[PGT] Flames fall 3-2 in shootout to Chicago.

[EddyBeers]

I love how last year it was all about how the Flames would have made the playoffs if not for the terrible coaching of Brent Sutter. Brent Sutter was preventing this team from reaching the greatness that it could easily achieve if he did not hold them back.

This year it is "Wow, we are the most entertaining losing team in the NHL. I can take the losses if we continue to be such an entertaining brand of hockey". I guess it is different standards for different years.

Sad fact for the Flames is that they had the easiest schedule of any team in the league over their first 6 games and they are 1-3-2. Perhaps they will start to pile up the wins as their schedule gets more difficult, but that seems unlikely.

[Igottago]

Flames were quite simply excellent tonight. A tough result but that was a great team performance. Not fair to throw much criticism at them after that effort. If they can consistently play that way they will be rewarded.

[djsFlames]

Also, for those saying that we're almost hopelessly out of the race,

We currently have 2 games in hand on all the 6th-11th place teams

If we make good on those 2 games, it puts us 1 point out of 6th place.

If they play like tonight against DET and CBJ, that gap could be made up pretty quickly (with the right results). Other teams might pick up points in the meantime, but them playing games will maintain our game/s in hand. At some point, each of those teams will sit while we're playing. It's all about us making good on those opportunities.

So as far as I'm concerned, they've gotta sweep tonight under the rug and just keep doing what they're doing and hope for better.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I love how last year it was all about how the Flames would have made the playoffs if not for the terrible coaching of Brent Sutter. Brent Sutter was preventing this team from reaching the greatness that it could easily achieve if he did not hold them back.

This year it is "Wow, we are the most entertaining losing team in the NHL. I can take the losses if we continue to be such an entertaining brand of hockey". I guess it is different standards for different years.

Sad fact for the Flames is that they had the easiest schedule of any team in the league over their first 6 games and they are 1-3-2. Perhaps they will start to pile up the wins as their schedule gets more difficult, but that seems unlikely.

Are you a Sutter? For Christ's sakes, let it go.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Also, for those saying that we're almost hopelessly out of the race,

We currently have 2 games in hand on all the 6th-11th place teams

If we make good on those 2 games, it puts us 1 point out of 6th place.

If they play like tonight against DET and CBJ, that gap could be made up pretty quickly (with the right results). Other teams might pick up points in the meantime, but them playing games will maintain our game/s in hand. At some point, each of those teams will be sitting while we're playing. It's all about us making good on those opportunities.

So as far as I'm concerned, they've gotta sweep tonight under the rug and just keep doing what they're doing and hope for better.

That sounds nice and hopefully they can do it.

Only 9 teams out of 30 in the NHL right now have winning records on the road. Last year 13 teams in the NHL had winning road records. In order to make the playoffs after starting the season 2 games under .500 at home after playing slightly over 20% of their home games, the Flames will have to be one of those teams this year. In all likelihood they will probably have to post a road record similar to the best road teams in the entire league last year in order to have a hope of making the playoffs.

If they are a league average team on the road and say pickup 22 points on the road this season, they will only have to go 15-4 in their remaining 19 home games to possibly make the playoffs.

Hopefully the Flames can be an elite (top five in the League team) on the road this year, because it is pretty much the only realistic way they can make the playoffs at this point in time. Either that or throw up some ridiculous St. Louis Blues/Detroit Red Wings style home records from last year over their final 19 home games.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Are you a Sutter? For Christ's sakes, let it go.

haha let it go, Christ you still have idiots on here blaming this years team on the horrible traits that Brent instilled in the team. I would just like a consistent standard, how did the Flames go from "Should have been a playoff team in 11/12 to geez just glad to be entertained in 12/13"?

[Enoch Root]

That was as entertaining - and as dominating - a game as I can remember in years. And a relentless 65 minute effort.

For those saying bad teams find a way to lose - that is just talking out your a$$. The fact of the matter is that both good and bad teams - ALL teams - wins games they should;ve lost and lose games they deserved to win.

That's sports. Hockey is a game of bounces. The Flames simply couldn't have generated any more chances than they did.

I find it absolutely hilarious that Quenville knows they stole one they simply didn't deserve, but Flame fans find it proof of failure. What a joke.

I'll say this: I won't mind if the Flames lose every game this year if they keep playing like that.

