[GDT] Flames @ Sharks, 8:30 pm, SNW - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Cali Panthers Fan · 11-26-2014, 08:13 AM

Flames: 13-8-2, 28 points, 3rd in division, 5th conference, 9th league

Sharks: 10-9-4, 24 points, 5th in division, 10th conference, 18th league

The Honda Center curse lives on. How else can you explain a team outshooting and out-chancing a great team like the Ducks and coming out empty handed. They had a goal off a defenseman's skate, a puck land right on Perry's stick in the slot which he barely got enough of to score, and a weak goal through the pads that Hiller normally stops. The Flames managed to score 2 very good goals and another that was called back because of a kick. The only issues the Flames had in their own zone all night were when Getzlaf and Perry were on the ice, and we aren't the only team to experience that problem, as those are two elite forwards.

So the Flames move on to the Shark Tank, AKA the SAP Center which doesn't have the same ring to it. It's a building that the Flames managed to…not pick up a single point last year, and they haven't won there since February of 2012 (yikes). However, the Flames did manage to win 2 of the 5 games last year against the Sharks. Each team had a convincing regulation win and a OT/SO win, and the third game was a closely contested 3-2 loss for the Flames.

The Sharks might feel like the road team tonight anyways, since they've only played 7 of their 23 games in their home building so far this year. That might have something to do with why they look so mediocre this year. Ranked 18th in GF/G and 15th in GA/G, they are the very definition of a middling team. The goalies have been decent this year. None of the 3 have a Sv% under .915 or a GAA over 2.60. I would even argue that the leaders and high end talent have been good, as the top 5 of Thornton, Marleau, Couture, Pavelski, and Burns all have 18 points or more. The problem with this team is zero depth. Their bottom 6 forwards and bottom 4 defensemen have been a whole lot of "meh". This is also a team that has been poor 5 on 5 with a 0.86 F/A ratio ranking 24th. They've been compensating a lot with their power play, which is operating at a blistering 23.3% good for 4th in the league. When you combine that with the Flames awful PK operating at 73.8% (29th in the league), it's a recipe for disaster. This is a team the Flames will have to do what they did against Anaheim last night, don't take any penalty that results in a shorthanded situation. The Sharks PK has been solid at 82.6%, giving their special teams a combined percentage of 105.9%.

The Flames offense has been chugging along nicely. Glencross continues his point production with an assist last night as did Giordano. TJ Brodie had a nice night with a goal and an assist. His goal pushed him to 5 for the year which is already more than his tally for all of last season. Clearly he's been listening to his coaches who want him to shoot more. Gaudreau and Granlund had a less than spectacular night. Even though they managed to draw a few of penalties, they finished the night with no points and both were -2. The Flames need to tighten up their defense as their numbers have been in free fall of late. They were top 10 not a couple weeks ago and have plummeted to 20th in GA/G with 2.74. The goalies, who were so good to start the year, have to start shutting the door and definitely stop giving up weak goals. Ramo got the win in the last game, but he still allowed 4 goals, not getting a whole lot of help from the defense. Sure, the amount of rookies in the lineup is going to lead to more mistakes, but there needs to be a stronger commitment to their own zone and getting the puck out with more urgency. However, some of the rooks played well. Baertschi was creating plenty of chances in a limited 4th line role and Knight had some strong play with a few decent shots and a 100% FO percentage.

Flames
Glencross-Monahan-Bouma
Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler
Ferland-Jooris-Byron
Baertschi-Knight-Bollig

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Engelland

Ramo

Sharks
Marleau-Thornton-Hertl
Nieto-Couture-Pavelski
Goodrow-Sheppard-Wingels
McGinn-Desjardins-Kennedy

Burns-Vlasic
Braun-Mueller
Dillon-Tennyson

Niemi

Go Flames Go!!!

puffnstuff · 11-26-2014, 08:19 AM

Bouma, love him, but needs to not play with Monahan and Glencross.

JJ1532 · 11-26-2014, 08:32 AM

I see the point about the home/away results, but their home results have been worse than their road ones. 2 wins from 7 in their own place, those being against Winnipeg and the Islanders. But they've lost(either in regulation, OT or a SO) to the teams currently ranked 29th, 28th, 25th and 24th. Thats not good.

Lots of rumours of unrest. Weren't they contemplating blowing up and beginning a full rebuild in the off season? Rumours that Wilson was speaking to Dan Bylsma about taking over from McLellan too recently(which obviously were rubbished by Wilson). They seem like a car crash in their own zone, let in as many as we have. Their top scorers have terrible +/- scores too, Burns is -7!

Really fancy our chances of getting something here. If we are serious about making the play offs, now is the time to prove it. A wobbling franchise showing cracks and being there for the taking, plus being a divisional rival just below us. As long as we aren't too banged up and fatigued from last night, I'm really optimistic we can get something tonight.

