[GDT] Flames @ Rangers, 5 pm, SNW

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by locsofblu

This road trip is pretty much make or break. Hoping for a huge 2 points tonight to get our confidence going again. I'm going with a 4-1 win tonight for the good guys. what would be a successful road trip? Anything north of 3 wins with a couple loser points thrown in there.
I think they"ll go 4-2-1.

Yesterday Gio said something like almost every good road trip starts with a win to get things going.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Hartley says no final decisions yet on Poirier and Ferland for tonight. Those will be made closer to game time. #Flames

[saillias]

That 4th line is a monstrosity IMO. They are going to get shellacked in their own end and will have 0 ability to generate anything the other way.

[devo22]

Ferland-Granlund-Poirier on the 4th instead of Bollig and Raymond please. Like the other lines.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by saillias

That 4th line is a monstrosity IMO. They are going to get shellacked in their own end and will have 0 ability to generate anything the other way.

It's a real mix problem IMO. Granlund's faceoff ability will be a problem with those wingers. I like him as a prospect whose proven he's NHL calibre. Raymond's a good offensive shooter when he's hot, but Granlund and Bollig aren't the setup guys he needs, and both are slower. Bollig is Bollig. Hopefully they won't get stuck out with the bottom pairing much.

I know some people hate Stajan, but doesn't that bottom line look more secure with him in the middle, if for nothing else than possessing the puck off the draw in the defensive zone.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Cam Talbot has a .911 save percentage and a 2.59 GAA. However, this is impacted by four shutouts in his first eight games. His save percentage in each of his last nine games since he became the de facto starter without Lundqvist in net: .900; .857; .884; .971 (vs ARZ); .897; .882; .880; .870; .900

That's two out of nine quality starts. That's not good.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenWHaynes
No Ferland or Poirier tonight does not surprise me. One game-day skate for them. #Flames are 11-5-1 in their last 16. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe.

[Robo]

i haven't hated the lineups this year but if bollig slots in i will be pissed he does nothing he isn't a heavy hitter, he doesn't deter anyone from cheap shotting our guys seriously what worth does he have on our team?

[dissentowner]

The key to this road trip will be to hopefully take any of the losses in OT. The good thing about playing East teams that are looking at the playoffs is that if there is a tie going into third both teams are probably going to play very conservative to ensure at least a point.

[FBI]

Yeah ditch Bollig for EITHER of those two guys, so much more excitement for the team and young guys. Worked before.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Randy Sportak ‏@SUNRandySportak
#Flames didn’t do line rushes, but it looks like Poirier and Ferland don’t play. Being so close to trade deadline, though you never know

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Cam Talbot has a .911 save percentage and a 2.59 GAA. However, this is impacted by four shutouts in his first eight games. His save percentage in each of his last nine games since he became the de facto starter without Lundqvist in net: .900; .857; .884; .971 (vs ARZ); .897; .882; .880; .870; .900

That's two out of nine quality starts. That's not good.

You're right, he hasn't been good lately, but I think it's fair to look at his body of work overall as there are always peaks and valleys with goaltending performances. He can still stone a team on any given night, especially with that defense in front of him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

You're right, he hasn't been good lately, but I think it's fair to look at his body of work overall as there are always peaks and valleys with goaltending performances. He can still stone a team on any given night, especially with that defense in front of him.

The W/L column sure looks good for him since Lundquist went down.

[Trailer Fire]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Darren Haynes ‏@DarrenWHaynes
No Ferland or Poirier tonight does not surprise me. One game-day skate for them. #Flames are 11-5-1 in their last 16. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe.

Math is hard.

[Mony]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
#Flames lines this AM:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler;
Bouma-Backlund-Jones;
Glencross-Colborne-Jooris;
Bollig-Granlund-Raymond

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Doesn't look, at least from these lines, that Poirier and Ferland are in. We will find out though. #Flames

I'd like to see Colborne being the wing and Jooris being the center on that 3rd line but that's just me. I really like Colborne's work along the boards. Just needs to stop being so gentle sometimes.

[dammage79]

I have a feeling Poirier is going to play tonight after listening to Hartley's game day interview.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

You're right, he hasn't been good lately, but I think it's fair to look at his body of work overall as there are always peaks and valleys with goaltending performances. He can still stone a team on any given night, especially with that defense in front of him.

Sure, but the recent stuff also provides useful information, especially given that a guy's performance in a backup role (usually getting soft starts and soft minutes) isn't equivalent to performance as a starter night in, night out. He's been very beatable recently.

The team just isn't the same without Lundqvist behind it - they have to score their way out of trouble more.

Here, this is a chart showing the goals against rate for every team in 25 game rolling bundles over the past 2 weeks:



NYR is heading steadily upwards.

[Street Pharmacist]

Look at Montreal. Wow

[Sec218]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I have a feeling Poirier is going to play tonight after listening to Hartley's game day interview.

Yes. I agree.
Did you also hear Hartley say that he thinks Poirier is one of the fastest skaters in the league?

[Travis Munroe]

I do agree that Bollig needs to be the odd man out right now.
As mentioned above, he doesnt deter anyone from taking runs at our players and doesnt go out and lay the checks he has potential to do. Bouma is more of a deterence in that if you do take a run at someone, he can play against your line without being a step behind and will run you through the boards if he has a chance. Bollig is more of a staged fighter type of guy.
He has had some of his best games when he comes out and focuses on getting pucks deep and putting 100% into any hit. Outside of those games, I feel other guys are able to step in.