[PGT] Flames 2 - Kings 1

[calgarywinning]

Definitely the play by Gaudreau to setup the goal was great. Jiri just nailed the receipt of pass and dish back to Granlund for a great goal. LA was doing that morph bore you to death, control the pace of the game from mid second to third period.

Flames were great defensively tonight to hold on for the win. A lot of calls that should have been against LA. Ref's must have had a Xmas bet against Flames.

[tvp2003]

Pretty quiet PGT... Regulation win against the defending champs, Gaudreau sets up the GWG on a play that left four Kings sprawled on the ice, and Hiller stands on his head to seal the W.

Man, we must be getting spoiled around here...

[OzSome]

A few months ago some of posters are saying Hudler should be traded. Thank god our GM is not a CP poster.

Hudler and Glencross are starting to peak at their game and I hope it continues. We just need to get Mason Raymond to start scoring and get his confidence back. Monahan to start scoring goals but it was not because of lack of trying though. He's been getting a lot of chances lately but just hitting the post. I am sure it will come sooner. Colborne is starting to get comfortable playing as a centre and I think Stajan is fitting in as a 4th line centre. He is good in faceoff and defensive-minded. Hudler-Granlund-Gaudreau been hot of late. Too bad we might lose Granlund to the ADirondack once Backlund is back. Loving the team plays lately and they looked more confident. Hiller is looking good the last two games. Love that save on Toffolli late in the 2nd period and of course late in the game. I thought Brandon Bollig was very physical out there. Even though some of the players are not scoring right now, Flames at least do not have to worry about 4 lines in the entire game.

[Jayems]

That toe save by hiller at the end of the period.. thing of beauty.

[Traditional_Ale]

I was at the game tonight. Random thoughts:

- To the idiot who was yelling "Johnny Johnny Johnny" to get the "oi oi oi," please stop. If anyone was in that section, I yelled down from the 300's "NO! NO! NO!" It was a stupid chant when Iggy was here, and recycling a stupid chant is even more stupid.

- TJ Brodie has started making some really stupid decisions with the puck recently.

- Good Earth coffee is delicious.

- The organist tonight played Mario Brothers and Zelda. I approve of this.

- Johnny Gaudreau is very good at the game of hockey.

- Does Mason Raymond actually offer anything that Sven Baertschi doesn't?

- If the guy who bummed me a smoke outside wearing the knitted Phaneuf jersey-sweater is reading this, thanks again! Funniest random conversation ever:

"Where'd you get that!?"

... "My ex-wife made it. At least she was good for something!"

[The_Future]

Originally Posted by pylon

Hot mom drummer/annoying commercial epicness.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Pretty quiet PGT... Regulation win against the defending champs, Gaudreau sets up the GWG on a play that left four Kings sprawled on the ice, and Hiller stands on his head to seal the W.

Man, we must be getting spoiled around here...

People would rather talk about a loss, where differing opinions can come out and egos can clash. But I would attribute a lot of it to the way we kind of retreated in the final 40 and allowed the Kings to bring the play to us while leaning on Hiller to bail us out. I think it's more or less a quiet thankfulness that we came out with two points. Not enough good to brag about, and not enough bad to complain about.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Pretty quiet PGT... Regulation win against the defending champs, Gaudreau sets up the GWG on a play that left four Kings sprawled on the ice, and Hiller stands on his head to seal the W.

Man, we must be getting spoiled around here...

It's almost like it's the holidays and a lot of people aren't around for their usual routines.

[taxbuster]

Hiller looks a LOT steadier since the win against LA before Christmas -- he seems more relaxed in net. He's been covering his angles WAY better than he was - and seems to have a good feel for when to smother the puck and just slow things down. Nice to see.

That was a tough game to watch -- a lot of close calls, but also a lot of really good things. The Kings are a bit team and push us off the puck easily - but the boys are figuring out how to make up for that and recover pucks just as fast. Lots of little chips after they get beat - and they get the puck back.

Glennie made a few - and one really important - play coming back into the defensive zone. Maybe he's finally bought in. And, just when he does - he scores too. Nice to see as well.

Johnny and Huds looked small out there - but they figured out their own way around that - skill and speed. Sutter looked pissed!

Great win!! This season has been one serious roller coaster!

[djsFlames]

Yeah Brodie has fallen back down to earth, while Giordano has remained a hockey demigod. Raymond has brought nothing to the team since his return. 0 points in 10 games, after he had 5 goals and 7 points in his first 10. He just skates around, while not doing much else. Would almost rather one of the farm kids in his stead.

I also loved the Ocarina of Time themes tonight. A treat for the select group of fans in the crowd that grew up with the game.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

People would rather talk about a loss, where differing opinions can come out and egos can clash. But I would attribute a lot of it to the way we kind of retreated in the final 40 and allowed the Kings to bring the play to us while leaning on Hiller to bail us out. I think it's more or less a quiet thankfulness that we came out with two points. Not enough good to brag about, and not enough bad to complain about.

