[PGT] Flames Punk Themselves. 2-0 DAL

[Ashasx]

I've been as defensive about our first line as any, but they are to blame for the results so far.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1522621950748635136

The numbers match the eye test.

[dino7c]

Top line was responsible for the win as much as the loss

It's 1-1

How and how many doesn't really matter

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

It’s all about adjustments in the playoffs and I give Rick Bowness credit for seeing a Flames weakness and bouncing on it. It lead to the goal and a couple of their grade A chances. Now Darryl will have to adjust and take that away from the Stars.

It seems like Bowness does have the book on the Flames. They were blocking and boxing out everything and really limited high quality chances and second chances. They seemed to predict everything the Flames threw at them.

Dallas started to wear down in the third, but were able to focus on protecting the lead. They did pretty much what Sutter would have the Flames do.

I know it sounds cruel, but if the Stars want to block everything, you have to make them pay for it. When lanes are blocked, rather than trying to sneak passes through that are just likely to get blocked anyway, shoot the puck as hard as you can toward the net and make them pay for every shot block they make. You can only take so many slap shots to the body before your brain won't let you do it any more. Do that enough, and lanes will start opening up. At that point, I doubt Oettinger can match Markstrom chance for chance.

[woob]

May have already been discussed in the previous pages, but I think the most frustrating parts for me last night were (Note: I don't play hockey, so I'm merely commenting from a fan perspective.):

1. Aside from a handful of times, there was no real sustained offensive zone pressure. Seemed like we would get in, maybe get one shot on net, and then we'd be unable to keep the puck in their zone for follow-up attempts.

2. Lazy passes/Giveaways - I think I read somewhere that we had 21 giveaways? You can't do that in the playoffs.

3. Faceoffs. Stats were 50% in first, 44% second, and 33% third. That's abysmal. We all know winning faceoffs drives possession and chances.

4. Shooting. My perception was there were some good shot opportunities that weren't taken, especially considering we're down one. Should the mentality not be to put everything and anything on net at that point?

5. Presence in front of their net. I know that's hard to do if their D is keeping us out of there, but we need to work on that next game.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Top line was responsible for the win as much as the loss

It's 1-1

How and how many doesn't really matter

Oilers are also 1-1, but have scored 9 goals. Fans and analysts have questioned our top line's ability in the playoffs for years, and here we are with 1 goal in two games.

Perfectly reasonable to be nervous, despite the outstanding regular season.

[Toonage]

Would be great if Tkachuk could stir it up in front of the net instead of everywhere else.

My biggest concern (and I suppose this holds true for Stars fans as well) is that this style demands perfection from your goaltender. Thats a lot to ask.

[woob]

We also need to capitalize on some of those big juicy rebounds Oettinger was throwing out now and then. But that comes with working on net presence, I guess.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Johnny needs to get confident and stop giving up the puck & button hooking.
He has reverted to playoff Johnny who works hard but is scared to get hit and not carrying the puck enough.

I believe he will figure it out, he has to.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Oilers are also 1-1, but have scored 9 goals. Fans and analysts have questioned our top line's ability in the playoffs for years, and here we are with 1 goal in two games.

Perfectly reasonable to be nervous, despite the outstanding regular season.

People can be nervous if they want...it's still 1-1

Neither team is in a better spot...Kings missing two of their best players vs. Dallas are kinda apples and oranges too. Dallas last two playoffs were cup final and losing in double OT game 7 to the Blues that won the cup. They know how to play playoff hockey it won't be easy. I still expect the Flames to win though.

Oilers are allowing 40 shots against the Kings, probably won't work out too well against a good team if they move forward.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I've been as defensive about our first line as any, but they are to blame for the results so far.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1522621950748635136

The numbers match the eye test.

“Blame?”

Not for me. Have they been as good in the regular season? Definitely not. But they did have some chances last night and couldn’t bury. It’s a different story in years past when the top line looked completely out of sync or as Elliotte Friedman had put it “looks like they’ve never played together before.”

From what I’m seeing, the top line had thrived this season on taking advantage of their opposition’s mistakes. One mistake, back of the net. However, the Stars so far have played almost mistake free hockey up to this point. Sitting back, taking no risks, creating nothing and basically not beating themselves.

To be honest, I’m a little disappointed in the Backlund line. He was the best skater vs the Stars back in 2020 and he’s more suited for this type of hockey. The heavy, grind down low, hold on to pucks and cycle. This is his type of series whereas the top line would probably thrive in a more open series against say a Minnesota.

I’m hoping the second line wakes up soon as they were my X factor going into this series and if they don’t show up, this series might not go their way.

