[PGT] Bolts 7 Flames 4. Flames blow a third-period lead and lose for the 6th straight game

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

We blow so many leads lately we’re turning into a north side girl at the Brier.

Ba dum bah.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I can certainly imagine Giordano and Brouwer. Perhaps not Monahan -- but I think he's more of the "lead by example" type, the quiet leader type. But again, that's all just speculation of course.

and.. how do you think other players feel when a veteran who was demoted to the 4th line starts yelling?! Do they really take him serious?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

It may ring hollow because of the loss but that was a good game by CGY offensively. They made a lot of plays especially at the offensive blueline and created so many quality chances.

Just needed to be a little cleaner in their end but both teams played o well. It was exciting and fun.

Smith probably wants a couple back but he's been great. That kind of offensive game with their normal tending and they are good.

I think he wants more than a couple back but overall I agree

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by pylon

Wait a sec. That’s cool too.

Care to share a sample of your work? I’m curious.

Nothing out there to be honest. I havent written for money since the mid 80's.

I used to do a bunch of game takes here years ago, dont know if they are still available or not.

[djsFlames]

I will reiterate that I think Smith is fine. I think the team allows too many ten bell quality scoring chances at key times in games (right after they tie a game, right after they pull ahead, start/end of periods etc). They may not give up a huge quantity, but the ones they do are of the almost sure-goal quality, and Smith saves a lot of them.

We shouldn't be giving those up to begin with, that's the thing.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by keenan87

and.. how do you think other players feel when a veteran who was demoted to the 4th line starts yelling?! Do they really take him serious?

I mean, he's certainly elevated his play lately. And I'd like to imagine that the players aren't petty enough to pull a "Mean Girls" on Brouwer.

"You can't sit with us anymore! Coach put you with Stajan!"

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by direwolf

What's most frustrating about this slump is that the Flames have actually played some really good hockey in each game for long stretches, and they've had the lead in most of them. Not to mention our goaltending has been lights out just about every night (except tonight).

For the first two periods tonight, the Flames were playing a really strong game and were holding their own against the best team in the league. If they can just somehow get over that mental hurdle of learning how to hang onto a lead (and improving the PP), they'll be very tough to beat. We've got a good competitive roster here that honestly should be fighting it out for tops in the division. It's infuriating that they can't seem to get it together.

I could not agree more. Well said.

[Manhattanboy]

Am sure the narcissist GG will come out with: "Ya this one was on Smitty. Needs to be better.."

[zamler]

Originally Posted by transplant99

The coach shouldnt have to consistently motivate players...thats insane.

These guys are paid a bucket load of money to be ready to play. Sure there times when a coach can get his team refocussed or throw a tantrum that gets their attention or just leave them alone when the time calls for it.

But to have to do it ALL the time? You have a whole bunch of the wrong players if that's the case.

You can nitpick the verbiage. So then at times motivate the players, for example when they go on a losing streak.

I think coaching is much more of a problem than the roster you believe the opposite. Fair enough.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Did anyone actually get off their feet and cheer when news broke that GG was hired?

I remember that day well. "Why did we just hire a mediocre guy with a mediocre record from the Canucks?"

I don't think he ever really inspired confidence in fans from the start.

Their were several potential coaches rumored to be potential candidates in Calgary - of that entire list he was the guy I wanted the least. My main reason was ridiculous and I knew it at the time and it's still a dumb reason today...

During the big brouhaha with the Canucks a few seasons ago Gulutzan stood there like a statue. One of the most emotional moments of both teams seasons and nothing...

Tortorella and Sullivan lost their minds...Gulutzan...nothing

[Brodieyouevenlift]

I miss winning

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I mean, he's certainly elevated his play lately. And I'd like to imagine that the players aren't petty enough to pull a "Mean Girls" on Brouwer.

"You can't sit with us anymore! Coach put you with Stajan!"

At this point, who knows what is going on in the locker room.

I brought this up lsst game too but why the home struggles?? It's a young team and I know some of the players are trying to or either just gotten into relationships --- maybe that is why they aren't focused??

