“@Fan960Nault: Gaudreau wearing a Stamps hat post game. When asked about it, he replied "we have the day off Sunday, looking forward to watching the game."”
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Great comeback after a uninspiring first two periods. Flames got caught standing around too much, no hustle and tried reacting to Anaheim game. I knew all they need is one good spark and they'll be back in the game. I didn't think Anaheim was outplaying them in those two periods, they are just letting the Ducks go around them instead of usually hard forechecking. Ducks' two goals in those two periods were luck. First one looks like it hit Diaz skate and the other was a tipped in. I am so glad they woke up in the third period and outplayed the Ducks. Not a perfect win but it'll do.
I was very impressed with the following players :
Johnnie Gaudreau : This guy is a speedster and can skate very well with the puck. He was awesome all-around with or without the puck. That Wideman goal that he assisted was pretty good. He stole the puck from Ducks player then threw the puck to Wideman.
Mark Giordano : this is what it means to be 'leading by example'. One play in the third
period where looks like he got beat and Duck player going on a breakaway only to get stripped by Giordano. Good hustle and what a good skater. Him and Brodie are all over the ice. If I am a defender, I would probably get dizzy following these two guys. One minute he is at the point, then the next thing you know they are deep and close to goaltender.
TJ Brodie : pretty much the same review as Gio.
Dennis Wideman : a lot of posters wanted this guy gets traded because they claimed he is a terrible defender. When Flames signed him, it was because of his offensive skill and they figured he can help the power play and also move the puck. He was not signed because he is a Norris trophy candidate. I like that we have 4 mobile defensemen who can make great first pass. I think these 4 guys(Brodie, Giordano, Wideman and Russell) complement each other. Other teams cannot just key on #1 D pairing because they knew #2 D pairing might do some damage. Part of the reason for Flames success in the early season are the plays of their Ds. They are always involved with pretty much all the plays. That confuses the other team's defenders. How many teams in the NHL that have 4 puck-moving defensemen? Yes there are times that Wideman gets beat but the majority of his plays are on a positive side especially since Hartley reunited him with Kris Russell. The poor guy has to play with Derek Smith or Chris Butler or Chris Breen and even a raw Tyler Wotherspoon who I think will be in the top 4 D in the future for the Flames.
I don't hate Devon Setoguchi, but everytime Hartley puts him in a lineup, he doesn't really blow him out of his mind. Like he plays like an average player out there. There are times that he'll make some good plays and at times bad. He is not a liability but I think we expect more from him. Young guys like Jooris, Granlund and even Baerschi and Reinhart outplays him. Not so sure about this guy. I really think that once everyone gets healthy, he shouldn't be in the lineup ahead of Jooris or Granlund.
By the way, I hope the Flames convinced a lot of doubters that they can play against the big boys. They are for real and I give credits to the coaching staff especially.
“@Fan960Nault: Gaudreau wearing a Stamps hat post game. When asked about it, he replied "we have the day off Sunday, looking forward to watching the game."”
I love how Granlund is finally getting some recognition for his play and his talent.
I could have screamed this from rooftops last year and they would have locked me up for being a looney. I knew this kid would be this good watching him on the Heat. So glad everyone else gets to see it now.
You and I were a part of a very few since his draft day that were picking him as a dark horse. He's slowly snuck into the collective min set now and its nice to see the recognition trickling in now.
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One observation I did have about tonight's game is that Kesler often was dominating at both sides of the ice at times. It's not that I like the guy at all, but if he cut out the dickbag stuff he could be a amiable player... maybe. Also hopefully he does better in part to fleece the Canucks in the deal.
Last edited by trackercowe; 11-19-2014 at 12:14 AM.
Reason: likable was the wrong word to use
When it comes to hunger, Bennett is going to be ravenous. I really wonder if Hartley is going to have to make some hard decisions about healthy scratching him when he comes back so he doesn't re-injure his shoulder, or delay recovery.
