We'll be fine

[troutman]

Sam Bennett is going to save us. No pressure.

[polak]

Originally Posted by heep223

Regardless of all of this, not recognizing that we were the better team against the Sabres discredits your hockey knowledge. Sry but you can dominate a team and still lose see Flames vs Hawks back at start of season for one of many examples.

They were not the better team against the Sabres.

[flambers]

Flames were due to hit a losing any time..... they were getting so much luck with the ability to win games in the 3rd etc..

Now the Flames need to learn how to end these type of slides....

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by heep223

Regardless of all of this, not recognizing that we were the better team against the Sabres discredits your hockey knowledge. Sry but you can dominate a team and still lose see Flames vs Hawks back at start of season for one of many examples.

The Sabres gave up a lot of perimeter shots but it was the Flames that gave up three easy open net goals. Just quit while you are ahead here. The Sabres were the better team that night as the score indicates. Stop making excuses for losing.

[Poe969]

I believe in basic stats, not advanced stats. Goals for per game and goals against per game are the biggest ones for me. To say that one team played better than the other and lost doesn't really jive, one team can out hustle or work harder but the team that executes the most plays better. The Flames played well and are showing improvement but still aren't winning games. Give them time to refine their game and learn, they have to make mistakes to learn from them an I feel they are.

[-TC-]

I think the vets who've just come back need a bit of time to get their legs..then we'll see where the Flames are.

[SportsJunky]

Darryl Sutter used to say that a losing streak starts a number of games before the streak does. The Flames had developed some bad habits before this five game losing streak and it caught up with them.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

We're seeing the difference between proven NHL scoring and relying on hot hands from unproven scorers. The Flames have scored 8 goals in 5 games. While I think the team will pull out of this tail-spin, scoring goals will continue to be a problem. But that's something we knew heading into the season.

Pretty much agree. That's why I'm excited about adding Bennett and Poirier next season to up scoring punch.

[locsofblu]

Thank god. I can take this noose off that's around my neck.

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Sabres gave up a lot of perimeter shots but it was the Flames that gave up three easy open net goals. Just quit while you are ahead here. The Sabres were the better team that night as the score indicates. Stop making excuses for losing.

I'm just seeing a difference in opinion between what makes a team "better".

I agree with you. These weren't lucky caroms or seeing eye shots beating the Flames. These were defensive breakdowns allowing Sabres easy goals. Hard to annoint the Flames better in this case. They were better at puck possession and generating shots no doubt. But it was no fluke they gave up four and lost the game.

No better example than the 4th goal. Beauty passing play almost nets the Sabres an open net tap in. But winger misses and the puck, it rebounds up the boards where Ennis collects and passes across for another open net tap in. This one they convert.

Giving two open net chances in a span of 5 seconds are not indicators of a team playing better than their opponents.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Darryl Sutter used to say that a losing streak starts a number of games before the streak does. The Flames had developed some bad habits before this five game losing streak and it caught up with them.

The Flames went on an 11 game losing streak in the 1985-86 season. The streak actually started and ended later than it should have because they weren't playing well when they won a few games before the streak began and they were playing very well for the last couple of games before the streak ended.

What I am trying to say is, I hope we lose 6 more games because history repeats itself, right? We're going to the Cup final, baby!

Seriously though. As frustrating as it is to lose, I didn't expect the Flames to be sitting so high in the standings so I'm just happy that the season, as a whole, has been as successful as it has been. Were the Flames going to sustain it? No, and you don't need advanced stats to tell you that.

Losing sucks, but I'm not too down on it because we're doing much better than I anticipated. Even when they lose, thanks to their early season ability to come from behind and tie the game up late in the game, you think that the Flames have a chance, even with 10 seconds or less left on the clock. I'm entertained when they lose just as much as I am when they win. All in all it has been a fun year to be a Flames fan.

Thank you, Flames.

[FBI]

Can somebody put together our player stats over the past 5 games? I'm interested in who is still playing well despite the losing streak and who has crapped the bed.

[ricardodw]

Wonder if we end up back in the race for the bottom 3... as per the orginal best hope for the season.... competitive check, bringing in new young players check...... Only 10 pts up on #28 Columbus who have picked up 10 pts over the last 5 games.

The real worry and problem is the NHL talent evaluation process that brought in Raymond, Engelland and Stajan for the 3 3 and 4 years at above market salaries.

Even Setogouchi , (I know small risk, but no chance based on his full season with the Jets) makes you wonder if the Flames NHL scouting team is substandard.

[EldrickOnIce]

As is generally the case, Darren Haynes gets it exactly right:
http://flamesfrom80feet.blogspot.ca/...ected.html?m=1

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Darryl Sutter used to say that a losing streak starts a number of games before the streak does. The Flames had developed some bad habits before this five game losing streak and it caught up with them.

Exactly. And that sometimes you play pretty good before you turn losses into wins again

[Bandwagon In Flames]

That time of year where my name has meaning..

The Flames have played a great team game this season and received praise around the league from players to Flame hating analysts. It's too soon and they've played too well during their losing streak for fans to be giving up hope already.

Teams are now in mid-season form, while we've recently injected 3 forwards who are back in pre-season form. Take that with the fact EVERY lost game was clearly winnable and you'll see that there's nothing to worry about.

The team has great forward depth so the injuries didn't hinder us in the first place, but we are paying the short-term price now.

I hope.

[Enoch Root]

Great article by Haynes and he does get it exactly right. The following quote is spot on...

Why wallow in the numbers, the underlying stats, that suggest Calgary's not good right now. Instead, enjoy what's happening right now, realizing that this team is only going to get better.

It's early in the rebuild. The kids are young. Of course they're not dominant yet. How about enjoying the fact that they have been as good as they have been, instead of whining that they aren't yet cup contenders?

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

As is generally the case, Darren Haynes gets it exactly right:
http://flamesfrom80feet.blogspot.ca/...ected.html?m=1

From the article:

Why wallow in the numbers, the underlying stats, that suggest Calgary's not good right now. Instead, enjoy what's happening right now, realizing that this team is only going to get better.

Why are they mutually exclusive? Why can't a fan enjoy a winning run, and also recognize that it's unlikely to continue?

I really hope this fanbase doesn't develop a reputation as a bunch of snivelers who dismiss advanced stats because they suggest things we don't want to hear. Let's be better than Oilers and Leafs fans.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Why are they mutually exclusive? Why can't a fan enjoy a winning run, and also recognize that it's unlikely to continue?

I really hope this fanbase doesn't develop a reputation as a bunch of snivelers who dismiss advanced stats because they suggest things we don't want to hear. Let's be better than Oilers and Leafs fans.

Absolutely.
Sometimes it's maybe even more enjoyable when you know it can't last.
It was the easily best story in the NHL for a third of the season.

[heep223]

Every time I read the title of this thread I think of this: