[GDT] Flames @ Oilers, 8 pm, CBC

[Bingo]

The team isn't getting puck luck or the big save right now. When that happens everyone gets tight and starts wandering around covering for each other leaving their own spots wide open.

As a result goaltenders are forced to make too many good saves.

When they don't make them the team feels they don't have the goaltending so they run around even more.

Now running around they no longer have a transition game because the whole mess is a fire drill.

Losses mount and they can do the math so the tension gets tighter and tighter and tighter.

The issue for coaches is to get a "reset" from everyone. Play your game, your system and if the goalie lets you down so be it. Get mad about it. Take it out on the Oilers. Find a win and see if that leads to another.

Easier said than done.

Something tells me they show up mad tonight though

[dammage79]

It looks like its two steps forwards and three steps back for this team. Not expecting anything tonight. No reason to. At least that way if something good happens, there'll be some happiness. If not, didn't expect it so no disappointment.

I'm just going to continue to watch to see how the Bennett-Gaudreau line do game after game because at some point, the awesomeness is going to go off the charts.

Eff the Oilers and the reverse bizarro world we live in today between the two teams.

[PaperBagger'14]

Pre game positivity panda:

Spoiler!

[pseudoreality]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Battle of Alberta and I don't even care to watch tonight.

I've been a die hard fan since 1990 but this is the first season that I truly don't want to watch this team. This is probably the worst Calgary Flames team in history.

In the 90s the top half the arena was tarped off because nobody bothered to watch. This year's Flames aren't there yet.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The team isn't getting puck luck or the big save right now. When that happens everyone gets tight and starts wandering around covering for each other leaving their own spots wide open.

As a result goaltenders are forced to make too many good saves.

When they don't make them the team feels they don't have the goaltending so they run around even more.

Now running around they no longer have a transition game because the whole mess is a fire drill.

Losses mount and they can do the math so the tension gets tighter and tighter and tighter.

The issue for coaches is to get a "reset" from everyone. Play your game, your system and if the goalie lets you down so be it. Get mad about it. Take it out on the Oilers. Find a win and see if that leads to another.

Easier said than done.

Something tells me they show up mad tonight though

They're not getting the saves they should be getting. Ortio let in a bunch of goals last night that should have been routine saves.

[polak]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Couldn't agree more. If you're not going to stick with them through the rough times then you better not be here when they win too. Just pathetic some of the stuff that's been said. Sounds Oiler fanish.

I'm making the trip up to Mulletville for the game tonight. Predicting a regulation win and solid performance from Ramo. 4-1 Flames. Go Flames go!

What a stupid view.

The Flames are an entertainment product. They're not providing any entertainment but we're supposed to watch like some sort of punishment?

FYI, entertainment doesn't only mean winning. If they were competing and playing hard and exciting but losing, like 13-14, then I'm sure many people would still be watching.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The team isn't getting puck luck or the big save right now. When that happens everyone gets tight and starts wandering around covering for each other leaving their own spots wide open.

As a result goaltenders are forced to make too many good saves.

When they don't make them the team feels they don't have the goaltending so they run around even more.

Now running around they no longer have a transition game because the whole mess is a fire drill.

Losses mount and they can do the math so the tension gets tighter and tighter and tighter.

The issue for coaches is to get a "reset" from everyone. Play your game, your system and if the goalie lets you down so be it. Get mad about it. Take it out on the Oilers. Find a win and see if that leads to another.

Easier said than done.

Something tells me they show up mad tonight though

This is what I've been saying since the collapse. But at this point you have to imagine it's even deeper than that? I hope not though.

Hopefully sound positional play and good fundamentals will be enough to dig this team out. The talent is there IMO. It just needs to come together and they can win on any given night.

I might need a solid buzz this game to bear it though. This is a perfect storm brewing for the media circlejerk of he-who-shall-not-be-named to reach fever pitch. A fragile Flames team and a Oiler team that is confident.

Nervous.

[Jing]

I think this one gets ugly. 6-1 Oilers.

