[PGT] Flames lose, whatever... PLAYOFFS!

[jiginla12]

Winnipeg did not have an AHL lineup out there. Plenty of their best players i.e. Byfuglien, Stafford, Schiefele, etc. were playing.

[Itse]

I think it's completely unfair to say that everybody looked terrible, but one thing did stand out to me though as somewhat worrying; the new guys didn't seem to have the system down that well, outside of Wotherspoon who has been practising with the Flames. Not a great showing for the coaching in Adirondack in that sense... (Just one game of course, lots of nerves etc.)

Bennett looked like a guy we could use in the lineup, but it was pretty easy to see why Hartley & co haven't given him icetime before. I hope this cools down the hype over this kid. He is good, and the potential is easy to see, but give it some time.

Wolf I don't think will ever be ready. The guy seems to have just terrible hands and a lack of agility that's too much of an issue. Physical and quick on a straight line, but that's about it.

Not going to judge the others other than by saying that it was pretty clear these were still AHL guys.

[skudr248]

Big joe -5 lmao. Oh god him and Raymond. I don't even know anymore

[saXon]

[N-E-B]

Can't say I expected much more out of them. Was nice to watch a game where my heart wasn't pounding all game!

Also, I hate the Jets. I hope they get smoked in the first round.

[dying4acup]

I hope the jets do damage in the first round. I want no part of the blues.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Please, please trade Mason Raymond this offseason?

This.

[heep223]

Wow tons of hate for Raymond around here. Sure he hasn't been great, but he's been a decent middle six player IMO. Streaky and when cold the play just dies on his stick I agree, but not a liability and has a great shot. Could provide some depth scoring in close playoff games.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Sam Bennett, on recording his first NHL Point: “Honestly I was just thinking ‘put me back out there, I want to go get another one’."

Love the attitude. When this kid gets man strength he is going to be a wrecking ball of offence.

[direwolf]

The idiot quotient on the overtime show today is through the roof. Gotta give it to Steinberg. The guy has a lot of patience.

[OzSome]

Flames already gave up fighting for the home ice advantage because they knew the Oilers will lose to Canucks tonight anyways. They probably didn't care much anyways the way they played on the road this season. The most important for them to go in the playoff season healthy and rested. Wideman, Russell and Brodie deserves all the rest today as they were playing lots of minutes since Giordano went down. Hudler looks like he was hurting a bit during the LA game so I am glad he also stayed in Calgary along with Monahan. Sitting out Johnny Gaudreau is probably the smartest move today. Who cares about winning the NHL Rookie scoring race if he gets hurt today? I was good with Hartley sitting out Backlund and Engelland also most of the 3rd period to avoid injury. Great to see the young guys getting lots of ice time. Ortio wasn't sharp but that's expected because he hasn't played for awhile. Glad Hartley played him and gave him some work. We know Hiller will start the first few games or more. At least when Ortio gets a chance to play he won't be that rusty.

I am also glad there are 5 Canadian teams qualified in the playoffs. We already know that at least one of them will survive after the first round.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by jiginla12

Winnipeg did not have an AHL lineup out there. Plenty of their best players i.e. Byfuglien, Stafford, Schiefele, etc. were playing.

Big difference was in the defensive lines. Winnipeg had Byfuglien(69), Pardy(55), Enstrom(60), Chiarot(40) and Harrison(35) all playing. They had a debutant in Ellerby.

For us, we had Engelland(76), Schlemko(19), Potter(6) and 3 debutants. At best, we had 2 5-6 guys, a 7th guy or worse and 3 rookies.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Big difference was in the defensive lines. Winnipeg had Byfuglien(69), Pardy(55), Enstrom(60), Chiarot(40) and Harrison(35) all playing. They had a debutant in Ellerby.

For us, we had Engelland(76), Schlemko(19), Potter(6) and 3 debutants. At best, we had 2 5-6 guys, a 7th guy or worse and 3 rookies.

When Engelland & Schlemko are BY FAR your best defensemen, losing 5-1 is actually an accomplishment haha.

[White Out 403]

Enstrom and Buff haven't played in a while, so they needed to get back in the line up and get a little action in. This was a huge difference in the game and especially in the 3rd.

It was a preseason game out there for sure, but more so for Calgary.

[sureLoss]

Sam Bennett @SBennett93
So this was pretty cool...

[Burner]

I am glad Ortio played - with Ramo out for who knows how long - he goes in if anything happens to Hiller and to have some game exposure has to help. Wouldnt want to see this performance in a playoff game.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Burner

I am glad Ortio played - with Ramo out for who knows how long - he goes in if anything happens to Hiller and to have some game exposure has to help. Wouldnt want to see this performance in a playoff game.

I wonder if they can send him to Addy for some game action between now and the start of Game 1.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Lol are you seriously using this defense? That's a setup play they run in their systems... watch a few minutes earlier before Hudler scored... they ran the same play. He was just lucky that Hudler scored to make him not look like the piece of #### player he is.

Firstly, just because you practice a play doesn't make it not a good thing when you actually make the play in a game. It was a great area pass into Hudler's wheelhouse.

Secondly, he made a great defensive play to start the whole sequence. Stripped the puck and moved it up the boards.

Sure didn't take long before the usual suspects forgot his contribution.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Itse

I think it's completely unfair to say that everybody looked terrible, but one thing did stand out to me though as somewhat worrying; the new guys didn't seem to have the system down that well, outside of Wotherspoon who has been practising with the Flames. Not a great showing for the coaching in Adirondack in that sense... (Just one game of course, lots of nerves etc.)

Bennett looked like a guy we could use in the lineup, but it was pretty easy to see why Hartley & co haven't given him icetime before. I hope this cools down the hype over this kid. He is good, and the potential is easy to see, but give it some time.

Wolf I don't think will ever be ready. The guy seems to have just terrible hands and a lack of agility that's too much of an issue. Physical and quick on a straight line, but that's about it.

Not going to judge the others other than by saying that it was pretty clear these were still AHL guys.

Sure none of them looked great, that's because they played in another league this year. Remember how Johnny started this year? He almost couldn't make the team.

If there's one thing I have learned is that Hartley is able to utilize his players strengths. He turned Ferland from a guy getting cut from the the NHL to an impact player, Jooris from a nobody to a fairly reliable player that contributes in many ways, Wideman from a guy many of us thought should be off the team to an absolutely pivotal component of the team. Don't rule anyone out yet, not with Hartley at the helm. Wolf could become a bulldozer power forward if Bob can work his magic.

[Jets4Life]

The whole Game seemed anticlimactic. We rested all our #1 forward line, Pavelec, Perreault, etc. The Flames gave rest to as many or more players. Really a nothing game.

I look forward to meeting the Flames, once they dispose of the hapless Canucks in Round 2.