[GDT] Flames @ Oilers, 8 pm, CBC

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Why you would sit a guy who could provide some much needed secondary scoring is beyond me. Let the kid play for f--- sakes. I get that they don't want to pressure him, but he's an automatic upgrade over useless players like Raymond or Bollig. What a baffling decision.

Because you're legitimately worried he may also give the oilers secondary scoring

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by OzSome

According to Flames twitter account, Ramo is the starting goaltender and Michael Ferland, Sam Bennett, Josh Jooris and Tyler Wotherspoon are the healthy scratches. It might change on Game Time though.

I've looked all over the Flames twitter account, what am I missing beyond Hartley saying that everyone is a game time decision?

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I've looked all over the Flames twitter account, what am I missing beyond Hartley saying that everyone is a game time decision?

I couldn't find it either

[Gaskal]

All it says is that Bennett was skating with Ferland and Jooris.

[Soccergirl1987]

Originally Posted by Cuz

I couldn't find it either

My guess is he based it on the projected lines from the flames website (which is just the lineup from last game). I really hope that it's not the case, and that Hartley changes it up.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

All it says is that Bennett was skating with Ferland and Jooris.

That is a line that could do some damage!!

[FBI]

Gimp, I haven't been seeing Colborne driving to the net at all? He drives hard on the boards but haven't been seeing much net attacking from him.

[CaptainCrunch]

Basically I expect this to be a Suprise Oilyaz yo, have a Bennett punch to the junk.

[Nabber]

Ferland in over Bollig should be a no brainer. Him with Stajan and Shore were great the past few games when playing together. Bollig comes in makes a stupid hit puts the team down for 3 minutes and a player for the rest of last game. A powerplay goal was scored on that penalty too.

[Street Pharmacist]

There are so many flames fans here. The hotel clerk chanted go flames go as I walked out. Awesome

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by FBI

Gimp, I haven't been seeing Colborne driving to the net at all? He drives hard on the boards but haven't been seeing much net attacking from him.

he tries it almost every game.. uses his big body to shield the puck and drives towards the net, doesn't always work but he tries. I've noticed him doing this since day one.

[Mony]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

There are so many flames fans here. The hotel clerk chanted go flames go as I walked out. Awesome

I remember last year, it was the third BOA of the season, the Oilers were in Calgary and there were way too many Oil fans at that particular game, which they won 2-0. The Coilers fans completely took over our barn and you could hear "Let's Go Oilers" on the TV very clearly instead of Go Flames Go. So annoying.

Everyone on CP at the game tonight, encourage Flames fans around you to take over their barn.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Why you would sit a guy who could provide some much needed secondary scoring is beyond me. Let the kid play for f--- sakes. I get that they don't want to pressure him, but he's an automatic upgrade over useless players like Raymond or Bollig. What a baffling decision.

Raymond you could argue.......but I find it baffling that people think that, what they do with a 4th liner, has anything to do with Bennett.

Scratching Bollig for Bennett would make zero sense.

[calgARI]

Most excited I have been for a Calgary Flames game since the 2009 playoffs.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Raymond you could argue.......but I find it baffling that people think that, what they do with a 4th liner, has anything to do with Bennett.

Scratching Bollig for Bennett would make zero sense.

Nothing baffling about it. In-game line adjustments are a common thing for this team. Players who start games on the fourth line have regularily found themselves playing first-line OT minutes.

Aside from Brandon Bollig that is.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Why you would sit a guy who could provide some much needed secondary scoring is beyond me. Let the kid play for f--- sakes. I get that they don't want to pressure him, but he's an automatic upgrade over useless players like Raymond or Bollig. What a baffling decision.

A player who has never played an NHL game is NEVER an automatic upgrade over players who have proven they can play in this league in the past. People keep saying this and it blows my mind.

He MAY very well be an upgrade right away, and he'll VERY LIKELY be a big upgrade in fairly short order, but the counting of the chickens before they've hatched around here is ridiculous. I get it, Monahan and Gaudreau have worked out swimmingly, but even Gaudreau needed some baking time and was walking the finest line between the AHL and NHL to start this year. The Flames are in a playoff push, this is not game 1 of the season, there is likely some very real concern at the moment that Bennett is as ready to go as the names you mentioned above.

And despite all that, Hartley has also shown he doesn't often throw players out their until they've had some time to practice and get use to the system a little, Bennett might not be ready yet for that reason and that reason alone.

[Calgary4LIfe]

One comment on an otherwise (as usual) awesome game day thread start from Cali:

Their pride was likely hurt after losing 8-2 to L.A.

I think you are making a huge reach there in assuming the Oilers have even a shred of pride left

In all seriousness, this is a huge trap game. Luckily, the Flames SHOULD be a team that will avoid this trap game due to it being the Oilers. Even with the Oilers being their regular putrid selves, I would assume the team is always 'up' to play the Oilers. Hopefully they aren't looking past this game. As much fan as it is making fun of the Oilers (and they rightfully deserve every single snicker their way), they are still an NHL team, and have the capability to win against any opponent in the NHL on any given night. Teams like the Oilers love playing spoilers at the end of the season because teams start looking past them. Regardless of how utterly pathetic that franchise is, they can (and will) beat a team that looks past them. Don't fall into that trap Flames!

As for Bollig starting - I will argue that it is in these specific games that you can use a guy like Bollig. He can set a presence out there (though hopefully doing it smart) by being very physical. Flames are the faster skating team (seriously, how are the Oilers so slow?), but having a few big bodies out there setting a physical tone isn't a bad move. Also helps to keep them a bit more honest. Flames probably don't want Engelland fighting as much out there since he is playing top 4 minutes (and doing a good job). I don't love Bollig on the team, but if he gets any games in it should be games where things COULD get out of hand.

Most importantly, CONGRATULATIONS Robo! No name picked out yet? Let fate pick one for you! Whichever Flames player scores tonight gets to be the one you name your daughter after! Count yourself lucky that Ladislav is not playing! Hopefully it will be Mason Raymond (I can't think of how to make that into a girl's name - though I am not good at those things), or Josh Jooris (though it looks like he won't be playing). Just a (unhelpful) suggestion!

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

A player who has never played an NHL game is NEVER an automatic upgrade over players who have proven they can play in this league in the past. People keep saying this and it blows my mind.

He MAY very well be an upgrade right away, and he'll VERY LIKELY be a big upgrade in fairly short order, but the counting of the chickens before they've hatched around here is ridiculous. I get it, Monahan and Gaudreau have worked out swimmingly, but even Gaudreau needed some baking time and was walking the finest line between the AHL and NHL to start this year. The Flames are in a playoff push, this is not game 1 of the season, there is likely some very real concern at the moment that Bennett is as ready to go as the names you mentioned above.

And despite all that, Hartley has also shown he doesn't often throw players out their until they've had some time to practice and get use to the system a little, Bennett might not be ready yet for that reason and that reason alone.

Point taken. And yea, maybe he's not NHL ready. But considering how ice cold guys like Raymond have been lately, I hope they give Bennett a shot. I think the energy he'd bring could do wonders for our secondary scoring.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Nothing baffling about it. In-game line adjustments are a common thing for this team. Players who start games on the fourth line have regularily found themselves playing first-line OT minutes.

Aside from Brandon Bollig that is.

no they haven't.

The top 3 lines have been juggled around, but there are no 4th liners that have had first line minutes and certainly not first line OT minutes.

I would rather Ferland in for Bollig, but I have no interest in Bennett on the 4th line.

[Mony]

I'm so impatient. I want this game already!!!!! Ugh, an hour and 20 minutes away...