[PGT] Flames fall 3-0. Ducks lead series 2-0

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

We should consider keeping Ramo and moving Hiller.

And this is not just because of game 2 last night.

Ramo has been better all year.

Another Feaster acquisition outperforming a Treliving acquisition.

They are both similar IMO.

When on their game both are really strong, issue is inconsistency and for both of them when they are bad...they are really bad.

Hiller was great in games 1-5 in round one and went into a lull, Ramo has been hot and cold all season too.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by polak

The hype has definitely seemed to die around the office today.

Yeah its pretty quiet in the office for Flames talk today, noticed the car flags are starting to slowly go away too .

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Yeah its pretty quiet in the office for Flames talk today, noticed the car flags are starting to slowly go away too .

What? seriously?

I've noticed more and more. Or you mean your co-workers?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Karl

In game 1 Backlund was easily the Flames best forward.

Last night he was perhaps their 3rd worst regular forward (behind Monahan & Hudler).

I have to disagree. He made a few blunders, but at least he was trying to push back against the Ducks. He was the only one who seemed to generate scoring chances at even strength and had a couple very nice backchecks/turnovers.

I thought he and Russell were our best players. Unfortunately, we won't win if they are. The whole defense corps played pretty poorly. I generally have disdain for PJ Stock, but he was bang on showing the defenses missing pinches and huge sweeps away from the puck that cause the odd man rushes. You need cover by forwards, but some of those pinches were just plain brutal.

[Table 5]

My car flag is still flying proudly, but I got to admit the passion for the playoffs has waned a bit. Although I think 90% of that is mostly because of the nice weather we've been having...it's hard to focus on hockey when you'd rather be outside. In an ideal world, by the end of April hockey should be in the Finals...or done altogether.

[cKy]

Originally Posted by Table 5

My car flag is still flying proudly, but I got to admit the passion for the playoffs has waned a bit. Although I think 90% of that is mostly because of the nice weather we've been having...it's hard to focus on hockey when you'd rather be outside. In an ideal world, by the end of April hockey should be in the Finals...or done altogether.

Just wait until the annual Calgary May Snowstorm and it'll feel like winter in no time.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

We should consider keeping Ramo and moving Hiller.

And this is not just because of game 2 last night.

Ramo has been better all year.

Another Feaster acquisition outperforming a Treliving acquisition.

What makes you say this? Both have had good and bad stretches. I think they're fairly close, with a slight edge to Hiller.

[smalltownref]

Originally Posted by cKy

Just wait until the annual Calgary May Snowstorm and it'll feel like winter in no time.

Nah... don't need a May snowstorm to make it feel like winter (and hockey season) again. Tomorrow is going to be a high of 17oC (although how accurate thats going to be is TBD), which means a lot of people going to the game will likely be outside enjoying the weather and having multiple 'beverages' before the game.

Personally... all its going to take is a rocking C of Red crowd and a home playoff game on TV to get the passion and the buzz around Calgary back up to a high level. For as high as it was after round 1, the emotional drop after the first two losses in Anaheim has basically put me to sleep. I will be at the game tomorrow night and can't wait to have that pure excitement running through my veins tomorrow leading up to it.

I think if the Flames can use the crowds energy tomorrow night and get a win, you will see a Flames team we havent seen so far this series. A team that will fight hard for the puck. A team that is resilient. Most importantly though... a team that believes it can win.

GFG

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Ducks let off the gas in the final 2 periods. Flames going to be in tough, even at home.

No, they most certainly did not.

However, what they DID do was cool off a touch. They had been connecting on passes at an unbelievable (and unsustainable) pace for the first 4 periods. Once the Flames started skating and fore-checking better, their passing percentages normalized. Friedman even talked about it on the broadcast.

That was to be expected. And it was definitely not taking their foot off the gas.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I have to disagree. He made a few blunders, but at least he was trying to push back against the Ducks. He was the only one who seemed to generate scoring chances at even strength and had a couple very nice backchecks/turnovers.

I thought he and Russell were our best players. Unfortunately, we won't win if they are. The whole defense corps played pretty poorly. I generally have disdain for PJ Stock, but he was bang on showing the defenses missing pinches and huge sweeps away from the puck that cause the odd man rushes. You need cover by forwards, but some of those pinches were just plain brutal.

Backlund also had a bunch of nice turnovers that led to good scoring chances, against.

I thought he looked awful and aside from a couple of games, has looked awful for most of the playoffs.

He's just too soft. Clearing attempts are too soft, passes are too soft, shot is too soft.

