[PGT] Flames 1 - Blackhawks 2

[Wastedyouth]

One thing I should have mentioned is that even though the Flames are being out possessed at even strength, it's not that the shot rates against are incredibly high, it's just that the Flames shot chances for are too low. And now that they aren't sporting an above average shooting percentage, the goals aren't as easy.

The Flames need to keep up the consistent suppression of shot rates against (or better yet, improve them) and start generating more. Otherwise there are gonna be an awful lot more 1 goal games, and the majority of them won't go in the Flames favour.

[Cflames_12.5]

Losing sucks. I can't be mad though. The season up to now including the losses have been very entertaining. This team is moving in the right direction. They keep going this way the only direction is up.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Camronius

whut JG blows a tire and somehow it's his fault there was no defensemen left in our zone. Seems like a few players were over zealous and forgot their #1 responsibility in a 1-1 game.

The D have full green light to play like forwards in the O zone and on the rush. Hartley's mantra is attack with 5 and defend with 5. A blown tire is really nobody's fault but I certainly don't blame the D for jumping into the rush...that's what's been giving us success all year.

[sharkov]

It sucks how we end up with zero points in this road trip. We were playing well for most of it

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by heep223

The D have full green light to play like forwards in the O zone and on the rush. Hartley's mantra is attack with 5 and defend with 5. A blown tire is really nobody's fault but I certainly don't blame the D for jumping into the rush...that's what's been giving us success all year.

That's not really true. They have the green light to make smart jumps. There's no green light for both defensemen to jump ahead of two Blackhawks.

[crapshoot]

One thing that was pretty annoying this game was how the Hawks fourth line had a few stints of sustained pressure cycling our zone while facing the Monahan and Gaudreau lines. Please stop getting outplayed by the Carcillos and Smiths of the world. That's when WE are supposed to get some offence going, not the other way around.

[calumniate]

Nothing like a bit of pressure. Cardiac flames never cease to amaze!

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

The team is still getting dominated 5 on 5. They played ok during this 5 game losing streak, but except for the Buffalo game, they really just sawed off at even strength. Which means it was a coin flip, especially when the special teams are not dominant.

Tonight and with the Pens, the Flames at even strength got destroyed. And when that happens regularly, eventually you lose and continue to lose unless A: You start playing drastically better at even strength, or B: Your goaltending or shooting percentage trends quite a bit above average.

On the plus side, over the last 10 games the Flames even strength play is trending upward. Slightly, but still, its getting better. If they continue on this path, their numbers might look like a middling team in a month or so.

Well I am shocked that the Flames aren't as good as the Hawks and Penguins.

Mind blown.

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

The team is still getting dominated 5 on 5. They played ok during this 5 game losing streak, but except for the Buffalo game, they really just sawed off at even strength. Which means it was a coin flip, especially when the special teams are not dominant.

Tonight and with the Pens, the Flames at even strength got destroyed.

I actually thought we outplayed Chicago at even strength. Giving up a goal 6 seconds into a powerplay and barely getting a shot off during our 3 opportunities with the man advantage was what cost us the game.

Overall, it was a very solid effort by the Flames, and a loss that I'd have almost felt good about if it hadn't followed 4 other losses.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by heep223

The D have full green light to play like forwards in the O zone and on the rush. Hartley's mantra is attack with 5 and defend with 5. A blown tire is really nobody's fault but I certainly don't blame the D for jumping into the rush...that's what's been giving us success all year.

I agree. When the Flames are scoring and winning because of the D's joining the rush, people are all for it and very happy even suggesting Hartley is a genius and awesome play by the D. When it doesn't work especially it turned out to be the winning goal for the other team, we are all over the D questioning why. I wouldn't blame anyone on that play. Gaudreau blew his tire and fell, Flames got caught and Chicago scored because of it. That's it we lost to a good team simple as that. Flames are in a 5-games losing streak(1 from home and 4 from road games). All the things that are working for them early in the season doesn't seem to be working lately.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by gargamel

I actually thought we outplayed Chicago at even strength. Giving up a goal 6 seconds into a powerplay and barely getting a shot off during our 3 opportunities with the man advantage was what cost us the game.

Overall, it was a very solid effort by the Flames, and a loss that I'd have almost felt good about if it hadn't followed 4 other losses.

Nope, Flames gave up double the Shot attempts against at even strength than they generated. They gave up 70 even strength chances. and only generate 32. Thats domination by the Blackhawks.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Nope, Flames gave up double the Shot attempts against at even strength than they generated. They gave up 70 even strength chances. and only generate 32. Thats domination by the Blackhawks.

One should probably look at stats of other teams versus Chicago, to see where the Flames stand. They are arguably the best team in the NHL. Best possession team for sure IMO. The Flames may have been dominated (visually it didn't seem so ) but they are not as good as Chicago. They question in year 2 of an RB is how good they are compared to the league in general, not the best team.