[Game Takes] Flames 7 Ducks 2

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2014/03/g...mes-7-ducks-2/

[dying4acup]

Funny thing about Ortio, as good as a goal tender as he already is, he also has 2 assists already. In the last 20 years, how many goalies have had 2 assists in their first 6 games?

Probably a freak stat, but I remember early in his career, kipper was known as a terrible puck handler, and improved over time.

I don't want to get overly excited, but this kid has been everything I wanted him to be and more since his call up. Most importantly: composed and calibrated! He is our NEW HOPE!

[Vulcan]

I thought Reinhart played much better on this recall, so his demotion shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Think it’s a case of sending the young top six player down when the veteran top six player returns. Hanowski is a fourth line guy so he stays.

Of course this analogy is far from perfect but I like to compare it to football, where you don't replace an offensive lineman with a running back, even though the running back has the better obvious stats.

[formulate]

Nice job as usual!

Clearly the best game so far from Hanowski and Knight, as the 4th line never seemed like a liability and had a few good shifts of pressure. Awesome to see them (especially Knight) rewarded with a goal, meaningless as it might have been.

The third line seemed to have a pretty rough game. Not really surprising with Glencross having missed so much time and McGrattan likely playing against better competition than he is used to on the 4th line. Whenever there was sustained pressure by the Ducks, it seemed to be these guys on the ice. Grats had a couple nice sequences (really wish he got off the slapper on the his 'breakaway') but that was about it.

There are really no words left to describe the play of Giordano this year. Tops on the Flames and near the top of the league (in terms of defensemen) in just about every stat category. He's really taken the 'C' to heart and is playing the best hockey of his career.

Brodie, Backlund and Byron also really deserve praise for their play of late (and really over the whole season). The Flames have a few building blocks that should be with the team for a while.

[playmaker]

Originally Posted by formulate

Brodie, Backlund, Bouma and Byron also really deserve praise for their play of late (and really over the whole season). The Flames have a few building blocks that should be with the team for a while.

fyp

[Bingo]

I wonder what the Flames were thinking when they made the Smid trade.

Did Edmonton put it out there that they were looking to move Smid for cap space? Veterans for cap space? Did Edmonton approach Calgary targeting Brossoit? Did Calgary have a hunch on Gillies and therefore shopped Brossoit? Had a feeling on Gillies and Ortio and therefore let Brossoit go to land Smid (they were hurt on the blueline)?

Or did Ortio just come out of left field?

He had a better camp than in previous years, but didn't push all that hard against the big two (Ramo and Berra).

Interesting to see the dominos fall in professional sports some times. If you told me Ortio would be the man in March I never would have believed it.

[Da_Chief]

There were was some talk that Ortio will get to play some NHL hockey early in the year but no one would've expected this. It's early and a very small sample size but he's been solid. More experience means he'll only get better. Nice to find our own goalie instead of having to trade away draft picks to get some.

The key for Ortio is to adopt and stay ahead of the game, thats what the opposition will be doing now.

[St. Pats]

Playing the young goalie, rotating door of players from the Heat and they get a boost. Not what I expected.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I thought Reinhart played much better on this recall, so his demotion shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Think it’s a case of sending the young top six player down when the veteran top six player returns. Hanowski is a fourth line guy so he stays

Reinhart is the definition of a prototypical bottom line gritty player. He is in no way a future top 6 player.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Reinhart is the definition of a prototypical bottom line gritty player. He is in no way a future top 6 player.

I agree I'm thinking Nystrom. Has the hands to pot a few but mostly gritty, grind it out guy anything to win.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by FakenHaken

I agree I'm thinking Nystrom. Has the hands to pot a few but mostly gritty, grind it out guy anything to win.

Nah, Reinhart has way more skill than Nystrom. If you want a comparable to Nystrom, look at Hanowski. He even started to fight down in the AHL and is being rewarded.

[Bingo]

Certainly didn't mean to suggest Reinhart is a lock for a top six role in the future ... just pointing out that his demotion isn't a suggestion that Hanowski was better in the 5 games they played together.

I think Reinhart has 3rd line written all over him ... not sure I'd say the same with Hanowski

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Good write-up, and I agree with the Cammalleri comment.

On the 5 on 3 we had, I actually shouted out a "what are you doing!?!?" when he took that sharp angle slapper that missed and ringed around the boards back into our zone. Absolutely no reason to take that shot in that situation.

[Bingo]

Don't want to start bashing Cammalleri but one of two things are happening for me right now ...

1. Veteran forwards are turning over more pucks (plays die on their sticks) then young players (Backlund, Colburn, Monahan, etc)

or ...

2. I have a tendency to give young players a pass without knowing it, compared to older players.

[Street Pharmacist]

For me it's 1.5. Colborne and Monahan have killed their share, but we focus on the good chances because they provide hope