PGT- Wild 1 - Booing Man Loses

[nmhen]

I confess I haven't watched the Flames much (at all) before last night.

It's easy to see why you're one of the surprise teams of the season, though. Hard work (a Hartley staple), good pace, opportunistic offense, good goaltending, and chemistry. No one player bigger than the team as a whole - even Gaudreau. I would much prefer to watch the Flames in the playoffs than the likes of San Jose, Vancouver, or Dallas.

[ForeverFlameFan]

This is the first time we've been shut out. I'm not even mad. Get over it, move on, win the next game.

And it's funny that some are angry that Byron didn't score, 1/18 players can't be relied on. We had good chances, Dubnyk just had a better game. It happens.

[Coach]

A frustrating game for sure. Lots of chances, especially near the end. Gaudreau was all over the ice, I though for sure he was going to have something to do with the tying goal.

I'd like to see all the call ups slot into the line-up for next game, just to get some fresh blood and remind a few guys that there are guys nipping at their heels.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Sven - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Jooris - Jones
Wolf - Stajan - Byron

Brodie - Giordano
Russell - Wideman
Wotherspoon - Diaz

Raymond needs to be in-check, he's just not affecting the play at all. Might as well see of someone can do better. All Sven would have to do is match his defensive play (which is mediocre) and bring some more offensive creativity and he would be a better option. And don't shout about his AHL totals vs Raymonds NHL. Raymond has been bad, and Sven has been hot in the A the last 15 or so games. Sven may not be lighting it up, but Raymond is not doing anything. Give a call-up a shot.

Byron missing another breakaway is frustrating, but he impacts the game elsewhere. He's physical, fast and back checks like a demon. He turned over multiple pucks in the neutral zone using his speed. Not sure what people want more than that. It's more than Raymond does for sure.

Engelland is a bad NHL defenseman. Simple keeps at the blueline. Simple, open cross-ice passes. He just can't execute and I'd rather see how Spoon would do. Diaz had a good game I thought. Although I'd rather have Spoon-Smid if he was healthy.

Hopefully Glencross can go, in that case, I'd give Byron the bench and still try Sven/Wolf. I haven't been a Sven cheerleader, but I think will bring than Raymond, if only just some effort and enthusiasm.

Dubnyk played great. Gotta give him credit.

[Toonage]

Unfortunately (?) if Glencross draws back in one of the call ups goes back down.

[GioforPM]

If Glencross goes, he's taking Sven's spot on your second line. Maybe Sven then moves to 3rd line and Bouma moves down. I think Wolf is a RW, though. I actually think a Wolf, Sven, Stajan line might be interesting.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

If Glencross goes, he's taking Sven's spot on your second line. Maybe Sven then moves to 3rd line and Bouma moves down. I think Wolf is a RW, though. I actually think a Wolf, Sven, Stajan line might be interesting.

Yeah that might be interesting. In all honesty, I just want Raymond out of the line-up. I'm not one to pile on, and give players a clean spate each game, but he is just a non-factor.

Whatever takes him out will be a bonus at this point.

Kind of wish Granlund was still up. I think Hartley would feel better about putting him in than the extras right now.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by AC

Also worth pointing out that Byron was the one that made the beautiful tip pass to Gaudreau for his great rush in the 3rd.

Overall I feel like if we played that exact game Saturday vs Edmonton, we'd win easily.

Also of note, Byron had a great chance in the 2nd I believe where he fired a quick shot and one of the Wild defensemen (Spurgeon?) made a crazy kick save. Looked like it probably would have beaten Dubnyk.

I think it might be time to shake up the lineup and lines. I believe it is a waste of Backlunds talent to have him centering Jones and Bouma. I'd like to see something like:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Raymond-Stajan-Colborne
Baertschi-Backlund-Byron
Bouma-Jooris-Jones

Seriously think a line of Baertschi-Backlund-Byron could turn out to be something great. Speed, offense, defense.

Really hope this loss at the hand of the Wild lets us see one or more of Baertschi/Wolf/Wotherspoon make it into the lineup.

[Huntingwhale]

What was this booing? I was watching it on Telus and wasn't really listening for it, but I don't recall hearing any booing...

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

What was this booing? I was watching it on Telus and wasn't really listening for it, but I don't recall hearing any booing...