[Displaced Flames fan]

For the first time in years tonight, I listened on the radio while driving to Great Falls and back tonight. What a treat it was to hear Peter Maher call a game again, with the signal fading in and out....hanging on every call. Loved it.

Up until Hossa scored. I knew right then Chicago would probably win in the skills competition. I hate the shootout so much.

Leave it to the Flames to completely dominate a top 5 NHL team and lose. The Flames can't catch a break.

Its a long time until Tuesday since I won't be watching any football.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

haha let it go, Christ you still have idiots on here blaming this years team on the horrible traits that Brent instilled in the team. I would just like a consistent standard, how did the Flames go from "Should have been a playoff team in 11/12 to geez just glad to be entertained in 12/13"?

You go to the games - which do you prefer, this year or last year?

[Karl]

This is the most positive loss I can recall ever seeing from this team. Nothing I can complain about on the Flames end of this.

[djsFlames]

If they could just be that home team that went 30-7-4 at home a few years back.
I remember when I just took home wins for granted cause they almost came too easy. Road teams would get pretty intimidated coming into the Dome, cause they knew they'd either get beat up physically or on the scoreboard.

Lol sigh... Anyways

A road trip could maybe help to gel the team, and get them focused. Maybe that's what they need right now. And I don't think they need a top 5 record on the road to make it (though that would be amazing), they just need a winning record both at home and away. I'm almost sure that other bubble teams will have bad stretches at points, too. Especially with the greater likeliness of injury in a shortened season. It's a matter of getting a winning record from here on out for the Flames. Start getting the right results, then string together a bunch of Ws and it'll put them right back into the playoff picture. If they played just alright tonight, I wouldn't be too encouraged, but what I saw tells me they've got a shot to get on a good streak and right the ship.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You go to the games - which do you prefer, this year or last year?

I prefer winning, that is the only thing I care about. I have gone to two games this year, San Jose and Edmonton. My next game is Minnesota. I prefer winning, I could careless about losing and being "entertained". I do not know a single season ticket holder who shows up for games to be entertained in a losing effort. Last season if you went to all 41 home games and winning was your criteria it was not a bad year with the Flames finishing 11 games over .500 at home. This year not so good with the Flames being 2 games under at home.

That being said, personally I am fine with them losing this year and being entertained. That is because I believe that Sutter got more wins out of this team than was actually there, they outperformed what their actual abilities were last year. As such, I do not think the Flames have a hope for the playoffs and I think that a rebuild is desperately needed in Calgary and will probably come after this season when this team regresses more towards the mean in terms of what they actually are, a slightly below .500 hockey club at the end of the season. If I had to take an educated guess this team will be 3-5-2 after the first ten games, might even be as bad as 2-6-2 as the only game that should be a for sure win is against the Blue Jackets. Such a record might spur on the hockey decisions that in my opinion need to be made.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by browna

From TSN:
"That was criminal. They've got to call the cops after that performance. (Emery) stole two points. He was spectacular," said Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. "I've never ever been outplayed, outchanced like that in my life. "

Also, Flames have only had more shots in a period twice, then the 24 they had in the 3rd tonight...in 2005 and 1988, when they had 25.

The Flames just keep running into hot goaltenders. Even when the other team plays there back up, it just seems to happen. For like the past 4 years or so, I honesty can't believe it! I mean when is there luck going to turn?

[Karl]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I prefer winning, that is the only thing I care about. I have gone to two games this year, San Jose and Edmonton. My next game is Minnesota. I prefer winning, I could careless about losing and being "entertained". I do not know a single season ticket holder who shows up for games to be entertained in a losing effort. Last season if you went to all 41 home games and winning was your criteria it was not a bad year with the Flames finishing 11 games over .500 at home. This year not so good with the Flames being 2 games under at home.

That being said, personally I am fine with them losing this year and being entertained. That is because I believe that Sutter got more wins out of this team than was actually there, they outperformed what their actual abilities were last year. As such, I do not think the Flames have a hope for the playoffs and I think that a rebuild is desperately needed in Calgary and will probably come after this season when this team regresses more towards the mean in terms of what they actually are, a slightly below .500 hockey club at the end of the season. If I had to take an educated guess this team will be at best 3-5-2 after the first ten games, might even be as bad as 2-6-2 as the only game that should be a for sure win is against the Blue Jackets. Such a record might spur on the hockey decisions that in my opinion need to be made.

