[PGT] Weird night in Ottawa. Flames lose 5-4 in SO

[sketchyt]

I don't think the Flames had weak goaltending last night. They had average goaltending with awful defence.

It would be nice for Hiller to make those key saves in situations like that (as per the broadcaster) but you don't normally get it from average/mediocre goaltending. You got it from Craig Anderson because he's a above-average NHL goaltender who still let in 4 goals.

Also, Ortio comes cold basically into a shootout... so again, would be nice to get those key saves, but it's normally not going to happen in this situation. BTW, I despise that guy's glove positioning. HORRIBLE and it's going to get murdered at the NHL level. Guy think he's Kipper but without the reflexes and confidence to bait a guy to go that side. Got caught on it against the Islanders and in the shootout last night.

From what I'm seeing, there's less shots/passes blocked and more shots coming from danger areas. Team skated as a 5 man unit last year in the defensive zone and I did not see that last night.

[Split98]

Every player that is relied upon defensively has not been great so far this year. I think that has a lot to do with Backlund's disappointing start so far.

I can imagine that Backlund's responsibilities defensively have been the focus of practice so far this year. Not much time on offensive responsibilities until that is sorted.

[hockey.modern]

Ortio is still only 24. Goalie devolopment takes a long time and I think he's doing a pretty good job for his age. More time in the NHL and he will fix those problems in no time.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

I don't think the Flames had weak goaltending last night. They had average goaltending with awful defence.

It would be nice for Hiller to make those key saves in situations like that (as per the broadcaster) but you don't normally get it from average/mediocre goaltending. You got it from Craig Anderson because he's a above-average NHL goaltender who still let in 4 goals.

Also, Ortio comes cold basically into a shootout... so again, would be nice to get those key saves, but it's normally not going to happen in this situation. BTW, I despise that guy's glove positioning. HORRIBLE and it's going to get murdered at the NHL level. Guy think he's Kipper but without the reflexes and confidence to bait a guy to go that side. Got caught on it against the Islanders and in the shootout last night.

From what I'm seeing, there's less shots/passes blocked and more shots coming from danger areas. Team skated as a 5 man unit last year in the defensive zone and I did not see that last night.

I generally agree with this post, but I don't think Ortio thinks he's Kipper.

I think Ortio idolizes Kipper and probably wants to play to Kipper's style. Ain't nothing wrong with that. They are from the same town for Pete's sake.

Every young goalie has a star goalie he aspires to be.

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Ortio is still only 24. Goalie devolopment takes a long time and I think he's doing a pretty good job for his age. More time in the NHL and he will fix those problems in no time.

Oh I agree with all that. But I can only comment on what I've seen so far.

He's slightly undersized with above-average to good mobility. He also looks like he uses it well in close-in battles which bodes well. Weak short-side and funky glove hand that is not working for him. Poor puckhandler (although most NHL goalies are to be fair).

He's got a long way to go IMO and really tough to tell (to me, at least) if he'll get there. One thing last night that gave me confidence was a real tough shot in OT blocker side from the slot with maybe a partial screen from a Dman. Super difficult save that he made look relatively easy. That's a goal on a lot of NHL'ers. From a technical standpoint I was more impressed with that than the Anderson save on Gaudreau.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

Oh I agree with all that. But I can only comment on what I've seen so far.

He's slightly undersized with above-average to good mobility. He also looks like he uses it well in close-in battles which bodes well. Weak short-side and funky glove hand that is not working for him. Poor puckhandler (although most NHL goalies are to be fair).

He's got a long way to go IMO and really tough to tell (to me, at least) if he'll get there. One thing last night that gave me confidence was a real tough shot in OT blocker side from the slot with maybe a partial screen from a Dman. Super difficult save that he made look relatively easy. That's a goal on a lot of NHL'ers. From a technical standpoint I was more impressed with that than the Anderson save on Gaudreau.

Again I generally agree with this post, except I think he's better than poor at puckhandling. He's not Turco granted, but he doesn't panic with the puck on his stick and he has the poise to take that extra second to let an attacker continue skating before he passes it up to a D-man. Many a goalie will panic and throw it up the boards right at an attacker.

Ortio obviously has many things he needs to work on, but I think his technical foundation is solid, and he has the right tools to be an NHLer.

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I generally agree with this post, but I don't think Ortio thinks he's Kipper.

I didn't mean as a person or even a player. I meant his glove hand, specifically.

Kipper had a pretty unique glove hand and it really, really worked for him. He also had the innate ability to know when guys would go that side so in many cases he would leave it open (his glove positioning would make it look open) and then close it off, thus sucking the soul and life force of the shooter then usurping his energy into his own body.

[bubbsy]

i think folks are a bit too tied to the offseason "hype". This is is a young team, who are being faced with the challenge of expectations & opposition adjustments for the first time at the NHL level, throw in our best dman coming off a significant injury, and other best dman injured for the first month.

i think the team has looked brutal in the 3 games i've been able to watch thus far, including last night. there are spurts where they look ok, but then have a lapse/breakdown which has ended up at the back of our net almost always, as the goaltending hasn't been there to cover these glaring deficiencies.

regarding the calling out of individuals, not sure it's warranted as yet. Backlund is a guy who has been and always will be called out when the team isn't doing well. He's a 3rd line C, and if the team isn't scoring will be harped on for is lack of production. Russel/Wideman have had their struggles, but they were statistically not a solid pairing to begin with. Now with avg goaltending, that has become even more glaringly obvious.