I thought it was a pretty sound game defensively playing with a lead for most of the game. There weren't too many situation where the Kings were able to get a lot of pressure. There were a few good chances obviously, and Hiller was really good, but at the same time, we had a few pretty good chances to build on the lead too. Outplayed for the most part yes, but I didn't feel that we turtled.

It's good to see that the team is handling playing long stretches with a lead quite effectively these last two games and getting away with the wins. Polar opposite to third period comebacks.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I've got to give it to Russell. I questioned him being given top 4 minutes last year and a little bit of this year as well, but he's excelled as our #3 defenseman. I definitely feel very comfortable when he is the one with the puck. We're #1 in blocked shots in the league, and he is a huge part of that.

[GreenLantern2814]

Jonas Hiller's new mask is awesome. Flat out disgusting good.

You can win a Stanley Cup with Kris Russell as your #6, I think.

The Glencross goal is ALL Sean Monahan. That's a 200 foot goal. He starts the break out from behind his own net, is in perfect support position for the winger to get the puck out of the defensive zone, and makes a pretty stop up pass to Hudler. Absolutely incredible.

Monahan has also been noticably more explosive - we're starting to see more of what his top gear looks like. When he finishes growing, he is going to be unstoppable.

#### me running Gaudreau is good. He made a two time Stanley cup champion defenseman fall into his own goalie. Green didn't have a clue what was happening. People will sign with this team to play with this kid.

Great win.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I was at the game tonight. Random thoughts:

- To the idiot who was yelling "Johnny Johnny Johnny" to get the "oi oi oi," please stop. If anyone was in that section, I yelled down from the 300's "NO! NO! NO!" It was a stupid chant when Iggy was here, and recycling a stupid chant is even more stupid.

- TJ Brodie has started making some really stupid decisions with the puck recently.

- Good Earth coffee is delicious.

- The organist tonight played Mario Brothers and Zelda. I approve of this.

- Johnny Gaudreau is very good at the game of hockey.

- Does Mason Raymond actually offer anything that Sven Baertschi doesn't?

- If the guy who bummed me a smoke outside wearing the knitted Phaneuf jersey-sweater is reading this, thanks again! Funniest random conversation ever:

"Where'd you get that!?"

... "My ex-wife made it. At least she was good for something!"

I'd rather Ferland be called up instead. He's got size and is feisty, something that was sorely lacking against the Kings. Plus it seemed like he was figuring out his offensive game right before being sent back down, might be able to spark a goal or two out of the bottom six now that Jooris is running cold

[Soliak]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I've got to give it to Russell. I questioned him being given top 4 minutes last year and a little bit of this year as well, but he's excelled as our #3 defenseman. I definitely feel very comfortable when he is the one with the puck. We're #1 in blocked shots in the league, and he is a huge part of that.

Kris Russell is the #1 at blocked shots in the league. He has a 20 blocked shot lead over his nearest rival, Josh Gorges. It'd say he is a gigantic part of that.

Go Flames!!! All that is missing is Monny getting his goal on pretty soon.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Soliak

Kris Russell is the #1 at blocked shots in the league. He has a 20 blocked shot lead over his nearest rival, Josh Gorges. It'd say he is a gigantic part of that.

Go Flames!!! All that is missing is Monny getting his goal on pretty soon.

That's one of those stats that really isn't that flattering. Don't get me wrong, it's incredible the heart and soul he shows by getting in front of all those shots, but it also means the opposition has the puck an awful lot and is shooting at your net

[getbak]

If Monahan gets a hat trick on Wednesday, everyone who bought a vehicle at Heninger Toyota over the last month or so gets $20,000 off their purchase.

I can't think of a more Oiler thing to do than give a bunch of Flames fans free/cheaper cars.

He'll break out of his funk next game.

[N-E-B]

Gaudreau, Hudler, and Hiller were excellent tonight, but lost in the shuffle was Granlund. He needs to work on his faceoffs a bit but other than that I thought he had a very strong game.

I also thought that was Stajan/Bollig/Bouma's best game as a line. Brought lots of good energy.

Engelland and Diaz have also been playing better of late. I hope they keep it up.

Colborne played well but he brought down by his linemates. Byron and Raymond have to start putting the puck in the net. I've defended Raymond in the past, but he's been awful. At least Byron is bringing energy and playing physical. Raymond is a turnover machine.

[Nasty]

Raymond is a turnover machine and a Puckhog. Multiple times where he selfishly went in trying to shoot a puck on net when he could have passed it to a player in a better position. I would rather see any farm player rather than this guy.

[calgarywinning]

I agree that Stajan,Bollig, Bouma line was hot tonight!

As far as Hiller's mask, he is back to the black and off with the red. Clearly this is important. No weak goals in the first period.