[GDT] Calgary Flames at Pittsburgh Penguins 5:00pm TV: SNW, SN1, SNPT, RSNW - RADIO SN960

[activeStick]

I also think it was JiriHrdina who made a comment the other day which I sort of agree with too, that Huberdeau is the kind of player who you don't really notice much during a game but at the end of the night, he has 2-3 points on the night. Maybe I just need to adjust my expectations on what I'm expecting to see on the ice. As long as he gets points, he'll be just fine.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I also think it was JiriHrdina who made a comment the other day which I sort of agree with too, that Huberdeau is the kind of player who you don't really notice much during a game but at the end of the night, he has 2-3 points on the night. Maybe I just need to adjust my expectations on what I'm expecting to see on the ice. As long as he gets points, he'll be just fine.

It's the way it goes with more cerebral players. They tend to just play the game and stick to their defensive assignments waiting until an opportunity opens up. Cerebral players are extremely good at recognizing when the right time is to go after it offensively, and that's why they don't get beat defensively very often. The difference with guys like Huberdeau compared to everyone else is that when that opportunity comes he makes something out of it. He doesn't need a lot of chances to put up points. He's also not a guy that goes out there and skates through a team to make a play happen, but he'll recognize an opening and take advantage of it.

Smart, steady, patient, and lethal when he needs to be. It usually leads to success.

[hwy19man]

We can thank the divisional series of the basball playoffs for ending quickly. That helped this Flames game get better distribution with it being on Sportsnet One and not just being on the West channel.

[Iginla_4_Prez]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Fair point that he got the 2 points, but my impression from watching the game was that he was pretty meh. Listening to Huska's comments after the game seemed to imply he also wants to see more from him (Steinberg also interpreted Huska's remarks the same way I do, but I'm not saying that means we're right, just saying...).

I agree with you. He looked OK, but I'm hoping for more. One of his 2 points came on an unintentional assist where his shot went off the crossbar and into the lap of Mangiapane for an empty net goal.


He'll get better as the season progresses though, I'm not worried about him.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I also think it was JiriHrdina who made a comment the other day which I sort of agree with too, that Huberdeau is the kind of player who you don't really notice much during a game but at the end of the night, he has 2-3 points on the night. Maybe I just need to adjust my expectations on what I'm expecting to see on the ice. As long as he gets points, he'll be just fine.

Was he like that in Florida?
I never watched him there, but admit I expected a player who would look more impactful and take over shifts.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Fun part of the start to this season? The opponents.

Jets
Penguins
Capitals
Sabres

First four teams we play are all teams you can comfortably look at as teams in the "mushy middle" which is where I'd slot the Flames in as well. Are we good mushy middle, middle mushy middle, or bottom mushy middle team? Columbus and Detroit, the next two teams are teams trying to push out of being bottom teams and into that mushy middle.

Markstrom stole us Game 1 vs. the Jets.

Excited to see what happens tonight!

All true. I still think we don't see what this team is until after 10 games when they've started to get comfortable with some of the new Xs and Os. That said, it's not a bad time to be against middle tier teams while they are trying to figure out their game.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Was he like that in Florida?
I never watched him there, but admit I expected a player who would look more impactful and take over shifts.

He would skate a little more (although he was never a speed guy anyway) and try to cycle a little more down low, especially when he was with Barkov. They would play off each other down low and make life miserable with their puck protection and stick handling.

He doesn't seem to do that as much these days, and I'm not sure if it's been coached out of him or if he's just getting a little older and can't put his body through the rigors of that style of player.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Was he like that in Florida?
I never watched him there, but admit I expected a player who would look more impactful and take over shifts.

Yeah, no idea, CaliPanthersFan probably knows. Maybe Huberdeau is a bit like Monahan? Not going to dazzle you, but a dangerous piece nonetheless.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Sounds like Alex Tanguay to me.
Good player for sure, but not a franchise player.

[Finger Cookin]

Appreciate your Huberdeau insights, Cali.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

He would skate a little more (although he was never a speed guy anyway) and try to cycle a little more down low, especially when he was with Barkov. They would play off each other down low and make life miserable with their puck protection and stick handling.

He doesn't seem to do that as much these days, and I'm not sure if it's been coached out of him or if he's just getting a little older and can't put his body through the rigors of that style of player.

Something I'd mention too is that the cycle game was just better from the Panthers than it was from the Flames. That failure wasn't just Huberdeau's.

Bennett? Went to the front of the net and created chaos. Duclair? Could dart around and make use of open ice caused by his teammates attacking the net.

The Flames last year did not attack the crease, ever. It was always just about finding the puck, getting it back to the point for useless point shots because of the lack of traffic.

Game 1?...I saw the exact same lack of traffic with no one getting to the net at the right time for the puck to arrive. The offensive structure seemed nearly identical (although I think the PP looked better with set-ups for more players to shoot). Couple that with pretty much no offense off the rush yet again...and yeah, Game 1 was ugly.

Hoping to see better structure tonight.

[hwy19man]

Pregame links
https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401559261
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/games/2568231/
https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/calgar...boxscore-40038

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

lol this absolute trash Rogers HNIC theme

[timbit]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

lol this absolute trash Rogers HNIC theme

Kelly badmouthing the Flames again.

[Moneyhands23]

This singer lol

[mennoknight]

is this lady deaf too

[WhiteTiger]

Good lord, someone tell this singer that it's over and done, she's kicked them to death and to just stop.

[hwy19man]

SiriusXM radio channel 91 has the Flames game using the Penguins feed.

[Tsawwassen]

Wrong thread