[PGT] Flames 3 - Dumpster fire 1

[nik-]

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Hatter

Hahahaha a rookie goalie playing his first NHL game didn't beat us. Stupid Buffalo.

This is probably one of the more surprising things as it seemed to always happen against the Flames.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Pff whatever guys. Being in the game til the third period is basically a victory for us.

And you scored first! Moral victory?

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

The best part of the game was Byron's shorty. It was incredible defensive awareness, speed, and hands. Byron steals the puck then blows by Hodgsen and Ristolainen while being slashed by the dirty ex-Canuck. At that point he makes a quick deke and was going so fast the goalie never had a chance. Byron is such a versatile player and I think he can be a big part of the rebuild.

Buffalo is horrible however. They have to be one of the wost offensive teams all time even including expansion teams. To only get 14 shots on the Flames is pathetic.

I completely agree... Guys like Byron, colborne, and bouma are important pieces going forward. Most of the true contenders in the league have depth contributors throughout the lineup. Boston has guys like paille, Campbell, and Kelly. Chicago has guys like shaw, handzus, kruger. LA has guys like clifford, stoll, and king.

These guys are depended on to score every night but they bring a solid forecheck and enough skill to contribute. I think the bruins are the best team in the league and it's because they get at least one goal every game from guys outside of their top six.

I think Byron brings the perfect kind of game for the flames now and in the future. They should re-sign him to a 2-3year deal and hopefully he keeps a permanent spot next year.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Kaine

Originally Posted by the2bears

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Stanathan

The Sabres aren't just terrible, they are a joke and should be relegated to the AHL. The Flames are going through a rebuild of their own and at least the expectation is to take pride from the top down.

Pure speculation on my part, but I can see Lafontaine wanting more fight and bite from the top down and was told to stop working so hard because he's going to make the rest of the organization look bad.

Not sure you're aware, but Lafontaine resigned, or are you suggesting that's why he left?

[Stanathan]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Pff whatever guys. Being in the game til the third period is basically a victory for us.

It shouldn't be, your team should be embarrassed if they actually feel that way. It's pathetic how bad the Sabres are even if we compare them only to the other bad teams.

I really hope they lose the lottery.

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Not sure you're aware, but Lafontaine resigned, or are you suggesting that's why he left?

Yes I am aware...

And yes I am suggesting that but I won't take credit for it, it's not my idea. I heard it on the Fan 960 in an interview and it makes sense. Foggy on the details of who was being interviewed. Sounded like Lafontaine wanted to do a Burke/Hartley style rebuild and Murray and owner wanted to stink it up on purpose.

[formulate]

Outside of Hodgson and Ristolainen (and a couple good shifts from Ennis/Stafford), the Sabres look pretty brutal.

No idea how many times I replayed Byron's goal trying to figure out how he managed to blow past everyone and get in all alone. Another really good game from him, a lot of confidence gained since being put with Backlund in my opinion.

Monahan/Colborne looking like a nice pairing for next year. I get schoolgirl giggles thinking about Gaudreau being put on that line as soon as next year's training camp. I guess that could happen this year, but hoping that Johnny signs his ELC starting next year and an ATO with the Heat to join their playoff run. Anyways, I feel like Monahan and Colborne would play reasonably similar roles (but major upgrades) to his current linemates of Arnold and Hayes.

Another dominant performance by our looking-more-and-more-like-a-legitimate-top-pairing of Giordano and Brodie. If anyone is interested:
Both are now in the top 65 NHL defensemen in possession rating.
Sitting #1 and #2 in possession rating relative to their team.
Both in top 20 for toughest competition.
Both in top 20 for toughest zone starts.
Both in top 55 in scoring.
It's been an absolute joy to watch Brodie develop into basically Bouwmeester-lite.
It's been something else to watch Giordano take the 'C' and absolutely run with it. Can't remember exactly how the 'double-whammy' (Rob Kerr's words, not mine) shift went, but something like Gio ringing a shot off the post then getting back to lay out a Sabre at the defensive blue line. Shows how great a two-way defenseman Gio has become this year. I could (and generally do) gush over Giordano's play for hours.

