[Game Takes] Oilers 5 Flames 2

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2015/10/oilers-5-flames-2/

Thanks Ryan!

[zamler]

Ryan is a brave, brave soul.

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by zamler

Ryan is a brave, brave soul.

Some call it brave. Others call it stupid. :P

The Flames didn't make it easy on me but I still tried to have fun with it. Hopefully the boys can play a better game for my next write up.

[timbit]

The defense corps as well as Backlund and Hudler are way bigger concerns than the goaltending , at this point, IMO.

[Sample00]

Nicely written article, Ryan!

[Itse]

Expectations are a funny thing. Without them, last night’s game against the Jets becomes an exciting and hard fought battle that the boys just ended up on the wrong side of. With expectations last night’s game becomes an unacceptable loss from a team struggling to find their game.

Ever since I was a kid my Dad has told me that you can’t tell what a team is until 20 games into the season. The first 20 games can be chaos as teams get their new players integrated and systems locked down. In those first 20 games a team who could be picking in the top 5 at the end of the year can look like a world beater. After the first 20 games the true contenders start to show up, and the bottom feeders start to fall off.

The key is to not fall too far out of it before you start to find your game.

Very well said.

[Bingo]

The Flames just look lost to me. They didn't have any of the play last night. A shift here or there, and two powerplays that looked somewhat dangerous, but otherwise they were out chanced and out played by a team that was winless coming in.

The effort seems down, or at very least misplaced in individual effort.

Hard working teams can be effective. Hard working teams that evolve and add talent can move up the standings.

Hard working teams that add talent and then stop what got them there go nowhere.

[Boblobla]

great writeup.

[killer_carlson]

i'll admit the start to the season has me wondering about that Giordano contract. He doesn't look 100%

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The Flames just look lost to me. They didn't have any of the play last night. A shift here or there, and two powerplays that looked somewhat dangerous, but otherwise they were out chanced and out played by a team that was winless coming in.

The effort seems down, or at very least misplaced in individual effort.

Hard working teams can be effective. Hard working teams that evolve and add talent can move up the standings.

Hard working teams that add talent and then stop what got them there go nowhere.

100% agree. The thing I worry about is that they'll sit back and just try to go through the motions instead of working their way out of it. It's a fear carried over from the Iginla era and one that I didn't have at all from last years team.

The defense is clearly missing Brodie, but injuries are apart of the game and there's plenty of bodies there that need to, and can, play better. It might be time to take Hamilton off the top pairing. He came in with such hype that I often forget he is only 21 years old. I love his ability to skate the puck up the ice and in the offensive zone he is very good, but he lacks polish defensively and he and Giordano are getting exposed as a pairing at the moment. It might be time to start putting all the lines in a blender, quite frankly.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

i'll admit the start to the season has me wondering about that Giordano contract. He doesn't look 100%

He's carrying Hamilton on his back. And has had to play in his own zone a lot because of the several mistakes Hamilton makes a game. Brodie also was a big part of the pairing last year skating the puck out of trouble. Hamilton hasn't used his skating ability much this season. He's too timid, has made bad passes, and turns the puck over a lot. From watching him in Boston I knew he wasn't the best defensively but if he doesn't pick his game up this will be a worst signing than Bouwmeester. I've thought Gio has looked pretty good this year as well considering all that.

[442scotty]

Win or lose, last year the Flames were fun to watch... This year they are not for the most part

[Toonage]

Not for 8 games in December they weren't. Hope this is their December stretch now, if they have to go through one.

[Dion]

Giordano misses Brodie as his playing partner.

[Samonadreau]

Someone should start a thread for discussing whats causing the flames woes to start the season.

[Fire Park '71]

Already 3rd worst in goals against and a team goal differential of -9.

[Vulcan]

They may have spent too much time reading their press clippings over the summer, especially since with the two hyped additions, they are supposed to be better.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Dion

Giordano misses Brodie as his playing partner.

Giordano should be a good enough player that he can handle his own.

Brodie handled his own without Giordano. So that's not much of an excuse.

Gio just stinks right now. But I'll expect he'll get better.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Yeah I don't buy the excuse that Gio is struggling because of Hamilton at all, he's just struggling period. He's not the only one obviously, but he needs to be much much better.

[Eb0la11]

When is Brodie due back?