[PGT] Painful loss to the Ducks

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Yup, so far he has been the second best goalie in both games and that’s not enough

Sure it’s not his fault but he needs to make a big and timely save. He needs to win the close games.

Btw, Markstrom is a great goalie is a myth. He had one or two good year in Vancouver and they never won.

I think he's a good goaltender but he's not stealing games like he did in Vancouver. He started last season stealing games and honestly that was what we expected him to do more than not but he's kind of been no better and even slightly worse than Talbot and I don't think that's what the Flames were expecting when they signed him.

[PeteMoss]

Unsustainable!

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Because to many he's been a disappointment? He's getting paid $6 million a season to be the best goaltender on the ice most nights. Unfortunately he's been outdueled in most of his tenure as Flames goaltender. It's pretty clear for a Darryl Sutter coached team to win games he needs Kipper or Quick (in his prime) level goaltending. The stats don't lie as Markstrom has been a below average starter in his time with the Flames. He wasn't bad last night but that first goal is saved by most NHL goaltenders and the Flames just don't have the finish to overcome soft goals. If he doesn't play a lot better, this team doesn't have a chance.

I understand that to some degree. If this team was finishing the way it is supposed to, Markstrom's name isn't mentioned. To me Markstrom not being a Kipper level goalie right now is secondary. Based on shots, possession etc. we should have won that game. Really it shouldn't have been close. The only reason Markstrom is a topic of discussion is because we can't score. 4 goals on nearly 100 shots is horrific.

[Lil Pedro]

Can't believe this team prioritized protecting their often injured and underperforming "#1 Centre" over their puck moving #1 Dman...sure would have been nice to have him in OT tonight

[Royle9]

Honest question here, but when is this fan base going to wakeup and realize that this "core" / "team" isn't as good as we think it is? It pains me to watch this happen, I want nothing more than this team to succeed... but its the same crap every year.

How many times have we seen posts boasting about:

"if they play this hard for 82 games we're in good shape"
"if we continue to outshoot them 2 to 1 we'll win most of them"
"lots of opportunities, we just need to bury our chances"
"trust the process, the results will come"
"No need to panic were only 2 games in guys"

Now go back through posts over the last 5 seasons and stop me when you've read/heard these same things over and over and over....


The fact remains:

• Terrible Power Play
• Minimal offensive threats
• Constant blame on "unlucky bounces"
• No puck moving defenseman (your only good one is riding the pines)
• No elite shooting forward
• Overpaid Goalie not performing up to his contract

I hate to say it but this team is not good, its built poorly and we've pissed away our best playmakers years in this Franchise, we've yet to get him a true #1 shooting forward.

Results matter, advanced stats unfortunately don't win games. I love to look at them as much as the next guy, but sitting here pretending it means we'll be okay is probably not a good idea based on the last 10 years of this franchise.

We need more TALENT, unfortunately we went out and signed a bunch of depth 3rd/4th line players.

Blow it up for Eichel please. The more Buffalo watches Monahan play we're in trouble.

[agulati]

What is this schedule. Our 3rd game is on Thursday now?

[Jason14h]

I think most of the fan base realizes it

What do you want us to do? Make a trade? Sign different FA's?

Theres a difference is accepting the direction the franchise went and taking a wait and see/don't panic after 2 games and not realizing the core isn't good enough

Most polls show the majority of fans wanted a shakeup

And Buffalo doesnt want our roster players. So it isn't really blowing it up, but mortgaging future and going for it

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I understand that to some degree. If this team was finishing the way it is supposed to, Markstrom's name isn't mentioned. To me Markstrom not being a Kipper level goalie right now is secondary. Based on shots, possession etc. we should have won that game. Really it shouldn't have been close. The only reason Markstrom is a topic of discussion is because we can't score. 4 goals on nearly 100 shots is horrific.

That's fair and I agree but with no changes to the core in the offseason we kind of knew that goals were going to be hard to come by and the head coach himself believes it's a 3-2 league. Three goals in regulation wins last night and still loses to the Oilers so 1-1 if the can score a couple more goals. That's better but two goals was probably enough to win last night is Markstrom doesn't let in that soft first goal. He's as much a part of the problem as the offensive players not scoring. Lots of time to sort this out but I don't know if this team can afford another typical slow October start.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I understand that to some degree. If this team was finishing the way it is supposed to, Markstrom's name isn't mentioned. To me Markstrom not being a Kipper level goalie right now is secondary. Based on shots, possession etc. we should have won that game. Really it shouldn't have been close. The only reason Markstrom is a topic of discussion is because we can't score. 4 goals on nearly 100 shots is horrific.