It was beyond annoying. At first I thought it was a dog howling outside, then I muted the game and didn't hear it anymore. Went on forever. That guy needed a punch to the throat.

[Toonage]

Werid. I didn't hear the booing at home either. Watching on Sasktel, the most I noticed was that SNW was significantly quieter than the other SN channels.

[nmhen]

Originally Posted by saillias

"The Wild are an exciting team this year, guys! You clearly don't follow my great team, they play up-tempo" *snoozer 1 zip game vs wild*

Please. You're embarrassing yourself here.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by nmhen

Please. You're embarrassing yourself here.

Yeah, I wouldn't call it a snoozer. And the only reason it was 1-0 was because Hiller made numerous huge saves to keep it that way. Could have been 3 or 4-0 pretty easy by the end of the 2nd.

[mrkajz44]

Surprised to read this PGT this morning and all the hate for Raymond. He probably had his best game in a while and his line was clearly the best line for the first 40 minutes.

I'm just chalking it up to one of those "snakebitten" nights. Just couldn't generate a ton of offence and there was no finish. But, it's just one game - time to move on to the next one.

[saillias]

Hits 9-13 on the night
Maybe 1 slightly angry scrum all game.

Sorry guys great goaltending, good sticks and tons of obstruction preventing offensive chances is boring. We didn't have a single 2 on 1 all night and I think they had 1 or 2.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Surprised to read this PGT this morning and all the hate for Raymond. He probably had his best game in a while and his line was clearly the best line for the first 40 minutes.

I'm just chalking it up to one of those "snakebitten" nights. Just couldn't generate a ton of offence and there was no finish. But, it's just one game - time to move on to the next one.

I thought he was better against Buffalo. But it wasn't the horrible game some were claiming. The first shift was great, he was OK on the sub-60 second PP shift he got. He had one bad pass in the third (after playing well the whole previous shift) and the hate got turned up to 11.

He was far from the worst forward on the Flames - although clearly the others have earned more slack from past play.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Also of note, Byron had a great chance in the 2nd I believe where he fired a quick shot and one of the Wild defensemen (Spurgeon?) made a crazy kick save. Looked like it probably would have beaten Dubnyk.

I think it might be time to shake up the lineup and lines. I believe it is a waste of Backlunds talent to have him centering Jones and Bouma. I'd like to see something like:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Raymond-Stajan-Colborne
Baertschi-Backlund-Byron
Bouma-Jooris-Jones

Seriously think a line of Baertschi-Backlund-Byron could turn out to be something great. Speed, offense, defense.

Really hope this loss at the hand of the Wild lets us see one or more of Baertschi/Wolf/Wotherspoon make it into the lineup.

Your second line of ex Leafs is destined to fail.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

What was this booing? I was watching it on Telus and wasn't really listening for it, but I don't recall hearing any booing...

Pretty sure it was a guy going "Duuuuuuubnyk" constantly in the corner, happened all through the 3rd period.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Surprised to read this PGT this morning and all the hate for Raymond. He probably had his best game in a while and his line was clearly the best line for the first 40 minutes.

I'm just chalking it up to one of those "snakebitten" nights. Just couldn't generate a ton of offence and there was no finish. But, it's just one game - time to move on to the next one.

"What have you done for me lately?"

Since returning from injury he was 1 goal and 1 assist in 17 games. He has been ineffective. Don't be too surprised that everybody loves hates Raymond.

With 5 goals and 7 points in his first 10 games people were getting excited about him. He created high hopes early on (and those were probably false hopes).

[Buff]

Originally Posted by AC

Pretty sure it was a guy going "Duuuuuuubnyk" constantly in the corner, happened all through the 3rd period.

My wife and I kept thinking one of our kids was awake and hurt.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by nmhen

I confess I haven't watched the Flames much (at all) before last night.

It's easy to see why you're one of the surprise teams of the season, though. Hard work (a Hartley staple), good pace, opportunistic offense, good goaltending, and chemistry. No one player bigger than the team as a whole - even Gaudreau. I would much prefer to watch the Flames in the playoffs than the likes of San Jose, Vancouver, or Dallas.

For the record, the goaltending has been very inconsistent. They've compensated with clutch goal scoring and a lot of shot blocking. Last night was one of Hiller's top four games of the season IMO, and they've lost two of those now.