[PGT] Flames beat SJ again! 4-1 and 2nd in the Pacific again!

[AC]

Originally Posted by Loudog

Love the way he is playing, have you seen his 3rd period and overtime goals? Can't find the stat right now but It's a majority of his goals on the season, big time clutch.

Monahan's goals this season:
1st period = 0
2nd period = 6
3rd period = 8
Overtime = 3

[jg13]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Fun to watch, competes hard and wins more than their share....

what else?

Backlund is good at hockey

[codynw]

Originally Posted by jg13

Backlund is good at hockey

Sure gonna miss him when he signs in the KHL this summer.

[AcGold]

As someone who watched every game of the Iginla, Jokinen Bouwmeester era it is amazing the changes this team has made in 2 years. I am dumbfounded by how fast they are and how hard they forecheck. It's like watching playoff hockey. This year makes up for the past 7, even Glencross was invested. I wonder what % influence is Hartley and what is from Gio.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by AcGold

As someone who watched every game of the Iginla, Jokinen Bouwmeester era it is amazing the changes this team has made in 2 years. I am dumbfounded by how fast they are and how hard they forecheck. It's like watching playoff hockey. This year makes up for the past 7, even Glencross was invested. I wonder what % influence is Hartley and what is from Gio.

One guy who I have always thought played a crucial role in the culture shift is Bouma, and he helped prove it today. I know he's not the big name guy, but watching him block shots and hustle on every play a few seasons ago almost dragged the whole team into playing with more dedication.

[Reggie Dunlop]

17-4-1 against divisional foes so far.

Amazing.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

17-4-1 against divisional foes so far.

Amazing.

That record against arguably the toughest division in the league? This team is CLUTCH.

[OzSome]

Lance Bouma, David Jones, Mason Raymond, Mikael Backlund, Jonas Hiller, Kris Russell and Joe Colborne are peaking and have been playing well in the last few games. Even Raffa Diaz, Engelland and Stajan are quietly playing well since the All Star game. Aside from last game vs the Penguins, the Flames are one of the best team in the last 10 games I believe. I was critical of Raymond after his injury but he is making me look like a fool lately. I still think he should not be in the top 6 forward though. Glencross too is more suited in the bottom 6 forwards. I am always a fan of Glencross and I think he's got more success playing in the 3rd line not the first two lines.
What an exciting game. Everyone played well tonight and there was no passenger in this team tonight as everyone contributed. Definitely Lance Bouma deserves the first star tonight. I have never seen Bouma so determined to score some goals. I have to admit Jonas Hiller usually scares me and I always think he will give up a bad goal but for the first time this season I was so confident that Hiller will stop pretty much everything tonight. I was not worried at all. He was in a zone tonight.
I just hope they won't change their game from this day until the playoffs. If they keep playing they play like tonight, I got the feeling we will steal at least a playoff round or two.

[Trojan97]

I've long been indifferent to Colborne during his time as a Flame but he has won me over in a big way the last month or so. He's turning into a great third liner. He's really started to use his size to his advantage which is great to see. Excited to see where he goes from here.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

17-4-1 against divisional foes so far.

Amazing.

Unbelievable. Absolutely incredible, actually. That record would be amazing for the Ducks, but for the supposed McDavid front-runners?

I'll be honest, at the beginning of the year I was really excited about possibly adding a McDavid or Eichel. Now those two are completely out of my mind.

Oiler fans can laugh because we might squeak in to the playoffs or finish 9th and just miss out, thus causing us to draft lower, but this season has been so much fun that it almost (ALMOST) doesn't matter to me anymore. The Flames incredible play (so far) combined with the Oilers historically bad year has just been awesome.

I can't remember the last time I felt so good about the Flames. Probably 2004 or 2006 when we won the division.

[getbak]

Oddly enough, Hiller was named third star of the night on NHL.com, yet, he wasn't named one of the three stars of the game.

I doubt that happens very often.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I can't remember the last time I felt so good about the Flames. Probably 2004 or 2006 when we won the division.

2007 (the Playfair year) was really cool too... at home. That team's Home/away dichotomy was similar to this team's West/East one. Every time they played a road game you'd have this inkling of hope they'd win, but they'd lose. But every time they played a home game you'd have a bit of discomfort that "they're gonna lose this one" and they'd put together crazy performances.

[DynamRyan]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

Anyone else catch that incredible speech by Jim Hughson?

Goosebumps, mate.

Nope, what did he say?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by AC

Monahan's goals this season:
1st period = 0
2nd period = 6
3rd period = 8
Overtime = 3

We need to find a way to fake a period for him before the games start.

[Red John]

Tonight is a perfect example of why the "Mom's basement" advanced stats crowd is full of crap when they say the Flames pace isn't sustainable (ie shot percentage, corsi, etc).

It's how the team plays. They allow other teams the puck while collapsing to their net and blocking shots, only allowing harmless shots from long range. They never hold onto the puck for long because most of their chances come off the counter rush (like 2 on 1s) or by forechecking hard and causing turnovers. When they do break the puck out normally, they let the D outlet to a forward standing on the far blueline who just tips the puck in thereby relinquishing puck possession. Even though they sometimes get it back with a staunch forecheck.

When your scoring chances are odd-man rushes and point-blank chances off forced turnovers on the forecheck, of course your shot percentage is going to be high and your Corsi will be low.

The Flames scored 4 goals on 27 shots for another ridiculous percentage, yet they were actually quite wasteful tonight. They missed maybe half a dozen 2 on 1's especially in the second period.

Anyone watching this team play can see how they defy the stats and percentages and it's exhibit A as to why these so-called "advanced stats" are not advanced at all and quite faulty still. The one greatest flaw that still exists with any metric based upon shot attempts, is that it ignores the quality of said attempts.

Anyway, rock on Flames. Keep shutting up the Eastern stats spouters who are asleep for games but will open up the box score tomorrow morning and think they got lucky again.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

17-4-1 against divisional foes so far.

Amazing.

Before the season started I thought the Flames were gonna get killed by the California teams.

[Roof-Daddy]

I can't believe this team is not only in 2nd place in the division, but they have the best goal differential in the division.......and really, other than the Ducks none of the other Pacific teams are even close.

I also still can't believe this team lost 8 in a row.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

Anyone else catch that incredible speech by Jim Hughson?

Goosebumps, mate.

No, got a link for it?

[Freeway]

If this pace continues into the spring - and considering I get paid more if that happens - this off-season it'll be utterly fascinating to dig into the advanced numbers. IF this continues, digging into the hows and whys are the kinds of things that can move analytics forward.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Thor

No, got a link for it?

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/h...aning-of-team/