[PGT] Ducks 3 @ Flames 4 - Yeaaaaaahhhhhh Baby!!!

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

For an official flagship radio station of an NHL team, that's an absolutely wretched morning show.

Rhett Warrener is such a clown. He adds absolutely nothing. The show has 10% hockey and sports content and 90% filler with jokes, Rhett mumbling about his days off and the other two making fun of Rhett.

[OzSome]

I am really tired of hearing Flames are too small and yet they still play like a big team with speed a lot of times this season. The topic usually comes up when the Flames lose or one of the players get manhandled once. Game in and game out our best players are not big like Gaudreau, Brodie, Giordano(he is not big but he plays big), Byron, Granlund, Russell and Hudler. These guys never really back down from physical play. It annoys me to hear Eric Francis commenting Brian Burke still thinks the team is still small. I hope he is not meddling with Brad Treliving's decision. Or Francis suggesting thinking it is still Burke making decisions on this team. I like that Burke is being quiet in the background these days and he is letting Treliving and Hartley makes the decisions which is the right thing.
Chicago wasn't too big when they won the Cup. They were skilled and fast. I don't think the Flames were manhandled by Anaheim last night in the first two periods. The only physical stuff I've seen was Jackman playing dirty on Gaudreau but when Engelland answered the bell, it pretty much stopped. Flames problem in those two periods were they tried to play the Anaheim game rather than play the in-your face forechecking and speed game that they usually have success this season. Even Gio mentioned it on the interview after the game.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

Don't know if this has been mentioned but Corey Perry and Getzlaf were both a -3.

You don't see that often from 2 elite players.

Edit: And Granlund was a +3.

I thought Monahan was very effective in shutting down Getzlaf last night. He was quite effective and essentially made Getzlaf a non-factor. Monahan is playing outstanding and just getting better. He is a difference maker when he doesn't score which is an incredible asset for this team.

[Flames89]

Well, I also was one who went to bed after the 2nd, though I was looking a 6 hours sleep at that point. My lack of faith deserves the hurt.
This morning at work I put on the 3rd period replay and listened to it minimized on my computer while opening the window during key moments. I have never done that before for a regular season Flames game. I knew the score, I read the articles on the way in to work, and yet I had to see it and simple highlights wouldn't cut it. Pretty awesome.

[badger89]

I must be in the minority, but I thought the flames played a pretty good first 2 periods. They had their hands full with a very talented and aggressive Anaheim team who were also playing very well. But they contained them, won their fair share of board battles, and came out fairly even in scoring chances. Shots were deceiving as Anaheim had a lot of lower quality chances, while the Flames had some high quality chances where they completely missed the net. Then we really took it over in the 3rd, as usual this season. I thought they played really well and how they need to in order to beat these West coast teams.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by nik-

Ugh, so annoyed. Couldn't stay awake and passed out in the second. Missed the whole thing!

I fell asleep during the 2nd intermission. Woke up just as Perry was about to take his shootout attempt.

[Flames89]

Also, where is the gif of a bouncing Hiller?

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

http://moby.to/3jduj3

He didn't score here or anything, but it's plays like this that make me so excited about Gaudreau.

The was such a spectacular play. Intercepted a pass to eliminate a scoring chance and then the team transitions the other way. Awesome. If I had to pick one thing to critique Johnny on it's that I wish he would shoot more. But that will come. He's been proving everyone wrong since he was a kid with his success so I have no doubt he'll get his goals soon enough. Johnny took some abuse all game but the team stuck up for him which was nice to see.

And Granlund at almost a PPG? Unreal. Not the biggest guy, but he won almost every puck battle he was in against a much bigger team. Still buzzing this morning after that win last night.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Is anyone coming around to the idea of keeping Wideman around? 7 goals from the blue line already...!

Gaudreau – Granlund – Hudler are a tricky trio to cope with. Exceptional forecheck by Johnny to set up Wideman's second goal. That kind of play gets people out of their seats.

Speaking of seats, how was the attendance? Lower bowl looked fairly quiet again. What does this team have to do to fill the Saddledome these days?