[dieHARDflameZ]

We dominated the Corsi battle for the second game in a row. Things will turn around. I hope.

[Deegee]

Never prepared for big games and constantly blows leads.

Can't fire all of the players, so need to get rid of the bum.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Misplaced anger abounds. That was a goalie problem tonight. Not a Gully issue.

The goalie suckwd but you need to have the balls to pull him earlier.

It does happen all the time . When they were up by only one they should have. Smith knew it.

I vividly remember the Flames were once down 4- 1 last year and came back to get the game to 4- with goals comimg less than 50 seconds apart. I'm pretty sure it was against the Predators. Rinne came out and Saros came in . Preds won it .

[Housley4Prez]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If Gulutzan doesn't use a timeout there, when the hell would he use it? I'm wondering. What situation does it require for him to recognize that it's time to implement the thing that he can use to settle his team down?

I wonder if he forgets he even has it.

I wonder if he said anything at all to the team in the second intermission knowing what happened in the 5 previous games.

Arg, man.

Maybe he HAS forgotten that he has it... given how many times against the Ducks last year that his challenges were overruled, and he lost the TO for later in the game.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yes I know who you are. And yes he offered those AS A REASON to fire GG...because of tonights results. And thanks for allowing me my opiniojn, really appreciate that.

And I dont buy your fancy stats and equivocating it to situations on ice when everything is fluid as it is most times.

Sorry.

Yes you are a superstar writer/blog/whatever, and you have earned everything you have gotten, but I have VERY rarely agreed with much of anything you have written. again, sorry. That's what I mean by hack...if thats to harsh I apologize, but its what i was called a hundred years ago when I was a journalist.

You are allowed to be as proud of your stuff as you like, and you should.

But as Shania Twain so eloquently stated..."that don't impress me much"

He’s allowed to respond to you if you call him a hack - that’s not him not allowing your opinion it’s him defending his own work.

Not agreeing with what somebody writes doesn’t make them a hack - that just means you have differing opinions.

Hacks are guys that make stuff up or just always toe the company line aka Francis or Staples.

Honestly it’s just clear you don’t like advanced stats (or bloggers Is my guess) but at least with Kent Wilson you know he’s also always watching the games too. And has provided damn good coverage outside of advanced stats at both Flamesnation and the athletic.

We need more coverage like Kent for the Flames and not less, at least he’s actually trying to dig into the teams issues instead of the same cliched articles and questions we get from most media.

[taxbuster]

Bad game by Smitty...although at times it didn't look like he was getting a lot of solid help either - certainly not in the 3rd. It's like the Flames got up a bit and then. Stopped. For. A. While. And. Watched. Guys. Blow. By. Them.

I thought in the first two periods, that it was one of the best games by Brouwer in a while, and the 4th line was pretty effective. Scoring was dispersed. Not bad. Smith had made some fantastic saves.

Then came a bad goal real early in the 3rd - and no recovery timeout. THAT I place solely on GG. Some will argue that timeouts don't make any difference, the guys are pros blah blah blah. But a discouraging moment is still a discouraging moment - and a quick breather to regroup is better than hoping that you'll save your timeout to challenge a potential bad goal.

Energy behind the bench does seem to translate to energy on the ice - I think there's plenty of animated coaches to look at that have highly-functioning teams. (Maybe there are some that are quiet and thoughtful all the way through a game and also have huge success? Can't think of any offhand though. Even Tippett would get pissed now and then.)

Hrudey mentioned that even Smith was looking at the bench to get the hook and it didn't happen. That should have been a clue to clueless behind the bench.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by keenan87

At this point, who knows what is going on in the locker room.

I brought this up lsst game too but why the home struggles?? It's a young team and I know some of the players are trying to or either just gotten into relationships --- maybe that is why they aren't focused??

Yeah, if the Flames are a movie franchise, this is the one where they're all in senior year and ignoring their "leaders" in favour of trying to hook up, of course.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Brodieyouevenlift

I miss winning

I miss my hairline