PGT All Hiller!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Somehow dug this out of my archive from the 2009 playoff series PS thread. I swear it feels like it's been 5 years since we've beaten Chicago.

People have short memories. We won 2 games just like this last year, and nearly won the 3rd if not for a big comeback win from the 'Hawks.

We are their kryptonite.

I would love to sneak into an 8th seed and play them in the first round. Major troll job.

[tvp2003]

Weird. I had a feeling this might happen. Was thinking back to Berra's first game last year and how we managed a win in OT. Couldn't have guessed 49 saves on 50 shots though -- that's just rediculous.

For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of the Hiller

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I swear it feels like it's been 5 years since we've beaten Chicago.

I believe we won the season series against them last year.

We own the Hawks as of late!

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

People have short memories. We won 2 games just like this last year, and nearly won the 3rd if not for a big comeback win from the 'Hawks.

We are their kryptonite.

I would love to sneak into an 8th seed and play them in the first round. Major troll job.

More than anything, I just think I was cursed growing up. Like 90% of the games I got tickets to were against the hawks, and they always beat us, or at least it felt like it.

[CaptainCrunch]

Ok watching this game from a hotel room in Burnaby and I like the fact that the game was on even earlier out here. Besides the obligatory woohoo and a gif, here's what I thought

The good

Hiller was brilliant, beyond that I once heard a fighter pilot described as "He certainly won't blow you away with his brilliance, but he's confounded tactical. Hiller isn't like Kipper where you're wowed by the brilliance of his unlikely saves out of nowhere, however he's just a technically sound goalie who moves across the net so well and makes difficult saves look routine. The only thing that he shares with Kipper is his calmness.

Backlund continues to impress, he was making the good small plays and consistency does so, but he's such a smart player and picks up his defensive assignments every time.

GioDie, ok I made that up and its actually pretty horrible, but those two as a tandem are making the case at being the top 3 or 4 top pairing duos in the NHL. They communicate and support each other so well, and Brodie has taken another step up in his game. The problem though is that the PA announcer should just say "Ok Brodie and Gio are leaving the ice, get ready for a serious downgrade in play" so we can go get popcorn.

Paul Byron is a major sparkplug, and he was very noticeable tonight the only thing that he couldn't do was score goals, but this was a solid game against a tough team.

The bad

Ok, I hate throwing out the word Identity, but here it is, Identity. The Flames haven't come close to the type of work ethic that they had last year, I haven't seen that push that the Flames demonstrated in close games over the last half of the season.

Defensive awareness, while the Flames aren't the Oilers, they're not great without the puck, and I really don't see that physical mean streak that this team had last year. On a semi plus note the team picked up steam for a while in the third and played some great shutdown hockey for a while.

Johnny Hockey not sure that I can say he's bad, he's being heavily sheltered and not getting a lot of quality ice time. When I watch him play his defensive game has stepped up and he did a good job on a couple of setups but I don't think he's getting the experience and confidence boost that he needs here.

The Ugly

The top two lines didn't really generate any offense. Lets be honest, a wet dog with a note in his mouth should be able to get more then 16 shots and not go 20 minutes without a shot.

The gaps the gap control tonight was terrible, the Hawks constantly had players in space because the forwards didn't come back and pick up their back pressure assignments

The game felt like a preseason game with very little in terms of intensity or physical play.

Final Thoughts

A wins a win and over the years we've learned that successful teams have to absolutely bank points when they can because a slow start can end your playoff hopes quick fast and in a hurry.

I think that the Flames have some real offensive system problems, their pp and their offensive generation aren't there.

I get that this is the second game in two nights, but the Flames didn't start skating until about 5 minutes into the third.

I don't know if there are any lessons that the team can learn as a collective except that you can get lucky, but eventually wins like this are balanced off by either a blow out loss, or another team stealing one from you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy about the win, I think this was a hockey god balancing act. But this team just isn't where I thought that they would be in terms of drive.