Yeah the “second best goalie” on the ice complaint is pretty convenient. What about our dominant but rarely scary offence?

The culmination makes us 0-2

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I was told that the Flames effort Saturday night in a 3 goal loss would be good enough to win most nights. Same effort tonight resulted in a loss to the lowly Ducks. I’m sure if they keep playing hard and getting out scored things will come around eventually.

Didn’t read the thread but I am one of the ones who said that and I still stand by it. I truly feel if we play 60 minutes with effort unlike previous years we will win more than not.

[Rick M.]

Where is the Suicide Booth?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by agulati

What is this schedule. Our 3rd game is on Thursday now?

They are travelling east for a decently long road trip and then play 4 times in 6 days

[Chi-Town Hustler]

Given their overall decent level of play, I'm intrigued to see how they fare back east. I think they'll do ok.

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Can’t blame the fans. It’s been years of this.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Flames through 2 games:

CF%: 61.00 (2nd)
FF%: 58.38 (3rd)
SF%: 60.00 (1st)
SCF%: 65.79 (1st)
SCF/60: 36.46 (3rd)
SCA/60: 18.96 (2nd)
HDCF%: 65.12 (2nd)
HDCF/60: 13.61 (5th)
HDCA/60: 7.29 (4th)
xGF%: 59.52 (4th)

Pure dominance.

Better finishing + goaltending please.

Which ones of those is for wins?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Can't believe this team prioritized protecting their often injured and underperforming "#1 Centre" over their puck moving #1 Dman...sure would have been nice to have him in OT tonight

If you are going to criticize, at least know what you are talking about. There was never a choice between protecting Monahan versus Giordano.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I understand that to some degree. If this team was finishing the way it is supposed to, Markstrom's name isn't mentioned. To me Markstrom not being a Kipper level goalie right now is secondary. Based on shots, possession etc. we should have won that game. Really it shouldn't have been close. The only reason Markstrom is a topic of discussion is because we can't score. 4 goals on nearly 100 shots is horrific.

4 goals scored on 90 shots isn't going to cut it. 7 goals against on 59 shots isn't so great either.

There is plenty of blame I guess but let's give it more than two games to see where these numbers go.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Your Calgary Flames!

Didn’t read the thread but I am one of the ones who said that and I still stand by it. I truly feel if we play 60 minutes with effort unlike previous years we will win more than not.

I just don't think that's the case anymore in the NHL where there's so much parity and even expansion teams can now be competitive on day one as all players are conditioned and play hard most nights. It's a results based league and to win in consistently you need timely goaltending and goal scoring. Two things the Flames have received neither. The stuff in-between is window dressing IMO that keeps fancy stats people busy and provides fans silver linings after losses. We sat through some Gulutzan seasons of 60 minutes efforts that never led anywhere and Darryl's Kings team missed the playoffs 2 of the last 3 seasons while being advanced stat darlings. It's a skill driven league now and the Flames are kind of going against the grain.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Flames through 2 games:

CF%: 61.00 (2nd)
FF%: 58.38 (3rd)
SF%: 60.00 (1st)
SCF%: 65.79 (1st)
SCF/60: 36.46 (3rd)
SCA/60: 18.96 (2nd)
HDCF%: 65.12 (2nd)
HDCF/60: 13.61 (5th)
HDCA/60: 7.29 (4th)
xGF%: 59.52 (4th)

Pure dominance.

Better finishing + goaltending please.

And I'd add the finishing is the bigger issue.

Markstrom five on five is at zero for goals given up beyond expected. That's average as average can be. Not what you want from Markstrom he needs to be better but the issue is the team's finish rates compared to what they're generating.

As you point out ... it's not just perimeter shots, they're driving into the paint and creating lots of quality chances.

SC Shooting Percentage 32nd
SC Save Percentage 16th

HD Shooting Percentage 28th
HD Save Percentage 13th

XGF vs GF 5 on 5 -2.2
XGA vs GA 5 on 5 0.2

Markstrom needs to be better, but it's on the offence through two games ... which was honestly one of my biggest fears. The transition has been way better than I thought, so they're generating more offence (two game sample size) than expected. But their finish is still a huge issue.

[442scotty]

For me, I found the game entertaining and thought they put in a pretty good effort for the full game which in itself was shocking. It’s the first game I watched in it’s entirety for quite a while. Disappointed with the results but at least it was fun to watch for a change