[PGT] Flames beat Detroit 3-2.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'm shocked moon has forgotten this could have been Kiprusoff's last game at home as a Flame. You always want your best players when they retire to leave on a high note.

I read that Hartley said that Kipper was playing tonight and Friday and Kipper could have gone out on a high note with a 2-1 loss in which he played like he did tonight, although not entirely sure that retiring players going out on a high note is that important or something you always want them do.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Steve Begin has more goals than Ryan Nugent Hopkins this season...

quoted for awesomeness

[Dion]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Great game by Kipper. Wings did not show up for this game at all. Wings don't deserve the playoffs if they want to mail in some games down the stretch.

They dominated the second period. Could have had a win if Howard hadn't effed up on the 2nd and 3rd goals scored by the Flames

[Tailgator]

Originally Posted by Deegee

Someone should put Hartley's head on that.

Geez. I don't think you have to, they look like the same dude anyway.

[goodyear]

I'm going to begin the BBB movement...Bring Begin Back!

[Corral]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'm shocked moon has forgotten this could have been Kiprusoff's last game at home as a Flame. You always want your best players when they retire to leave on a high note.

Agreed. In a season of so many lows, tonight was a treat to watch #34 one more time in vintage form. Of all the "core", it is saddest to see him leave. An era really ends with him.

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by moon

The problem with the team "up North" is that losing has been what they have done for so long.

This team without elite level talent that you get in the top end of the draft is likely to be facing the exact same thing but I guess a couple of meh wins at the end of the year with an overall losing season is supposed to somehow change that.

The problem with Edmonton isn't that they've been a loser for so long. Plenty of teams have been crappy and turned it around. The problem is that they haven't even attempted to compete since... when? 2009?

Even if getting a higher draft pick is the best thing for your franchise, you have to make sure your players show up and give a solid effort every night. If you don't, then they're not going to know how (and may not want to... getting paid an NHL salary without giving an NHL effort sure sounds good to me) once the time comes to begin the climb up the standings. That's where Edmonton is right now.

To win in the NHL - and professional sports in general - you need the will and the skill. The Oilers gave up the will to get the skill, and now they're finding out that getting the will back isn't as easy as it seems.

[killer_carlson]

I think Begin, like Macdonald, has done enough this year to earn himself another NHL contract.

A 4th liner with what would amount to a 7 or 8 goal pace, kills penalties, fights, and inishes his checks.

I suspect more than a few teams will be looking to sign him.

[sketchyt]

I am shocked how any hockey fan would complain about watching Miikka in vintage form.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Dion

They dominated the second period. Could have had a win if Howard hadn't effed up on the 2nd and 3rd goals scored by the Flames

The Wings brought their "C" game and the flames did not look any better then them. I will agree that if it was not for 2 fluke goals, the Wings could have won. In the position they are in they should have dominated from the openning faceoff.

[Jbo]

Was at the game. Wanted to have a chance to see Kipper at home if it was his last game.

Not one person in the crowd was unhappy we won. Not one. The entire place erupted when Kipper made that save at the end. The entire building was behind him and the team tonight.

5 years from now, I may or may not be watching the player we drafted in 2013. I sure as hell will remember in all likelyhood seeing one of the final games of one of my favorite players of all time.

It actually makes me mad we are arguing draft position on a night when one of the best guys to put on the jersey in about to ride into the sunset.

[browna]

Was really hoping for a Begin EN , completing probably the easiest/worst hat trick in league history.
Kipper's save at the end, at full stretch and getting the puck while behind him, should've been the capper on Friday, but still, amazing.

These certainly aren't Lidstrom's Wings.

[Mike F]

What exactly do people want?

For the team to be filled with players that fold the tent and stop trying?

For the players to play hard but be so bad that they lose every game?

Given the young guys who are getting the bulk of the ice time right now will be a key part of rebuilding the franchise, I think the organization would be in much more trouble if either were the case.

[Kaine]

Originally Posted by nik-

I don't understand this "culture of losing" crap. We ARE losing on a season by season scale. How is losing at the end of a season going to create a culture of losing if four #### seasons hasn't ... and probably the next three seasons added to that.

I don't understand the "we won't do well at the draft if we can't pick top 3" crap. Outside of the top 1-2 players you won't often find a franchise player, even then it's never a sure thing. That's not even accounting for the fact that it looks like the first round is so deep this year the top 10 appear to have "quality player" potential.

To each their own.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by moon

I read that Hartley said that Kipper was playing tonight and Friday and Kipper could have gone out on a high note with a 2-1 loss in which he played like he did tonight, although not entirely sure that retiring players going out on a high note is that important or something you always want them do.

So moon, are you suggesting the players should be actively throwing games?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by moon

I read that Hartley said that Kipper was playing tonight and Friday and Kipper could have gone out on a high note with a 2-1 loss in which he played like he did tonight, although not entirely sure that retiring players going out on a high note is that important or something you always want them do.

It's about knowing when it's time to hang up the blades as opposed to playing well past your prime.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I think Begin, like Macdonald, has done enough this year to earn himself another NHL contract.

A 4th liner with what would amount to a 7 or 8 goal pace, kills penalties, fights, and inishes his checks.

I suspect more than a few teams will be looking to sign him.

Do posters realise that the flames only traded off 2 forwards at the deadline? In the last couple of days i have heard bring back Cervenka, MacDonald, and Begin. I guess posters don't want Horak, Reinhart, Bouma ect. on the team.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

The problem with Edmonton isn't that they've been a loser for so long. Plenty of teams have been crappy and turned it around. The problem is that they haven't even attempted to compete since... when? 2009?

Even if getting a higher draft pick is the best thing for your franchise, you have to make sure your players show up and give a solid effort every night. If you don't, then they're not going to know how (and may not want to... getting paid an NHL salary without giving an NHL effort sure sounds good to me) once the time comes to begin the climb up the standings. That's where Edmonton is right now.

To win in the NHL - and professional sports in general - you need the will and the skill. The Oilers gave up the will to get the skill, and now they're finding out that getting the will back isn't as easy as it seems.

Sure nobody is complaining about giving a solid effort but the team is turning in meh performances (outside of Edmonton game) and still losing more than winning so a game like this seems to do little to nothing to change the so called culture of losing that Edmonton supposedly has.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Do posters realise that the flames only traded off 2 forwards at the deadline? In the last couple of days i have heard bring back Cervenka, MacDonald, and Begin. I guess posters don't want Horak, Reinhart, Bouma ect. on the team.

Do you realize that i was saying that more than one team may be calling for Begin?

Apparently not.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

That is the mantra up north, where it is ok to lose. What has that got them? It teaches the rookies that no one will hold the accountable.

We have lots of kids out there and showing them there won't be any nights/seasons off will actually help in the long run.

COL and EDM are talking about Vegas trips and our kids are playing hard.

This is a good thing.

Yeah, winning meaningless games and getting crappy draft picks sure worked out for the Young Guns v1.0 hey???