I know it goes against the popular narrative, but he just doesn't bring enough offense to make his defense worth it. Too inconsistent, too soft.

It's one of those things advanced statistics don't compensate for: the moment. The moment to put a team away, the moment to go up by a goal early, the moment to scramble a key draw. When I see backlund wiffing on 2-1s, not clearing the puck after an icing, turning the puck over on the half-wall etc, I just cringe.

Calgary is desperate for offense right now and Backlund just doesn't provide enough of it.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No, they most certainly did not.

However, what they DID do was cool off a touch. They had been connecting on passes at an unbelievable (and unsustainable) pace for the first 4 periods. Once the Flames started skating and fore-checking better, their passing percentages normalized. Friedman even talked about it on the broadcast.

That was to be expected. And it was definitely not taking their foot off the gas.

I guess so, but look at the result.

Calgary competing turned a 6-1 blowout into a 3-0 blowout that could have been signficantly worse were it not for Ramo stealing the show.

1 goal in 2 games isn't going to cut it. As impressive as Anaheim's offense has been, their Defense has been even better.

[automaton 3]

Some good things out of the last 2.5 periods of that game. Ramo was great.

I think (hope) the Wolf experiment will end or at least put him on the 4th line in limited minutes. Not sure why Hartley didn't just play Bollig more minutes if he wanted more toughness - Bollig is a far better player imo.

Not sure why Shore sat, thought he was ok in game 1.

Raymond should stay in. For all the flak he takes from certain posters he actually carries the puck into the zone and creates offensive chances, both of which seem in short supply in this series.

The Ducks are keying on Gaudreau and smothering him as soon as he touches the puck (for good reason). Learning experience for him, he has to move the puck quicker and get skating.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Ducks let off the gas in the final 2 periods. Flames going to be in tough, even at home.

I disagree. No team up 1-0 after the first period in the playoffs purposefully lets up.

[CroFlames]

Anaheim is simply a complete team. Their relative weakness is their goaltending, but it is sure getting the job done these playoffs, so it's not a liability by any stretch.

The Flames still have a chance, but you must sit back at some point and just admit that the Ducks are a superb team.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I guess so, but look at the result.

Calgary competing turned a 6-1 blowout into a 3-0 blowout that could have been signficantly worse were it not for Ramo stealing the show.

1 goal in 2 games isn't going to cut it. As impressive as Anaheim's offense has been, their Defense has been even better.

That makes no sense. It wasn't 3-0 for the 40 minutes of even hockey that Weitz was referring to.

The game was 1-0 for 2 and a half periods. No team let's their foot off the gas in a one-goal playoff game.

Seriously, just think about it.

[terminator]

I think the flames have found their game.

[Ozy_Flame]

Byron and Bouma would be absolutely stellar for us at this point. Byron's speed with Bouma's grit. Throw Gio in there for a more balanced defense corps and I say we are closer matched to the Ducks than we are now.

[bubbsy]

so morning after, my thoughts gravitate back to the fact that the western conference has some ultra-elite teams, that frankly have it all. Chicago, Anaheim, St. Louis and Minnesota are just complete teams built for the 7 game playoff layout. In the west, everyone else is just a tier (or two-three) below. I think a flames series against any of these 4 teams would look about the same as what we are seeing so far in the second round.

It's kind of a eye opener to the fact that though we all should be super proud of how far this team has come along, in order to really become an upper echelon team that is in the same group as the above, there is still a lot of work to be done. Need 2 lines that can be counted on for offense, need defense that is 8 deep (having 3rd pairing guys in the playoffs playing under half a dozen mins isn't going to work). On top of that, need the size to be able to play playoff grind hockey throughout the lineup.

Really shouldn't be all that upset about the domination so far. The rebuild is coming around really well and there's plenty to be excited about. This series should be an excellent learning lesson for not only the player's growth, but also a great mechanism for management to get a feel for what is needed to evolve to not just a bubble team but to a contender.

[littlereddevil]

If we win one game in this series, I'll be happy.

The fact that we're still playing relevant hockey in May should be enough of an indication of a successful season.

I liken our team to last year's Tampa. A young, inexperienced team clashing against a team built to contend. Also worth noting that we've done this all without our #1 defenseman, and with players like Hudler, Monahan and Ferland not operating at 100%.

No reason to be disappointed with this series. Anaheim is a Stanley Cup favourite. We're in year 2 of a rebuild.

We'll show 'em up next year

[La Flames Fan]

I now understand the frustration that comes with playing the Flames and our shot blocking ability. Anaheim is just as good as Calgary in that department. Need to get more shots through to Andersen.