[GranteedEV]

Screw it: Flames win, 4-0 shutout.

[You Need a Thneed]

Going to have to out score them tonight.

13-12 Flames in OT

Gaudreau with 5 goals, 4 assists, and two fights with McDavid.

[jaydaybay]

Very interested to see how the team mentally responds tonite.

It was one of the roughest experiences ive had at the dome in a long time. Hats fpr opposing teams players, ex-flames getting recognized on the jumbotrom and then torching our team captain for a breakaway shorty, some really weak goals, etc etc.

Must have been prety embarassing/demoralizing as a team to have that go down in your own barn. The fans pretty much packed it in when the players seemingly did. Good atmosphere for a while then the we might as well have been warching the game at the bell centre.

Id love to see them get angry and show some fight but i wont be surprised if they come out playing like wounded puppies, minus the few constant gamers on the team this year.

Such a far cry from the last two years right now. 13/14 they werent world beaters but man were they fun to watch. Not an easy team to play against. This year i feel as tho opponents are licking their chops when they see calgary on the sched.

I imagined a minor 'regression' this year meanig they dont get some of the last minute wins, maybe lay a few more duds, miss the playoffs but still be a fun team to watch. This isnt a regression so far, this is falling off a cliff. Hopefully they turn it around. Still lots of hockey left.

[jaydaybay]

^oops didnt realize that post was going to be so long. Lol.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by polak

What a stupid view.

The Flames are an entertainment product. They're not providing any entertainment but we're supposed to watch like some sort of punishment?

FYI, entertainment doesn't only mean winning. If they were competing and playing hard and exciting but losing, like 13-14, then I'm sure many people would still be watching.

To some people, following a club is more than mere entertainment. I am one of those people.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

This is what I've been saying since the collapse. But at this point you have to imagine it's even deeper than that? I hope not though.

Hopefully sound positional play and good fundamentals will be enough to dig this team out. The talent is there IMO. It just needs to come together and they can win on any given night.

I might need a solid buzz this game to bear it though. This is a perfect storm brewing for the media circlejerk of he-who-shall-not-be-named to reach fever pitch. A fragile Flames team and a Oiler team that is confident.

Nervous.

I really think they were a team that played so much of a season last year almost ignoring the scoreboard. They just did what they were told and it seemed to work out more often than not.

The heroics helped because they had something to hang their hat on ... work hard, keep at it, good things happen.

This year though the expectations have had them thinking nothing but scoreboard and they are having a heck of time getting past it. Its evolution from a wannable to a sorta are to an annual playoff team.

They need a reset.

[MisterJoji]

In my perpetual optimism/stupidity I'm going to say Ramo comes back on fire, pissed about his earlier demotion. Top 6 keeps clicking, and Russell/Wideman improve to average from hot garbage. 4-1 Flames. Bennett, Frolik, Colborne, Raymond with the goals.

[polak]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

To some people, following a club is more than mere entertainment. I am one of those people.

I'd consider myself one of those people too and I'm sure a lot of the people who are posting that they're over this also consider themselves to be but every one has their limits and this season has been the worst season in decades to this point.

How about instead of putting the blame on the fans for not being able to get excited for such a crap performance, we pray that something happens so that we can get excited for this team again. This is not on the fans.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by polak

I'd consider myself one of those people too and I'm sure a lot of the people who are posting that they're over this also consider themselves to be but every one has their limits and this season has been the worst season in decades to this point.

How about instead of putting the blame on the fans for not being able to get excited for such a crap performance, we pray that something happens so that we can get excited for this team again. This is not on the fans.

But you consistently rag on folks in the Off Topic who believe in such silly things as religion and God?

[direwolf]

Watching this team right now is just plain insufferable, so I'm off to see a movie tonight instead of watching the game. Wake me up when they actually win a hockey game.

[polak]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

But you consistently rag on folks in the Off Topic who believe in such silly things as religion and God?

Haha wow.

[TBone290]

Let's put up a fight tonight ?