Notes from Oct 21 Practice: Smid returns. Hiller starts Friday.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
Jonas Hiller gets the start on Friday vs. Detroit.

Good. Save Ortio for the road trip and back to back games.

[sureLoss]

Kristen Odland @KristenOdlandCH
"We beat ourselves more than other teams have beaten us so far," Hartley said.

Kristen Odland @KristenOdlandCH
More Hartley: "Last night, we got booed by our fans for the first time in a long time ... and deservedly so."

Jermain Franklin @TSNJFranklin
Hartley "we're all born with different talents, hard work is a choice, here it is not a choice... That was the message today" #Flames

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by polak

Hamilton on the bottom pairing and rightfully so.

Flames need to stop trying to trade for "Can't lose" d-men...

polak overreacting? Just shocking.

Has Friday's game been declared "must win" yet?

[dammage79]

I feel like Smid can anchor the D side of things and let Hamilton run. That's not the issue with Hamilton though. Needs to be smarter in the D zone.

[Mr.Coffee]

Really like the message today and love that if they aren't going to skate in games they're going to be forced to skate in practices.

Love that quote by Hartley, keeps an air of accountability. The Flames can dig themselves out of this, they need to get serious though and do what made them successful last season (work hard).

[polak]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

polak overreacting? Just shocking.

Has Friday's game been declared "must win" yet?

Every game is a must win for this team now until they start winning.

I'm not over reacting. He was just signed to a big extension. He better play himself off of that bottom pairing soon.

[Caged Great]

The Flames are 1-5.

To be in just an okay position by the end of the month, they need to be 5-6-1 at worst.

That means going 4-1-1 in the next 9 days. Fun.

[azzarish]

Hiller to start again??

I know the entire team is sucking right now but for crying out loud why do we keep making the same mistakes over and over again. We're creating a rod for our own back by continuing with this stupidity.

Hiller hasn't and will not be good enough. If you don't want Ortio to play then don't bloody have him there in the first place.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Toonage

That's slightly maddening.

Today is the first practice where Ortio hasn't had to share a net since the season began, and with the way the team in front is playing, I don't mind holding off on giving Ortio a start right away.

They play 5 games in 7 nights starting Sunday, with 4 on the road (6 games in 9 nights if you include Friday), so Ortio will definitely be seeing some action soon.

[mkd_087]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Really like the message today and love that if they aren't going to skate in games they're going to be forced to skate in practices.

Love that quote by Hartley, keeps an air of accountability. The Flames can dig themselves out of this, they need to get serious though and do what made them successful last season (work hard).

I agree...but Hartley and Co. should also be accountable for whatever mentality issues that locker room could be having. Some of the line changes and player movement has been questionable...and somewhat baffling under the "Always Earned" motto. If the team is losing trust and integrity in the coaching staff then that opens up a new can of worms.

Maybe Hartley should show some accountability as well. Must hurt that his "locker room favourite" goalie was put on waivers today...

[polak]

The road trip could be the breaking point of the season. If we're not winning again by the end of that I think the hole will be too big to get out of.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by mkd_087

I agree...but Hartley and Co. should also be accountable for whatever mentality issues that locker room could be having.

I think Hartley and Gelinas were doing man makers after the players left the ice.

[FBI]

Free Ortio!!!! Grr

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I feel like Smid can anchor the D side of things and let Hamilton run. That's not the issue with Hamilton though. Needs to be smarter in the D zone.

Good choice of words.

[dammage79]

I'm okay with Hiller starting. At least if he flubs it'll be Ortio. Baby steps.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by polak

The road trip could be the breaking point of the season. If we're not winning again by the end of that I think the hole will be too big to get out of.

The Flames will need to be about 15 games over .500. They took all 82 games to get there last year so starting at 4 games below means we're almost at that point. Very few teams with a start like this ever make it

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by getbak

Today is the first practice where Ortio hasn't had to share a net since the season began, and with the way the team in front is playing, I don't mind holding off on giving Ortio a start right away.

They play 5 games in 7 nights starting Sunday, with 4 on the road (6 games in 9 nights if you include Friday), so Ortio will definitely be seeing some action soon.

Those are fair points. I also read another poster (apologies, I don't recall who) saying that it may be best to save Ortio for the road trip which also made sense. I'm just anxious to see him play. Having watched him play the past few years I truly believe he can be a difference maker.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Good choice of words.

Say what you will about his foot speed, bur he is one of the better defensive D men the Flames have. Even if it doesn't say much

[polak]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

The Flames will need to be about 15 games over .500. They took all 82 games to get there last year so starting at 4 games below means we're almost at that point. Very few teams with a start like this ever make it

Yup we would need an Ottawa/Minnesota like resurgence.

Maybe Ortio could be our Hammond/Dubnik.

[BigFlameDog]

So no Ramo at all? He is gonzo regardless I guess...decision made.