Still not all is lost. This is a team that lost 8 straight (or whatever) last year, without gaining a point, yet made it to the playoffs. I believe the team can get some of their structure back, and getting brodie back is a major peice of that. He has an uncanny ability of slithering out of trouble with the puck in his own zone. Something our D have struggled with heavily thus far. Am hoping his presence rubs off on guys like giordano, hamilton, russel, wideman, who have severely been lacking this early on.

the lack of scoring has been a big concern, but i think it's a confidence issue. as the team rounds up their defensive game, there is no reason this team isn't at least a middle of the pack Goals per Game team in the NHL with the talent they have within the forwards/defencemen.

It is important the team start stringing together some wins or at least collecting points along the way. If they continue to dig the hole deeper, i think it will be time to consider this another blip on the road to a rebuild and start looking at maximizing some of the assets they have on the roster for the future.

[GreenLantern2814]

The Flames had a few games in their 8-gamer last year that they arguably deserved to win - they haven't been playing as poorly the last three games, they've had rotten luck.

Brodie looks like the best D on the team.

Ortio inspires calm from the team. His ability to move the puck is also going to be a boon to our defense.

Bennett is sooooo good. That assist on the Russell goal was a thing of beauty. I would like to see him score a goal from beyond three feet.

Hamilton playing with Engelland gives Dougie the best chance to get out of his funk.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Makes you really appreciate what a luxury it was having Kipper between the pipes all those years. Even when he let a goal in... Bad goal or good goal he always responded the same way: drink from the water bottle and got over it.

[heep223]

It is eerie how much Ortio reminds me of Kip.

[_Q_]

I think we played a fantastic game last night. We absolutely need better goaltending, however. Those last two goals by Hiller were atrocious.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by heep223

It is eerie how much Ortio reminds me of Kip.

Yep. Could we bring kipper in as the new goalie coach? Pretty sure he was doing that in Finland last time I checked. Bring the kipper chants back to the dome.


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[Galakanokis]

I liked the line combos last night. Big Joe played with some real jam in his game and some very good plays. The top two lines were much more balanced this way and I hope it sticks for a few more games to get a good look at what we have. I was hoping for more from Jones and Stajan, not that they have been bad but they are the veterans of the forward group. I was wondering what a Hudler/Jones/Stajan line would do. I don't know. Team is just off right now.

I want guys to sit in the box for a game or two but it is not effort that is the issue, it's execution, the fundamentals. Not sure if sitting a game or two will help in that regards.

I was disappointed the Ortio didn't get the start in this game, he hadn't played a meaningful game in almost a year and deserves a few games to get back in to it. I am assuming Hiller will miss a bit of time so Ortio should get the reigns. If he doesn't it will just kill any confidence he has.

On to the next one.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Yep. Could we bring kipper in as the new goalie coach? Pretty sure he was doing that in Finland last time I checked. Bring the kipper chants back to the dome.


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Actually though. This would be incredible (sorry Sigalet)

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by heep223

It is eerie how much Ortio reminds me of Kip.

It's not a co-incidence. They had the same "sensei", Urpo Ylönen. Things like calmly taking a drink after every goal, and the on-ice style were trained into both.

[CroFlames]

I actually remember being slightly pissed when Kipper would let in an untimely goal and just turn around and take a casual drink from the bottle, un-rattled. Meanwhile I'm livid at the goal in my living room.

SHOW SOME GD EMOTION KIPPER!!!! DON"T YOU CARE?!?!?

Little did I know, I was the Padawan, Kipper was the Jedi Master.

[heep223]

I didn't know where to put this but did anyone catch Wills on the Fan this morning doing his morning-after thing? He said that Bollig should shoot the puck more because he has a great shot.

Bollig's move all year has been shooting the puck. Either missing the net by 2 feet on a beauty feed from Stajan or shooting it on net from the blueline on a 2 on 2 when he's not even being pressured. That's all he does.

Sometimes Wills makes me wonder if he actually knows hockey all that well.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Despite not being the prettiest game, I feel last night was the start of a turnaround. Guys who needed to step up did so. No one more so than young Bennett. What a great outing by the lad. I can see why Hartely calls him pittbull.

I think it's a matter of time before things start clicking again.

Lost in all the talk is when Gaudreau got cross-checked from behind and Bennett nailed the guy who did it. Don't remember who it was , but I saw Gaudreau go down and no one do anything. Then from the right of my TV screen Bennett comes barrelling in and nails the guy. Thought for sure he was going to get a penalty, but the refs didn't call anything. Wish I could find a clip of it.

I really hope this was a breakout game for him. He was all over the ice, made plays and had a bunch of scoring chances. He's going to be scary good when he fills in with another 20-25 lbs. Hopefully him and Johnny stay together for a while.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Lost in all the talk is when Gaudreau got cross-checked from behind and Bennett nailed the guy who did it. Don't remember who it was , but I saw Gaudreau go down and no one do anything. Then from the right of my TV screen Bennett comes barrelling in and nails the guy. Thought for sure he was going to get a penalty, but the refs didn't call anything. Wish I could find a clip of it.

I really hope this was a breakout game for him. He was all over the ice, made plays and had a bunch of scoring chances. He's going to be scary good when he fills in with another 20-25 lbs. Hopefully him and Johnny stay together for a while.

https://gfycat.com/ImperturbableCalmLamprey