikov sure set himself up for that Zadorov hit. Backing into the zone like that? I wonder if Zad had something to say in Russian afterwards.

It was even stupider, he was backing out of his defensive zone. Didn't look up ice at all. He got what he deserved.

[Huntingwhale]

Spoiler!

Well that was swell! Great to see Markstrom have a pretty solid game even though he let in one that had the season flashing before my eyes. But you can let one in like that as long as you make some you aren't supposed to make, and he certainly did that. Markstrom gives me hope...for now.

Thought the team played with good pace and it was an exciting game to watch. Good to see the big guns show up on the scoresheet.

[rogermexico]

I know that the Kadri-Yegor-Coronato line got caved in analytics wise and on the score sheet, but I liked what I saw out of them. It feels like they've got a good mix of skills and Coronato made some nice plays. He and Kadri seemed like a fit to me.

[Galakanokis]

Lots to like and lots to dislike. Fun to see them out there skating hard and not giving up. They sat back on that lead and the turnovers cost them there but they didn't wilt and responded with some good shifts. I thought for sure we were losing that in overtime.

I actually like the make up of that Jets team. Decent skill and excellent depth. Maybe I am over rating some of their players but I see no way that they are not a strong playoff contender. They look like a better Flames team to me so it was nice to see the Flames come out and battle hard. Sloppy at times but easy to fix that.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Holy crap that was a great game by Markstrom and Zadorov!

Zad Smash is a thing!

I agree, we should have signed Zadorov in the off season. If he keeps this up he will be worth more than 5M!

[rooster]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Kadri was out chanced 20-2 at five on five tonight. Yikes.

Really nice to see the top line step up when needed. Take the two points and keep building on it.

That's surprising, I thought he really made some nice passes and played pretty good.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I recall at least 2 or 3 times tonight where the puck was in an open area in the defensive zone and two Flames took a quick glance at each other to see who was going after it. They're definitely still not dialed in to the system Huska wants, but that should come in time.

They'll be better defensively, hopefully sooner than later. They are still unsure at times and that won't happen nearly as much once they are comfortable. The giveaways should lessen starting next game, that was a huge issue tonight.

Good signs for me were the PP, the 4th line, and of course Markstrom was great. Good building blocks. I think a road trip will do the team a world of good. Just get away from home and concentrate on hockey. Next time they play at home I'm expecting a much better team game.

Agreed, several time players almost ran into each other, "whoa, what are you doing here" style. That is the kind of stuff that will get ironed out over a few games.

[GUnit]

What a game, Oesterle needs to remember he's a dman but it was refreshing to be on the other side of being outshot and winning