Lets just make sure we start well and don't give them any headstarts.

FlameZilla · 11-26-2014, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Bouma, love him, but needs to not play with Monahan and Glencross.

That line essentially functions as our shut-down defensive line these days. They get the toughest defensive assignments and zone starts, so it makes sense to me that our best shot-blocker & defensive winger slots in there.

Once Stajan or Backlund return I think we'll see Glencross/Monahan paired with a more creative winger.

Puppet Guy · 11-26-2014, 08:34 AM

Table 5 · 11-26-2014, 08:34 AM

I have a feeling this will be our first back to back loss this year. Winning streaks often tend to show themselves before you actually start winning games, and so do losing streaks. Despite the high-drama comebacks, this team hasn't really played a complete game since they played the Sens two weeks ago.

Finger Cookin · 11-26-2014, 08:38 AM

killer_carlson · 11-26-2014, 08:42 AM

McGrattan has to be in the lineup tonight. SJ has too many idiots on their team not to dress our nuclear deterrant.

sureLoss · 11-26-2014, 08:43 AM

Hartley previously said that Jones is expected to play this game. Means someone is getting sent down today if that is still the case

JJ1532 · 11-26-2014, 08:50 AM

Its got to be Setoguchi, surely? Sven hasn't been great overall, but he has 3 more points than Setoguchi has and has certainly "earned" a longer stay with the team. He might well be second in the queue to head back down, but he really shouldn't be the first.

If I was him, I'd be pretty miffed if Setoguchi was kept up and I was sent down, regardless of the reasons behind it.

Cali Panthers Fan · 11-26-2014, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Hartley previously said that Jones is expected to play this game. Means someone is getting sent down today if that is still the case

Sadly, odds are that it will be Baertschi. I guess it could be Knight, but we still really need centers to win some face-offs and he's done a great job of that. Further to that point, Jones would slot in nicely on the top line and Bouma can handle 4th line center duties if need be.

Cali Panthers Fan · 11-26-2014, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Its got to be Setoguchi, surely? Sven hasn't been great overall, but he has 3 more points than Setoguchi has and has certainly "earned" a longer stay with the team. He might well be second in the queue to head back down, but he really shouldn't be the first.

If I was him, I'd be pretty miffed if Setoguchi was kept up and I was sent down, regardless of the reasons behind it.

If it were Seto he would have been put on waivers already. It should be him though.

devo22 · 11-26-2014, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Its got to be Setoguchi, surely? Sven hasn't been great overall, but he has 3 more points than Setoguchi has and has certainly "earned" a longer stay with the team. He might well be second in the queue to head back down, but he really shouldn't be the first.

If I was him, I'd be pretty miffed if Setoguchi was kept up and I was sent down, regardless of the reasons behind it.

It's either Sven or Knight because Seto requires waivers and that would have needed to happen yesterday for him to clear ahead of tonights game. And given our FO situation, it'll be Sven to go down IMO ... and that really sucks.

Robo · 11-26-2014, 08:53 AM

Not sure of the rule but seto would have had to be put on waivers yesterday wouldnt he?

sureLoss · 11-26-2014, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Its got to be Setoguchi, surely? Sven hasn't been great overall, but he has 3 more points than Setoguchi has and has certainly "earned" a longer stay with the team. He might well be second in the queue to head back down, but he really shouldn't be the first.

If I was him, I'd be pretty miffed if Setoguchi was kept up and I was sent down, regardless of the reasons behind it.

Well if they kept Baertschi he would most likely be the healthy scratch. Is that what is best for his development?

Cali Panthers Fan · 11-26-2014, 08:54 AM

Bah, one thing I failed to mention in the OP, the Sharks have lost to the Buffalo Sabres, twice.

sureLoss · 11-26-2014, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ1532

Its got to be Setoguchi, surely? Sven hasn't been great overall, but he has 3 more points than Setoguchi has and has certainly "earned" a longer stay with the team. He might well be second in the queue to head back down, but he really shouldn't be the first.

If I was him, I'd be pretty miffed if Setoguchi was kept up and I was sent down, regardless of the reasons behind it.

Well if they kept Baertschi he would most likely be the healthy scratch. Is that what is best for his development?

Setoguchi in the pressbox while Baertschi or Knight get playing time in the AHL is the best case scenario for the Flames.

Finger Cookin · 11-26-2014, 08:55 AM

As the most recent call up, Knight seems most likely to be the first player returned.

troutman · 11-26-2014, 08:57 AM

Let's start the game playing like we finished the last two games.

Cali Panthers Fan · 11-26-2014, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

McGrattan has to be in the lineup tonight. SJ has too many idiots on their team not to dress our nuclear deterrant.

I would only dress McGrattan if John Scott were playing. The Sharks aren't the big tough team they usually are in past years. Bollig, Engelland, and Ferland can handle anyone not named Burns.