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

[Fire]

Fun Facts:

• Only 5 Flames have played all 20 games so far: Giordano, Brodie, Monahan, Glencross, Byron
• Monahan is averaging more ice-time than any other forward with 18:35. Doesn't look like he needs to be sheltered anymore.
• The Flames are scoring an average of over 3 goals a game. Another surprising Canadian team, the Jets, are maintaining a good record with less than 2 goals per game. Which is more sustainable?

[EldrickOnIce]

^Clearly Monahan no longer needs sheltering

fancy stats says so too

Through 19 games, Monahan’s progressed quite a bit. He has a 48.45% even-strength CorsiFor, a big improvement over his 43.81% from last season. He’s facing tougher competition than last year – facing Alex Ovechkin and other elite players rather than third liners. And his offensive zone starts have been significantly varied – he’s begun 44.38% of his shifts in the offensive end, compared to 54.60% a year ago. His most common line-mates this year have been Jiri Hudler and Curtis Glencross, as he’s anchored the team’s shutdown line.

http://thehockeywriters.com/sean-mon...es-top-center/

[Poe969]

So Monahan spends time with McGrattan this past summer and now he's playing amazing.... maybe we should keep McGrattan on as some sort of coach or something or just keep him on the roster and make all the kids spend time with him.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So Monahan spends time with McGrattan this past summer and now he's playing amazing.... maybe we should keep McGrattan on as some sort of coach or something or just keep him on the roster and make all the kids spend time with him.

Having him around is excellent. They love this guy. We love this guy.
Having him on the ice, not as excellent.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by 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.

Please tell this to Brian Burke, who commented the other day that we still need to get bigger, so that he doesn't encourage Treliving to make a heart breaking trade.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So Monahan spends time with McGrattan this past summer and now he's playing amazing.... maybe we should keep McGrattan on as some sort of coach or something or just keep him on the roster and make all the kids spend time with him.

I was wondering if he could play in Addy and/or be a player dev of some sort. Many seemed to agree he was more likely to end up with an NHL front office job.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

You can't tell that in 9 games after missing half a season. I think of it this way:

What harm can come from keeping him up? Lots of developmental/confidence issues, lack of playing time in key times, etc

What harm is there is sending him to Kingston? None

Agree: see BAERTSCHI, Sven

Originally Posted by Gaudfather

Coming off shoulder surgery he should start playing in Kingston.

No way he should be given the nine game cup of coffee until he is 100% back in full hockey shape.

By this time it will likely be mid to late March, and if the Flames are playing well and in the playoff hunt it may make more sense to keep Bennett with his OHL squad, particularly if they are in the playoff hunt as well.

No harm no foul if his NHL debut does not occur until October 2015.

Or 2016. Never given, always earned!

Also remember that this is almost a lost development season. I don't know how anybody could consider throwing Bennett into the lineup during a (potential) playoff chase.

As for the assertion that Bob said Sam had the team made despite injury. Sam played 2? Maybe 3? pre-season games and battled injury. Sven, Jooris and Gaudreau played 5-6 each. Of these players only Gaudreau was on the opening roster. So who exactly did Sam beat for a job? Because if Johnny was sent down, I might have screamed bloody murder. My conclusion is that Hartley was paying lip service and pumping Sam's tires a bit.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So, what does this say for the Ducks? Do they "have it all," or do they also need to add to compensate for that part of the game where the Flames owned them?

I also agree with Burke, and do look forward to the Flames getting bigger and stronger in the near future. But I no longer think that this is as major an impediment as I used to.

I think what last night really showed was how important Joe Colbourne was to this team, the "big body presense" and just being able to stay on his feet and win those board battles. I was really hoping Bollig would be able to come in and play a similar role, but it looks like he's just staying as a 4th liner, at least for now. The surprise for me, who has done it relatively quiet this year, is Lance Bouma... the guy must be scoring 4x what he was last year and is 10x the threat, turning into a David Moss kidn of player. There's a real opportunity for a player with some size and grit to come in and play a role that doesn't have a lot of competition, and Bouma seems to be the one that has stepped up and taken it.

Also found one interesting comment here, how the defense was giving Anahaim so much trouble... Brodie, Gio and Wideman in particular. As much as I want another big mean, physical defenseman, I'm starting to get why some say you need 5 puck moving D and only 1 physical D these days. Tyler Wotherspoon, from limited viewings, actually seems to be the right mix to be one of those guys...looking forward to his callup.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

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.

