[GDT] Flames @ Canucks, 8 pm, CBC, InDemand 1 in USA - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Cali Panthers Fan · 10-10-2015, 08:02 AM

Brett Kulak in his first *ahem* SECOND NHL game action

Ferly unleashing the hatred for the Canucks

Burrows being Burrows

Dorsett being Dorsett

Just about the only positive moment for the Flames

I think we all know that the opener on Wednesday night was not the best the Flames can play. I could sit around and rehash it, but it was one game, and knowing the character of this team, there's little doubt they will at least be better tonight than they were in that game. How much better? I'm not sure, but the coaching staff sounds confident that their practice and video sessions went well in the last two days.

Hartley summed it up best with this quote:

Quote:

Last night our GPS ran out of batteries. We were all over the ice. I can’t fault the effort, but the structure went out the window after ten minutes. The more that we were trying to get back into the game, the more we were digging ourselves.

And Bollig had some thoughts from his previous experience on good teams:

Quote:

To be honest I think it’s nice that it was the first game of the season to maybe wake us up a bit if we weren’t ready or because we thought things were just going to be handed to us because we made the second round of the playoffs. Having been lucky enough to play in the post season every year in this league I know it’s not going to be easy and also the better you do every year the bigger the target that’s going to be on your back for the following season. Just because we made it to the second round doesn’t mean we’ve done anything in this league yet until we get our names etched on the Cup and get to hoist it over our heads. There’s still a lot of work to be done. We’re on the right track. We’ve got an unbelievable group in this room and the character and guys that are willing to work so we’ve just got to put it all together.

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?...id=DL|CGY|home

I think the bolded is particularly important. The Flames are no longer an "under-the-radar" team. It's been two years since this team surprised anybody. Now they're no longer the underdog, but one of the teams in the top half of the league. People know that it's not just a fluke if they lose to the Flames, they are actually a good team with good players. That's where you will see an increased effort against the Flames this year, and we saw that on Wednesday night. The Canucks played a very solid road game, allowing very little defensively and capitalizing on most.....well literally ALL of their chances. Everything that could have gone wrong for the Flames did. It's not something that I expect to be repeated tonight.

The first casualty of a poor team effort is always the goaltender, and that's the case tonight. Jonas Hiller will get his first start of the season in place of the shaky Ramo, and he will have to be sharp early as the Flames seem to still be working out the kinks in their game. The goaltending situation is already difficult while they carry 3 goalies, and it's become more interesting with the supposed long-term injury to Buffalo's Robin Lehner. You would have to think that they are going to look for a veteran to solidify the crease until he can return, and that's the perfect recipe for the Flames who have two veterans who can start, one too many. It wouldn't shock me to see Hiller traded after tonight IF he has a good game. I don't think Ramo made anyone want to trade for him after the other night, and I think if I'm Murray I want to see how Hiller looks in game action before acquiring him.

Mason Raymond will also make his debut for the Flames tonight, taking the place of Lance Bouma on the 2nd line alongside Bennett and Frolik. That bumps everyone in the lineup down one spot, making Bollig expendable for tonight. At first I was surprised to see Raymond in that spot, but Bouma was not effective offensively in that first game, and I like the combination of Raymond-Bennett-Frolik. Frolik covers well defensively, Bennett is strong down low and in the corners, and Raymond has a good shot when he gets it off. Backlund will take on a more traditional checking line role tonight with Bouma and Jooris. The only thing I don't like is seeing Ferland down on the 4th line since he was one of the few who gave a good effort in the last game. However, I'm sure we will see all 4 lines rolled regularly in this one.

Good news as well is that even though the team was awful, the top line scored a goal, showing that their chemistry has picked up from where it left off last year. They need to be stronger throughout the entire game, but it bodes well that they are already rolling while the other lines get sorted out.

Just for the first few weeks I will be posting each player's previous season point total next to them in the lineups, just to give people a frame of reference for previous performance.