[Regular_John]

First two periods were nothing special, but Byron's goal was a thing of beauty indeed. Hard fight for every inch of it and just undressed the goalie.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

He played 4:58 which was the least on the team and was one of two players (Westgarth was the other) who didn't hit 10 minutes of ice time. Also the only minus player. I think you're right, he's Abbotsford bound sooner rather than later.

I like some of the things Hanowski's done, but he definitely is better off playing 15 minutes in Abby than 5 here. And with Agostino getting a look, it makes a ton of sense for him to go back.


As to the game overall, it was so bad in the first 30+ minutes that even the officials were like "eff it". Both teams were cheating all over the place on faceoffs without the linesmen caring, and the referees let quite a few penalties called. Hell, the only reason Stajan got his penalty was because it turned into a scoring chance. That was a laaaaate call.

[old-fart]

Couldn't agree more with the Gio love. If the guy had been healthy all year and had kept up his level of play, he absolutely should be in the Norris conversation (at least in the top 5). He is 14th in points, tied for 7th in goal scoring for defensemen, despite playing at least 10 or 15 games less than others in the top 30 for points (top 10 for goals).

There was a question on another board as to whom was a better captain / player - Dion or Gio. Gio has more points and more goals in less games and I'd argue is better defensively. I can't think of a single thing Dion does better than Gio at this point, although I believe Dion is younger.

When you consider he was an undrafted player, had to go to Russia for a year to earn a 1 way contract, never had anything handed to him.... he is one fine player and leader for this team.

So glad Gio is our captain.

[Bourque's Twin]

Byron assisted by Butler.

Coincidence... I think not!

[Fire]

Originally Posted by old-fart

Couldn't agree more with the Gio love. If the guy had been healthy all year and had kept up his level of play, he absolutely should be in the Norris conversation (at least in the top 5). He is 14th in points, tied for 7th in goal scoring for defensemen, despite playing at least 10 or 15 games less than others in the top 30 for points (top 10 for goals).

There was a question on another board as to whom was a better captain / player - Dion or Gio. Gio has more points and more goals in less games and I'd argue is better defensively. I can't think of a single thing Dion does better than Gio at this point, although I believe Dion is younger.

When you consider he was an undrafted player, had to go to Russia for a year to earn a 1 way contract, never had anything handed to him.... he is one fine player and leader for this team.

So glad Gio is our captain.

The Flames might currently be in the playoff hunt if Gio was healthy all year. What was the Flames record without him?

[formulate]

Originally Posted by Fire

The Flames might currently be in the playoff hunt if Gio was healthy all year. What was the Flames record without him?

5-11-2 if I'm not mistaken. Flames have played .500 hockey with Gio, so even changing that record to 8-8-2 would only add 6 points. Would still leave the Flames 8 points back of a playoff spot. As good as he's played (which, as I've said before, is Norris-caliber), an extra 18 games of Gio wouldn't be enough to make this rag-tag group a playoff team.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Fire

The Flames might currently be in the playoff hunt if Gio was healthy all year. What was the Flames record without him?

The Flames are 28-34-7 on the season.

With Giordano the Flames are 23-23-5.

Without Giordano the Flames are 5-11-2.

A significant difference but not enough to say they would be in a playoff position. 0.500 is currently Canuck and Jet territory where they are extreme longshots to make the playoffs.

Edit: Oh and was beaten.

[CaptainCrunch]

I think I heard without looking that over the last 20 games the Flames are 13-6 or something like that

That's like a 104 point pace if that's correct

[Mith]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I think I heard without looking that over the last 20 games the Flames are 13-6 or something like that

That's like a 104 point pace if that's correct

Oh so you mean starting now we get to go back to being that team that just barely didn't make playoffs every year again?

Goodie I can't wait.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I really like the Glencross and McGrattan line. Both big guys, and you can really put any center there. Glencross is continuing to play well, and McGrattan deserves the extra minutes he's receiving.

[Stanathan]

I hear a lot on the forum that Glencross is a "big guy" and it always strikes me as odd; perhaps it's because when he is on his game he hits a lot, but he is only 6'1" 197 lbs.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by iggysback05

You'd have to think Hanowski will be headed back to Abbotsford tomorrow. Did he play a shift after that give away?

Low minutes but Hartley kept him out there for the face off after the goal.

I like that, it was clearly a dumb mistake but he knew it an owned it with his reaction so I am glad Hartley put him back out there