Wow. I was at State & Main enjoying the Jameson too much I think .. Damn

[djsFlames]

For fun, here's some player stats projections based on current pace:

Jiri Hudler: 26G 38A - 64pts

Sean Monahan: 29G 21A - 50pts

Johnny Gaudreau: 13G 43A - 56pts

Curtis Glencross: 8G 33A - 41pts

Lance Bouma: 21G 13A - 34pts


And this is where things get really funky, on defence:

Dennis Wideman: 30G 16A - 46pts

Mark Giordano: 25G 62A - 87pts

TJ Brodie: 16G 49A - 65pts

[Barnet Flame]

It has been the longest day, avoiding the score so I can watch the game as live.

It felt like Christmas Eve.

And like Santa, the Flames delivered.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by heep223

Please tell this to Brian Burke, who commented the other day that we still need to get bigger, so that he doesn't encourage Treliving to make a heart breaking trade.

We also have some grit in the pipeline with Bennett, Poirier and Ferland.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by heep223

Please tell this to Brian Burke, who commented the other day that we still need to get bigger, so that he doesn't encourage Treliving to make a heart breaking trade.

If the goal is beating the Ducks 4 times in 7 games, instead of a random Tuesday evening in November, the Flames will need more size - at least more than was in the lineup last night.

[MissTeeks]

Well now I'm excited for tomorrow:

“@NHLFlames: Hey @calstampeders, we shot a video for you this morning! Watch for it tomorrow ... #WhateverItTakes #YearOfTheHorse http://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/...430912/photo/1




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AcGold]

The part that worries me is Bennett being not reckless but almost too eager to put his body on the line. The guy has skill and speed, hopefully he can learn to pace himself to have a lengthy career. He's almost got too much of the Flames attitude in him, he'd use his face to block a shot when we need him putting up big numbers.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Locke

After 2 weeks in Adirondack then decide.

Coming off a shoulder surgery, see where the team is and what they need, but dont drop a recently injured kid from junior into the bigtime after 6 months out of the game.



To this day I cant believe he was still there.

I swear to God, on days when I fold my tinfoil hat precisely 30 times one way and exactly 15.75 times the opposite way I could swear that Brian Burke somehow got the word out that he overruled Treliving as GM because he dearly, desperately, uncontrollably wanted Leon Draisaitl just so Lowe would leave Bennett on the table.

When Burke said of Draisaitl "I don't like him" we assumed he was doing some misdirection but evidently he meant it. It fooled the Oilers though.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Well now I'm excited for tomorrow:

“@NHLFlames: Hey @calstampeders, we shot a video for you this morning! Watch for it tomorrow ... #WhateverItTakes #YearOfTheHorse http://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/...430912/photo/1




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Two of the Stamps new offensive linemen - gteed to give Bo Levi all the time he needs!

[Itse]

Originally Posted by heep223

Please tell this to Brian Burke, who commented the other day that we still need to get bigger, so that he doesn't encourage Treliving to make a heart breaking trade.

I think people are making too much of that. His job is always wanting a better team. Wanting us to be bigger does not mean he wants us to be otherwise any different. Just better.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Burke still wants to get big to cover for those 2 periods.

I'd agree with Rhett and as Burke has said you need everything to compete with all these teams, size, skill, speed etc. We just need to add couple bigger players up front. As much as I like their speed and skill, the Gaudreau/Sven/Granlund/Byron etc will get beat up in a 7 game series. You need everything but we're on track to get it all.

Poirier will be a good add. I'd love to add a guy like Brett Ritchie from Dallas but I doubt they let him go.

Sven-Monahan-Poirier
Gaudreau-Granlund-Ritchie

Would look good in the future.

Is Bennett on the 3rd line?

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Can't get too loud with a celebration because everyone is sleeping, but this was my reaction after Hiller's final save.



I have a man crush on this team. Can't get enough.

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

He's one helluva player, objectively speaking, but I hate him with the fire of a thousand suns.

I refuse to even give him props for being a good player. He makes me nauseous, he's such a jackass.. - My grandmother would have called him a 'pilgarlic.' The thought of him enrages me- so glad to see him put in his place.