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So, I didn't get to watch the game, but 7 shots after 40 minutes from the Flames - were the Flames that bad through over half of the game? Were they badly outplayed in the first 40 minutes or are the shots misleading?
Amazing to see this team come back again, but sheesh 7 shots for through 40 minutes from looking at the stats sheet looks horrible, granted I wasn't able to see any of the game at all.
So, I didn't get to watch the game, but 7 shots after 40 minutes from the Flames - were the Flames that bad through over half of the game? Were they badly outplayed in the first 40 minutes or are the shots misleading?
Amazing to see this team come back again, but sheesh 7 shots for through 40 minutes from looking at the stats sheet looks horrible, granted I wasn't able to see any of the game at all.
The Ducks are a big team physically and the Flames were having a hard time making adjustments to get around their own size issues.
The Ducks didn't really generate a ton of offensive chances themselves considering they held the Flames to 7 shots, the two goals were both kind of fluky. The D managed to keep them to the outside.
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I was following along at work thanks to flames mobile updates. I was so stoked when they scored the shootout winner I did a Hiller hop of my own (having no idea about Hiller's celebration at the time)
Also, this thread is the first time I've run out of thanks!
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Gaudreau: this kid is unbelievable. The kid wants to just take over the game and has the skill to do it. You can feel the defensemen of other teams start to panic when he starts coming up the ice with the puck. And you can feel the the fans in the dome start to stand up out of their seats as he does it. One of the best things is that he seems to feed off the excitement of the crowd. As the game got faster and more intense he just wanted that puck so bad.
Giordano: Obviously the Norris front runner by a long shot by now but should also be the front runner for the hart trophy. The guy is nothing short of heroic every night. He should also be the front runner for the mark messier award for the best captain.
Brodie: Wow! He does things that so few guys in the league can do and will even attempt. Unbelievable. Keeps playing like this and it could be the first time the NHL ever awards the Norris as a tie between two guys on the same team... Gio and Brodie together. Side note: I don't know if many people noticed this but on that beautiful play he made on the hudler goal, Getzlaf lead with his knee trying to hit Brodie. It would have been a blatant knee-on-knee that could have caused serious injury and would have been suspension-worthy. Brodie, however, was so aware that he lifted his leg while dangling past getzlaf to avoid the knee hit.
Granlund: such a smart player. Huge hockey IQ.
Monahan: Lots of people prepared themselves for a let down from him this year but his development is just going faster. He's a beast to handle out there already. He's winning puck battles all over the ice and showing his playmaking. He's averaging at least 3 prime scoring chances per game. He's winning important face-offs and facing the other teams' top players. Plus he's gained a step in his skating this year and he's carrying the puck more.
This is only the beginning guys... There's more on the way and the kids here are already learning how to play the game the right way and be real professionals by guys like gio, Russell, hudler, etc.
Are people not watching the highlights of this team? How can anyone still say this team doesn't have a lot of skill?! Giordano, Brodie, Russell, wideman, hudler, Monahan, gaudreau, etc. I see so much skill all over the place. I mean... Gaudreau might just be the physical incarnation of pure hockey skill.
People need to stop pretending the oilers have anything close to the level of skill that the flames have. Not even close. And don't even try the "well, they might have more high end skill" reasoning people try to use cause it's just not true.
I love how Granlund is finally getting some recognition for his play and his talent.
I could have screamed this from rooftops last year and they would have locked me up for being a looney. I knew this kid would be this good watching him on the Heat. So glad everyone else gets to see it now.
I was with you on Granlund brotha. Over a year I've been touting this kid as a player, since the 2013 development camp when he first came over and was tearing it up with Baertschi.
He's only beginning now to get the notice he deserves. Most people still probably don't know there is a second Granlund brother in the league.
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I wonder if gaudreau just gets into "gaudreau vision" like Sherlock Holmes in the Robert Downey Jr. movies. Where time slows down and he he just plans out everything that is going to happen in his head. He makes it look so easy... he opened up andersson like a mailbox.
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