[PGT] Flames beat the Bolts 3-1

[Resolute 14]

Other than collecting a garbage goal, Stamkos was invisible last night. That is not an $11 million player. Also, Tampa looks like a team that needs to fire Cooper. All of their controversies seem to centre around player x vs. the coach, and last night looked like a team that had basically quit.

Couple other Cvik tributes that I'm not sure if were mentioned or not already - the officials were wearing little 88 patches, and the referees had him drop the puck for the opening faceoff.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Mind bottling actually how the team, especially Ramo, have had such a stark turnaround in play from the first 20 games compared to the last 20.

Originally Posted by robaur

Games 21-Games 41 gives a good indication of how good the team is.....anyone have the flames record over that span?

EDIT:

They are 13-6-1 in the last 20 games. Maintaining this pace gives them about 97 points.

There is that old adage that you should look at a teams second 20 game span instead of the first 20. That will give you a better indication of the team. I think that rings true for the flames. It was a perfect storm of badness that snowballed, which took a bit longer to get things in track.

[CroFlames]

In my opinion, these are the real Flames. I'm just shocked they were able to turn it around after that start. I thought they might be too down on themselves to change.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

Hamilton had around 2 minutes less than Wideman, and 6 minutes less than Russell this is my only complaint.

I barely noticed Hamilton last night, but sometimes a defenceman is doing his job when you barely notice him. Hard to complain about it when the team had possibly it's most dominating game of the season though

[Robbob]

I agree with it being the real Flames. I tend to be optimistic, but I wasn't really to worried even after the start because when it boiled down to it at the start of the season the Flames were battling for that last Pacific spot with SJ, EDM, VAN, PHX.

Comparing the records of the Pacific teams records in that second 20 game segment:

CGY 12-6-1 (one game left)
Phx 10-7-2 (still one game left to play)
ANA 9-6-3 (one game to finish segment)
SJ 6-9-2 (3 games to finish the segment)
EDM 9-9-2
Van 8-9-3

[442scotty]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Pretty much a non-factor until he scored that goal

Stamkos has become a one trick pony

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I agree with it being the real Flames. I tend to be optimistic, but I wasn't really to worried even after the start because when it boiled down to it at the start of the season the Flames were battling for that last Pacific spot with SJ, EDM, VAN, PHX.

Comparing the records of the Pacific teams records in that second 20 game segment:

CGY 12-6-1 (one game left)
Phx 10-7-2 (still one game left to play)
ANA 9-6-3 (one game to finish segment)
SJ 6-9-2 (3 games to finish the segment)
EDM 9-9-2
Van 8-9-3

I like the 20/21-game segments better.

First segment: 20 games
Second segment: 20 games
Third segment: 21 games
Fourth segment: 21 games
Fifth segment: 21 games (first round sweep, win rounds 2 and 3 in 6, win SCF in 5).

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Stamkos has become a one trick pony

TB fans are pissed because he's padded his stats with that goal. A stat guy will look at the scoresheet and see he scored and be happy. But to anybody who watched the game, he was as invisible as can be.

I do think that once he leaves TB he'll have a better chance to return as the elite player he once was. But his contract demands are going to be ridiculous. IMO he will easily have one of the worst contracts in NHL history on July 1st.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Is Stamkos' problem really stemming from his leg injury? I haven't watched him in the last couple of years but I remember him as being very dynamic and fast with a laser for a shot when he was younger. Is it possible to not fully recover from a broken leg?

[Benched]

and I remember how he was always setup for that one timer, cross-seam, near the faceoff dot. Then teams clued in on it and he wasn't scoring as much...

Then he 'adapted' and started scoring from different areas, crashing the net, being in differing spots (like high slot) and still potting a ton.

Everyone was touting how he was adaptable and that's why he was so dangerous. They were also harping on Ovi for being one-dimentional because at the time he was struggling and his main move was again that cross-seam one timer on the faceoff dot.

And then we're here today. Ovi keeps rolling and scoring and sniping. Stamkos looks irrelevant (lol). Is it the couch? The style? The linemates? Is it the injury?

Not sure. But my guess if it's anything related to the injury it's probably more mental, scared to get hurt again, or a split second more tentative or something, than a nagging injury or handicap. Which suggests to me it's either the coach/system/chemistry with his linemates...or between the ears.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Is Stamkos' problem really stemming from his leg injury? I haven't watched him in the last couple of years but I remember him as being very dynamic and fast with a laser for a shot when he was younger. Is it possible to not fully recover from a broken leg?

Recovering from a broken leg is hard. Recovering from the loss of a linemate that is bound for the hall of fame, apparently that's much more difficult.

[Roof-Daddy]

Just my opinion, but I predict a massive resurgence for Stamkos next season.

The guy is still in his prime and one of the most talented players on the planet.

I'm not a fan of paying any one player 1/7th ~ of the cap for an entire 20+ roster team, and I'm certainly not advocating the Flames do that with Stamkos, but I think plenty of folks will be eating crow by this time next year when he has a change of scenery and is tearing the league up again.

I did that with Ovy a couple years ago. Completely wrote him off and he's since bounced back to record two more 50+ goal seasons, three straight Richard trophy's and a Hart.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Other than collecting a garbage goal, Stamkos was invisible last night. That is not an $11 million player. Also, Tampa looks like a team that needs to fire Cooper. All of their controversies seem to centre around player x vs. the coach, and last night looked like a team that had basically quit.

Couple other Cvik tributes that I'm not sure if were mentioned or not already - the officials were wearing little 88 patches, and the referees had him drop the puck for the opening faceoff.

I may have imagined it but I thought he dropped the puck to start all three periods???

[Resolute 14]

Perhaps. I only paid attention to the start of the game for that.

[Split98]

Not the toughest opposition, but a GAA of 1.6 in the last 5 games is nice to see

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Is Stamkos' problem really stemming from his leg injury? I haven't watched him in the last couple of years but I remember him as being very dynamic and fast with a laser for a shot when he was younger. Is it possible to not fully recover from a broken leg?

I broke my tibia (I believe this is what Stamkos broke)7 months ago playing hockey and I'm still recovering. They put a rod in my tibia, not sure if Stamkos had a rod put in or plate. Surgeon said I can play hockey a year later but no hard running for up to two years. Now Iam not a professional athlete that is in extreme shape or get professional physio 24/7 but I can absolutely see it being his leg this year and eventually getting back to where he was.

[Toonage]

To play devil's advocate, he broke his leg over 2 years ago. Given his rehab and likely conditioning since should he not be recovered by now?

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by jaginla

I went to the first oilers game, the canadiens and the kings

I should stop going to games haha

Please don't go to the last Kings game. I'm bringing my son over to see his first ever hockey game.

[Your Calgary Flames!]

Originally Posted by Toonage

To play devil's advocate, he broke his leg over 2 years ago. Given his rehab and likely conditioning since should he not be recovered by now?

I would really hope so lol. In my opinion I guess it's just how much it's playing on him mentally. It's a horrible experience. But if it's not bothering him mentally then he just wants out.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Split98

Not the toughest opposition, but a GAA of 1.6 in the last 5 games is nice to see

We knew we were hitting a stretch of weaker competition. Making hay against these teams is critical to our playoff chances. So definitely good to see.