If it's the play I'm thinking of, it was Byron's forecheck which caused the turnover, where Gaudreau picked up the puck and passed it to Wideman. IIRC, Byron made the Ducks turn and/or pass three or four times with his forecheck.


And regarding the noise/lower bowl - it was definitely quiet the first two periods. But it has nothing to do with the lower bowl or the lack of a sellout - it wasn't an exciting game and the Flamed were getting manhandled. The third period had a playoff-like atmosphere - it was crazy loud.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FFR

If it's the play I'm thinking of, it was Byron's forecheck which caused the turnover, where Gaudreau picked up the puck and passed it to Wideman. IIRC, Byron made the Ducks turn and/or pass three or four times with his forecheck.


And regarding the noise/lower bowl - it was definitely quiet the first two periods. But it has nothing to do with the lower bowl or the lack of a sellout - it wasn't an exciting game and the Flamed were getting manhandled. The third period had a playoff-like atmosphere - it was crazy loud.

Byron had a few plays on the boards where he was channelling his inner Johnny. A couple times he did the hook or the twist away from the defender and I thought it was Gaudreau until I saw the number.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by lanny9

That may be the case for a game during the season but I would hate to have to meet them in the playoffs at this stage. We aren't big enough up front to deal with the west coast teams over a 7 game series imo. They would wear us down the way LA wears teams down. We are very fast and hard working but taking the hits and rubs would take it's toll over time. So really like what we are developing for the base of this team, give us 3 years to bring in some size and watch out!

First of all, I am firmly in the camp that you can't have a soft team - size and physicality matter. But this argument that the west is big and physical and you have to play like ANA and LAK is way overdone.

In the last 7 years, 5 of the cup finalists from the west were skill teams: Detroit 2, Chicago 2, and Van. The only physical team to make it has been LA and they were lucky to get by CHI last year (or it would be 6 of the last 7).

IMO, the Flames are modelled more like CHI than any of the Pacific teams. CHI beats you with speed and mobility at the backend. Yes, they can handle the rough stuff, and that is important. But it is not who they are.

Same can be said about Detroit.

The Flames have to get bigger, no question. But some of the guys coming - Bennett, Poirier, Ferland, Wotherspoon and (hopefully) Sieloff - add a lot of grit, along with tons of speed and skill.

They showed last night that they won't be intimidated - that's the most important thing. Once some of the bigger and grittier kids come up, that will be fine.

[Cflames_12.5]

Did I miss something or Jesse Lumsden being sour grapes. He's been tweeting since last night that Peter Mahr was forced out of the booth.


J Lumley
‏@lummer1
@NHLFlames for the record - the public knows Peter wasn't ready to leave his job. Your treatment of such an icon is disgraceful

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

The was such a spectacular play. Intercepted a pass to eliminate a scoring chance and then the team transitions the other way. Awesome. If I had to pick one thing to critique Johnny on it's that I wish he would shoot more. But that will come. He's been proving everyone wrong since he was a kid with his success so I have no doubt he'll get his goals soon enough. Johnny took some abuse all game but the team stuck up for him which was nice to see.

And Granlund at almost a PPG? Unreal. Not the biggest guy, but he won almost every puck battle he was in against a much bigger team. Still buzzing this morning after that win last night.

The most amazing thing about that play, IMO, was that the Flames went off on a poor line change and ANA were entering the zone 4 on 2. If you watch at the top of the screen to start the play, you can see Gaudreau recognizes this, hops over the boards, and immediately goes full speed on the back-check. It is that immediate recognition, and the effort and speed, that allowed him to catch up to the paly and intercept the pass.

Then when he sling-shotted around the net, he was absolutely flying! I thought they were going to get the winner on that play for sure.