[JohnnyB]

I do wish the games were more entertaining, but I've still enjoyed watching. Maybe I just feel less invested in the team's success/failure than some others and so am just enjoying the ride. They'll get whatever outcome they deserve in the end. Still thinking it will be a win in this round, and hopefully at least a path to the conference finals.

[chedder]

The best Flame on the ice last night, besides Markstrom, was his countryman Lindholm. Lindy was playing playoff hockey with forechecking, hitting, getting to pucks.

I wish a bit of that would rub off on the other Swedish centers on the team. Backlund didn't get to one puck first all night for fear of being touched.

[iamca]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

It's weird to me about the johnny talk. It seems to me Tkachuk is the guy on the line that has nothing going. Can't make a pass, falling down and not getting to the front of the net to tip pucks.

True, he’s playing and focused on being a pest instead of playing hockey… it’s frustrating to watch, but also ridiculous that he can’t be more mentally prepared to play.

Get your butt in front of the net and play hard on the boards and down low, that’s what the line needs from him… creates space for Johnny and Elias.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Johnny needs to get confident and stop giving up the puck & button hooking.
He has reverted to playoff Johnny who works hard but is scared to get hit and not carrying the puck enough.

I believe he will figure it out, he has to.

I’ll never understand why there’s so much criticism with Gaudreau’s button hook. Like, what’s the alternative? Try to take it hard to the net and get crushed into the boards or sandwiched into the net and goalie? To me, the button hook is a great tool to use if you don’t have the angle to cut past the defender as it opens up a ton of other options.

For Gaudreau, he can find the open trailer, it gives his linemates time to go hard to the net to set up a screen, it gives the defense time to jump in to the play to use those screens, he cut east to west like we saw against the Oilers. In general, it can create a little more chaos in the coverage and open up space for him to be able to survey his options.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I’ll never understand why there’s so much criticism with Gaudreau’s button hook. Like, what’s the alternative? Try to take it hard to the net and get crushed into the boards or sandwiched into the net and goalie? To me, the button hook is a great tool to use if you don’t have the angle to cut past the defender as it opens up a ton of other options.

For Gaudreau, he can find the open trailer, it gives his linemates time to go hard to the net to set up a screen, it gives the defense time to jump in to the play to use those screens, he cut east to west like we saw against the Oilers. In general, it can create a little more chaos in the coverage and open up space for him to be able to survey his options.

yeah, when he button hooks it means nothing else is available...not sure what he is supposed to do...maybe somebody should be driving the net.

Also, he would have had a breakaway and potential goal if Tkachuk wasn't starting a fight in the zone on that one play. Goalie definitely let up but it was a bar down shot.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

I thought it was clearly an accidental hit, but it really did clip him, so I’m not sure if I could call that an embellishment vs a natural reaction to a stick hit near an eye.

Originally Posted by vicarious

I didn't see a stick anywhere near his eye but I was in a busy Pub watching the game so maybe I missed something. To me it looked downright embarassing (For Joe).

I can't recall whose stick it was, but it came up and it did clip Pavelski's visor. It was just a natural reaction on Pavelski's part. If the blade was a little closer it could have come up underneath the visor.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

I’ll never understand why there’s so much criticism with Gaudreau’s button hook. Like, what’s the alternative? Try to take it hard to the net and get crushed into the boards or sandwiched into the net and goalie? To me, the button hook is a great tool to use if you don’t have the angle to cut past the defender as it opens up a ton of other options.

For Gaudreau, he can find the open trailer, it gives his linemates time to go hard to the net to set up a screen, it gives the defense time to jump in to the play to use those screens, he cut east to west like we saw against the Oilers. In general, it can create a little more chaos in the coverage and open up space for him to be able to survey his options.

It’s not the button hook per se, it’s the fact he worked himself into that spot instead of a more central entry. Just like his low percentage shots from the side wasn’t a bad play at the moment - it was the moments leading to it.

Basically it means they successfully funnelled Gaudreau.

[dino7c]

I'm pretty sure Mangiapane wants a big new contract too...he is also welcome to score some goals. A couple close calls, needs to elevate.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Gotta love the people ragging on the crowd for not cheering enough in a game in which their team scored 0 goals.

It was electric in there to start the game. The team has to give a reason to cheer and they didn’t.

What God awful takes.

Usually it's the refs fault when they lose any game.

Now its our fault?

Surely the Flames themselves must be at least marginally responsible?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Top line was responsible for the win as much as the loss

It's 1-1

How and how many doesn't really matter

The how certainly does matter. The playoffs aren’t a one game winner take all. You establish an approach over a seven game series. Right now we’re seeing low event hockey, pretty even and hope to get lucky and that your goalie outplays the opposition. The Stars are the worst team in the playoffs and Flames should be hoping for more.