[PGT] Flames lose 2-1

[direwolf]

Well, this season is pretty much a write off at this point. Special teams are the worst I've ever seen from this franchise, and might actually be the worst I've seen in my 30+ years of watching hockey. If the PP could actually convert once in a while, we'd probably still be in the playoff race. It's gonna be a long rebuild, folks. This team is nowhere near where they need to be.

[theTrumanShow]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I thought the Flames deserved better. Not enough forward finishers on the team. Too much offense is dependent on the back end.

In what world did they deserve better? First shot of the game for the Flames was 8 minutes in. They had I believe 11 through 2 periods. This team as it sits is garbage and we need to move all UFAs and get what we can for them and let the AHL guys come up and play. Nashville was clearly the better team tonight and deserved to win. Literally almost fell asleep 5 times tonight bt the dome beers kept me going.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by theTrumanShow

...This team as it sits is garbage and we need to move all UFAs and get what we can for them and let the AHL guys come up and play...

Yeah, that'll solve everything.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Yeah, that'll solve everything.

It will solve our lack of a top RW prospect at least..

[ScorchyScorch]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Well, this season is pretty much a write off at this point. Special teams are the worst I've ever seen from this franchise, and might actually be the worst I've seen in my 30+ years of watching hockey. If the PP could actually convert once in a while, we'd probably still be in the playoff race. It's gonna be a long rebuild, folks. This team is nowhere near where they need to be.

That's fair, but lets gauge where they are in relation to where they need to be based on what they do when they actually bring an effort to the ice. Tonight players were giving it like 50-60% minus a couple individuals. Can't gauge the team's capabilities on that. We've seen what they can do, but they're simply not doing it.

It's easy to say it's a long way during a stretch of awful hockey, or to better describe it, disinterested hockey, just as it's easy to say we need a piece here or there to figure it all out when things are going well. I see it as a few upgrades need to be made and development needs to be continued. There will be a window for this team and it isn't yet.

But I'm starting to look at the bench boss(es) because there's a distinct lack of motivation it seems, due to the beating of the head against a rock repitition in their game approach. Maybe some tuning out happening in the collective group, as they recognize their game plan isn't effective against any team that can be aggressive in the neutral zone, and no adjustments are being made to the PP despite its futility.

[heep223]

Missed the game. From the highlights it looked like the Flames were by far the better team in the 2nd and 3rd periods, while letting in 2 goals that were both stoppable pucks where Ramo got beat clean.

That's just the highlights obviously but from the doom and gloom around here (ie they're terrible, blow it up, tank nation) you'd think the Flames got lit up - it looked like they should have won.

I continue to feel with a legit #1 goalie and better coaching/systems/special teams, this is a playoff team.

[N-E-B]

Meh, Gaudreau got a point and at this point I'm just cheering for our young guys to do well. Disappointing for sure, but what can you do? Time to gut the supporting cast this off-season and shake the team up a bit.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Meh, Gaudreau got a point and at this point I'm just cheering for our young guys to do well. Disappointing for sure, but what can you do? Time to gut the supporting cast this off-season and shake the team up a bit.

Yeah, it's always nice when guys like Johnny or Gio get points rather than Jones and Raymond.

[Flames_F.T.W]

If we were middle of the pack on faceoffs and the power play we'd be a playoff team.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

If we were middle of the pack on faceoffs and the power play we'd be a playoff team.

No. We're much further off than that.

If the flames had an average powerplay (scoring 6.4 goals per 60 minutes on the pp) they'd have 7 more goals.

If the Flames had a 50% faceoff, they'd have won about 2 more faceoffs per game

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Yeah, that'll solve everything.

Based on current results it won't hurt anything. The fact of the matter is we are going no where with the group we have, a team that is predominately a veteran laden team. We really need to see where some of our players in the minors are and if they are capable of taking the next step. They need a chance to show what they have and gain some experience. Get on with it already. What are we going to do? Hurt our playoff chances?

[flambers]

Tough game for the Flames, they had a slow start. Seemed to be asleep for the 1st and 2nd period.

Had a good finish....

[Erick Estrada]

Bad team is bad but it's all part of the process. I don't care for this product at all but I know it's required for this team to get the young assets required to build a real contender.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Bad team is bad but it's all part of the process. I don't care for this product at all but I know it's required for this team to get the young assets required to build a real contender.

Boy were you ever right this year.

We'll ignore the fact that you were dead wrong last year.

[Poe969]

Most everyone was wrong last year. A lot of people around here had us in the McDavid sweeps. We can't all be Aaron Ward.

[hurtin_albertan]

Yet another "microcosm of the season" game.

1. So so flat out of the gate
2. Ramo lets in a stinker
3. PP can't cash (or even really look somewhat urgent or organized for that matter) on numerous opportunities to get back into the game
4. PK gives up a goal
5. Big push in the 3rd but can't bury the tying goal despite a ton of 5 bell chances due to some combo of execution, bad luck, and ridiculous goaltending

Don't get me wrong the Flames didn't deserve to win the game because once again they chose to not even show up for the first 40 minutes, but man everything that was going right in the 3rd period last season is just not happening this season.

[Textcritic]

The good news from this game for me was how Gaudreau, Monahan, and Hudler were going in the latter half of the third. I haven't seen that for a little while, and it was good to see.

[Poe969]

If that line can start clicking it would really boost Hudlers value. The whole not playing well for 2/3 of the game then turning it on at the end really isn't good for the team.

[hurtin_albertan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The good news from this game for me was how Gaudreau, Monahan, and Hudler were going in the latter half of the third. I haven't seen that for a little while, and it was good to see.

Good point, especially Hudler. He didn't have an outstanding game by any means but definitely looked like he was at least feeling it at times during the 3rd. I mean, it's something right?

On the other side of the coin, I'm finding that Granlund looks increasingly overwhelmed out there as the games go by. It's not as though he's detrimental to the team or anything but he just looks a step behind most of the time and just generally ineffective.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

No. We're much further off than that.

If the flames had an average powerplay (scoring 6.4 goals per 60 minutes on the pp) they'd have 7 more goals.

If the Flames had a 50% faceoff, they'd have won about 2 more faceoffs per game

This is a very shortsighted post..

Power play success is about more than just scoring a goal or not scoring a goal. It's about momentum. A well worked power play has the ability to shift the momentum of a game and very easily change the outcome. going 0 for 5 on the powerplay night after night is downright demoralizing for a team. Especially losing all these games by 1 goal.

Calgary is a high tempo team. These types of teams rely on their speed to draw penalties and rely on their powerplay to provide offense. That's not happening and the Flames don't have the defensive system to play these tight low scoring games.

Somebody needs to answer for this terrible powerplay situation. The Flames have 4 players who have the potential to lead the league in power play points, but the system is quite clearly failing them.