Maybe there are a few people who truly enjoy a good hockey game for all its worth and don't consider only the home team winning & losing the absolute only thing that matters?

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Karl

Maybe there are a few people who truly enjoy a good hockey game for all its worth and don't consider only the home team winning & losing the absolute only thing that matters?

Even if that was your standard this season would be a bust in 3 out of 5 games. The San Jose game was not a good hockey game, the Anaheim game was a collection of terrible defensive efforts and miscues by both teams and the Colorado game left something to be desired. But I think most STH for the Calgary Flames go to Calgary Flames games to see the Calgary Flames win, which is probably the standard in virtually every single NHL city. I imagine there probably are a small percentage of STH in any NHL city who truly enjoy a good hockey game and would rather see a close entertaining 3-2 loss than a 9-1 win for the home team, but I would guess those fans are few and far between.

[Neeper]

We look good tonight. We deserved a better fate. As long as they keep playing like this, wins will come.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

So you'd prefer to ice a team that gets dominated all night long but squeaks out an undeserving win?

That is not a formula that will take you deep into the playoffs.

Yes, the Flames formula is one that has proven to go deep in the playoffs. What are you even asking me? Would I prefer that the Flames were more like the Hawks? If so, yes. The Hawks don't get dominated every night. And on nights when they dominate the opposition the way the Flames did tonight, they would make damn sure that the opposition didn't "find a way" to squeak one out on the backs of "hot back up goaltending" or whatever the excuse of the day is tonight. And then on nights that they don't play we'll, they still find ways to put just as many pucks in the net as their opponents.

So again, confused by your question, but yes, yes I would prefer it if the Flames were more like the Hawks.

[Samiz]

This was about as good as a performance as you can see at the NHL level resulting in a loss. If we play like this every game, we make playoffs 100%. It's truly enjoyable hockey regardless of outcome so I am overall happy and impressed

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

...I am fine with them losing this year and being entertained. That is because I believe that Sutter got more wins out of this team than was actually there, they outperformed what their actual abilities were last year...

I always thought that B. Sutter was a good coach, and I constantly defended him while he was in Calgary. In a sense, you might be right: B. Sutter quite possibly got more from his Flames teams than the sum of the parts individually had to offer. But when I heard his interviews, interviews with the players, interviews and comments after he and the Flames mutually agreed to part company, I could't help but feel that the problem with Sutter's Flames was not his coaching methods, but rather his delivery. The did not execute, and he could not seem to get them to execute with any consistency under any circumstances. For whatever reason, the players were not all that interested in what Sutter was preaching, and in the end, that is definitely a coaching issue.

With Hartley, and in the first several games of this season, this is certainly an area in which I think we have seen the most dramatic change, and this seems like an extension of Hartley's personality. He has an infectious enthusiasm and optimistic persona that endears people to him: his players appear to want to do what he is asking them to do like they haven't wanted anything in the past three, four, six(?!) years. So, while we can debate the effectiveness of Hartley's game plan and his system when it is compared to Sutter's, I don't think there is any denying that his presence and his leadership is paying big dividends right now. They don't show up in the results, but this team is eminently more watchable, and unlike B. Sutter's teams most nights, they look engaged and well positioned to compete and to win. Bingo keeps saying that this is part of the process, and right now I think the team is in the process of finding their "identity"—taking on the characteristics of their coach. This could prove to be very beneficial down the road. We may not see the results now on the scoreboard, but I think that the shift in attitude, desire, and excitement that we see on the ice bodes well for the future.

In short, I think Hartley understands his players much better than Brent ever did, and it absolutely makes the team much more likeable than it has been in years.

The loss is disappointing. But I'm nevertheless finding it difficult to be all that upset. I'm just excited to see the next game, moreso than I have been in a long time.

[Enoch Root]

lol, just read through the GDT...

My whole section kept yelling RAISE THE PUCK!! throughout the entire game. The GDT was a total deja vu

And yes, the ice was horrendous

Confidence is everything when it comes to scoring. The Flames are passing too much right now, and they're gripping the sticks a bit tight, but they are out-working the opposition regularly.

They will get some bounces and when they do, they are going to start rolling. They are just playing too well not to.