They also should have won it on Brodie's rebound. Unlucky there. It should never have gone to a shoot-out.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Drury18

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 and 29 others believed he was the 3rd best prospect on this team before the start of the season. Looks like we are being proven correct.

http://http://forum.calgarypuck.com/...lts&pollid=958

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The most amazing thing about that play, IMO, was that the Flames went off on a poor line change and ANA were entering the zone 4 on 2. If you watch at the top of the screen to start the play, you can see Gaudreau recognizes this, hops over the boards, and immediately goes full speed on the back-check. It is that immediate recognition, and the effort and speed, that allowed him to catch up to the paly and intercept the pass.

Then when he sling-shotted around the net, he was absolutely flying! I thought they were going to get the winner on that play for sure.

They also should have won it on Brodie's rebound. Unlucky there. It should never have gone to a shoot-out.

Normally I would agree, but in this case I think it made for the best story. Hiller was in control of his destiny, and absolutely loved playing hero against his old team. That's got to feel good, especially after Hiller's last couple games.

[DoubleF]

I'm wondering if having Gaudreau and Byron together actually helps to protect Johnny. They're both very fast players and difficult to identify from a players perspective at times. Byron's the type to get nasty if treated poorly, so teams have to think twice before hitting our little guys or playing dirty with them.

I'm thinking some players know Byron can and will hurt them if they're not careful. That half second hesitation or verification of Byron vs Johnny gives Johnny all the time necessary to make a play, dodge a physical play or speed off elsewhere.

Thoughts?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by FFR

If it's the play I'm thinking of, it was Byron's forecheck which caused the turnover, where Gaudreau picked up the puck and passed it to Wideman. IIRC, Byron made the Ducks turn and/or pass three or four times with his forecheck.


And regarding the noise/lower bowl - it was definitely quiet the first two periods. But it has nothing to do with the lower bowl or the lack of a sellout - it wasn't an exciting game and the Flamed were getting manhandled. The third period had a playoff-like atmosphere - it was crazy loud.

Johnny dug the puck out and gave it to Wideman for the goal

[SofaProfessor]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I'm wondering if having Gaudreau and Byron together actually helps to protect Johnny. They're both very fast players and difficult to identify from a players perspective at times. Byron's the type to get nasty if treated poorly, so teams have to think twice before hitting our little guys or playing dirty with them.

I'm thinking some players know Byron can and will hurt them if they're not careful. That half second hesitation or verification of Byron vs Johnny gives Johnny all the time necessary to make a play, dodge a physical play or speed off elsewhere.

Thoughts?

I don't think guys are hesitating because Byron could hurt them. If that were the case then no one would ever hit guys like Bouma, Bollig, Gio, Engelland, etc.

I think having two speedy guys like that makes guys hesitate because they're so good at ducking hits and moving away from pressure. If someone goes for the big hit and misses, there's no way they're catching Johnny or Byron. And they have to hope their teammates have the other guy covered or he's off to races on a 2 on 1 or 2 on 0.

[-TC-]

Originally Posted by Flames89

Well, I also was one who went to bed after the 2nd, though I was looking a 6 hours sleep at that point. My lack of faith deserves the hurt.
This morning at work I put on the 3rd period replay and listened to it minimized on my computer while opening the window during key moments. I have never done that before for a regular season Flames game. I knew the score, I read the articles on the way in to work, and yet I had to see it and simple highlights wouldn't cut it. Pretty awesome.

link to the replay please!

[Itse]

When you put speed against strength, I'd say there's at least an equal chance that the slower team will get tired before the weaker team. Trying to keep up with a faster team takes a toll.

I didn't see size as being the issue against the Ducks, and we were missing some sizable guys in Colborne and Jones, plus Backlund who is no pushover. Speed is the best weapon against size, and we got that. Mostly the Ducks controlled the first two periods with skill, team play, discipline and hard work.

More than getting more players with size, I'd like to see an upgrade on the physical players we have. Jones is ok but never healthy. Setoguchi, Bollig and McGrattan are all pretty useless.

Other comments from the game:
- Diaz was okay when we needed him. It's what you want out of a depth defenseman.
- We're spoiled in having so many rookies that are so consistent (Jooris, Granlund, Gaudreau). Unfortunately it makes Baertchis inconsistency stand out.