Flames
Gaudreau(64)-Monahan(62)-Hudler(76)
Raymond(23)-Bennett(R-1)-Frolik(42)
Bouma(34)-Backlund(27)-Jooris(24)
Ferland(5)-Stajan(17)-Jones(30)

Giordano(48)-Hamilton(42)
Russell(34)-Wideman(56)
Kulak(R)-Engelland(11)

Hiller (2.36 GAA)

Canucks
D. Sedin(76)-H. Sedin(73)-Sutter(33)
Baertschi(6)-Horvat(25)-Vrbata(63)
Burrows(33)-McCann(R)-Hansen(33)
Prust(18)-Cracknell(1)-Dorsett(25)

Edler(31)-Tanev(20)
Hamhuis(23)-Bartkowski(4)
Hutton(R)-Sbisa(11)

Miller (2.53 GAA)

Go Flames Go!!!!!!

zztim81 · 10-10-2015, 08:17 AM

Great write-up as always Cali! Looking forward to many more morning reads with Ron Swanson in my head!

Go Flames! 4-0 flames tonight, Hiller channels his inner Kipper and Ramo is traded off to Ottawa for a 5th round pick...

XeO · 10-10-2015, 08:18 AM

Bouma(34) having more points than Backlund(27) surprised me. Good for him, I hope he breaks the 40 point threshold this season

Wood · 10-10-2015, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XeO

Bouma(34) having more points than Backlund(27) surprised me. Good for him, I hope he breaks the 40 point threshold this season

Bouma played nearly 30 more games than Backlund did, but I do agree. I'd be happy to see Bouma score at the same pace, I'd like to see Backlund step up and aim for 50. Hopefully he can stay healthy

Locke · 10-10-2015, 08:40 AM

Okay, let's try this again.

Cali Panthers Fan · 10-10-2015, 08:44 AM

I'd be shocked if Bouma ever broke 40 points in the NHL, but I've been wrong before.

I think it's more likely that last season is his career high in points, and he's more of a 25-30 point player the rest of his career: 10-12 goals, 15-20 assists.

red sky · 10-10-2015, 08:50 AM

Can't wait, first game of the season! It's been the longest break since '89! Go Flames Go.

Regulator75 · 10-10-2015, 08:50 AM

I hate the Canucks, that is all.

Go Flames Go!

Street Pharmacist · 10-10-2015, 08:51 AM

Bouma-Backlund needs to stop being a thing

Samonadreau · 10-10-2015, 09:04 AM

Excited to see Frolik with Bennett. Also like Ferland-Stajan-Jones. Thats a decent 3rd line on most teams.

hockey.modern · 10-10-2015, 09:27 AM

Must. Win. Game. If we don't win this game, there's something that needs to change. Hope Brodie is back soon as he isn't wearing his cast anymore.

Samonadreau · 10-10-2015, 09:47 AM

I would say there is no possible way its a repeat of last game (at least i hope not). I never want to experience that again.

Need a big game from the top line and the top 4 D.

the2bears · 10-10-2015, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Must. Win. Game. If we don't win this game, there's something that needs to change. Hope Brodie is back soon as he isn't wearing his cast anymore.

Such an over-reaction.

SofaProfessor · 10-10-2015, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the2bears

Such an over-reaction.

Nope. After you lose 2 games out of an 82 game season it's pretty clear that it's time to blow it up. Fire everyone. Start planning who Auston Matthews is going to room with next year.

hockey.modern · 10-10-2015, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the2bears

Such an over-reaction.

Well if we play like we did last game, there is something wrong. The past two games of a whole group have been anything but disappointment. That being said, game 1 of the season was a wake up call.

Cali Panthers Fan · 10-10-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Well if we play like we did last game, there is something wrong. The past two games of a whole group have been anything but disappointment. That being said, game 1 of the season was a wake up call.

Do you not remember an 8 game losing streak last year? We still ended up doing fine in the end.

transplant99 · 10-10-2015, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Well if we play like we did last game, there is something wrong. The past two games of a whole group have been anything but disappointment. That being said, game 1 of the season was a wake up call.

Yeah because its not like a team could lose 8 in a row and make the playoffs and even win a round....amirite?

Benched · 10-10-2015, 10:14 AM

Just doublely hurts as its vancouver. Losing 8 in the east is like losing 2-3 in your division.

Bingo · 10-10-2015, 10:15 AM

the only reason tonight is a must win game is because the talk on this site would be unbearable for the next three days and who wants a weekend like that?

the ebb and flow over a season is long, so you have to stay grounded, but I do admit I'd rather see the team 1-1-0 heading into a game with the Blues on Tuesday then facing an 0-3 start.

SHOGUN · 10-10-2015, 10:18 AM

If the Flames play like they did in the first 10 mins of last game through all periods in tonight's game, I like our chances.