[bob-loblaw]

I assume Hiller got all three stars?

[Kswiss]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Last night I was ready for Hartley to make Ramo the official #1, but now it looks like the Flames might just have an honest goaltending duo. Have the Flames ever had a solid 1a-1b situation in goal? Closest I can think of is the year that Joseph was backing up Kipper

Argh, just thinking of Joseph on our team makes me puke I think our last real 1a 1b tandum was Kipper and Turek.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by AC

Gio and Brodie combined through 5 games: 3 goals, 7 assists, +6.

Three guys on the team averaging a PPG - two defenseman and Colborne.

[locsofblu]

Never a doubt. Flames controlled the play from beginning to end oh and that Hiller guy is ok to.

[Dion]

[PIMking]

came home from work to watch the third and ot... Good job boys

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

I just think if Monahan, Baertschi and Gaudreau had the comfort of knowing that they're the future and given lots of ice time no matter what, we'd have more exciting hockey. Right now, with Hartley taking the slow, patient and measured approach, they all appear to be ghosts and under utilized. I realize it's only 5 games, but it's never too early to start writing off prospects and losing patience, IMHO.

It's not about playing the most exciting hockey (unfortunately) it's about doing what is going to make Monahan, Gaudreau and Sven (plus others) the best players they can be a few years from now.

And if that's sheltered NHL minutes, being thrown to the wolves, or playing in the AHL that's what the team should do.

[Itse]

Meanwhile, Oilers and Coyotes combine for 4 goals on 20 shots...

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

IIRC Joseph played about 5 games for us.

Which is why I say the closest thing, I don't remember Calgary ever not having an undisputed #1 goaltender and having 2 guys competitively battle for the role. And I mostly remember Joseph for coming in relief in game 3 against the Sharks in '08. Flames go down 3 goals quickly in the first period, Joseph comes in and shuts the door, then Sarich wallpapers Marleau and the team makes an epic comeback

[Heavy Jack]

You can't debate against Backlund's 200 foot game, compete level and IQ of the game. He may not have the fullest tool box like a Hossa or a Kane for example but his ability to see the 200 foot game is allowing him to establish himself as one of the top shut-down centers in the league. There's not many teams right now that could slot Backlund into that role due to depth chart/better options but don't kid yourself Chris Osullivan (where are you??) Backlund is turning into a player that we will covet for a long time here in Calgary. Tonight showed the heart and soul of this team and I think it will play a big part for helping them bond as a team early on, back to back for the second time against a team like Chi town who had been off since Saturday and have only played twice?? Great effort from the boys, and they were the better team after that 1-1 goal IMO.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy about the win, I think this was a hockey god balancing act. But this team just isn't where I thought that they would be in terms of drive.

Seriously? It was the 2nd night of back to back games with a bunch of the team sick and running on little to no sleep. They mentioned the Flames didn't arrive to their hotel until 1:30am last night in Chicago.

That was some impressive drive under the circumstances as far as I'm concerned.

[Beer-gut Murray]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Somehow dug this out of my archive from the 2009 playoff series PS thread. I swear it feels like it's been 5 years since we've beaten Chicago.

Great pic. We should do this on every logo in the league.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Seriously? It was the 2nd night of back to back games with a bunch of the team sick and running on little to no sleep. The mentioned the Flames didn't arrive to their hotel until 1:30am last night in Chicago.

That was some impressive drive under the circumstances as far as I'm concerned.

I think last year was so much better than expected that people remember things a little differently than reality

The team was outplayed most nights last year too they just never quit...seems the same this year to me

[dammage79]

What a fun game to watch. I mean, unless you paid for tickets on the home net side. You kind of got gyped on watching anything close up.

Hiller's beast mode is awesome.

[CalgaryFan1988]

If someone told me before the game that Chicago would have 80 shot attempts, I'd assume it would have been a bloodbath.

Hats off to Hiller, wow. Also, 30 shot blocks is remarkable.