[PGT] Business as usual; Flames lose at Honda Center. Again. (5-2)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I think people are being completely reasonable to point a big fat finger at the goaltending and Hiller in particular.

When you play in front of a sieve like that it hurt your confidence, you start second guessing yourself, and defensive play breaks down. It's amazing how much confidence my team gets after a couple good saves from our goalie. We want to win for him because he's doing his part.

Hiller is not just bad, he's downright awful. In goalies that have played 10 or more games this year, he's 64/65 in save percentage and goals against average.

He is -literally- the worst goalie in the NHL.

The team was making no ground on the playoffs under Ramo and since he got hurt the team's place in the standings is the same today as it was the game he got injured. The issues are deeper than just goaltending. Just swapping goaltenders in the offseason isn't going to make this a playoff team if they play the same game they have played this season.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by AC

I really liked what I saw from Wotherspoon tonight.

Agreed. I want him on the team full time next year. Looks like he's really turning the corner.

[ScorchyScorch]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

5 on 5 the Ducks are like men vs boys against us with the size and skill that they possess up front. This matchup really drives home why we lost in the playoffs and what we need to add to be able to get out of the Pacific. We need power forwards like they have. Big, strong, skilled forwards. Otherwise we'll never match up against the Kings or Ducks in a 7 game series.

Also on my wish list would be a defensemen of Hamilton's size but who was nasty and physical like a Pronger, Hatcher, Blake, etc. Our defense is kind of average sized for the most part and teams like the Kings and Ducks can exploit us on the cycle.

Laine and Jankowski.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Engelland is essentially what you described

He's the best Regehr replacement we've got at the moment that's for sure. But he's best suited to the 3rd pairing.

I'm talking about a huge, strong, mobile, mean, nasty top four defenseman. Obviously they don't grow on trees but in an ideal world that's what we'd add to Brodie, Gio and Hamilton. Not sure where we could get one but that's the only type of player that can make life miserable for the huge power forwards that teams like ANA and LAK throw out there.

Not even sure how many guys in the league even fit that description. Pretty rare commodity to find.

[Ashasx]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg
That was ugly. #Flames 41.0% possession today. Ducks with a 33-19 edge in chances including 21-12 at even strength. From @HockeyStatsCa.

[Erick Estrada]

The bottom pairing was a bright spot as they were the only pair that wasn't a train wreck at times for the most part.

[OldSam]

I was hoping the score would be worse so at least Ortio would get a chance on Tuesday. News flash Bob - just because Hill beat the dreadful Canucks doesn't mean he is an NHL goalie anymore. I don't care how bad Ortio is. At least give him a chance for a bit. What can happen? We lose more games? Whatever.

[true#1center]

On a weird note, I was quite happy with Louis DeBrusk as colour guy. I came into the game thinking he was gonna be all against the flames cause of his oiler colour background. But he did awesome and praised the flames every chance he got. Very nice to see.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Brad 'heavy hockey' Treliving has to start earning his money.

This team is too small and not skilled enough.

Not sure how you are going to fix this. We need some better top 6 and bottom 6 players.

Darren Helm?
Jamie McGuinn?

Andrew Ladd?
David Backes?

[hockey.modern]

"Bottom line is we're giving up too many goals lately." - Mark Giordano

Hmm I wonder why..

[Lanny_McDonald]

Jonas Hiller is watching his NHL come to an end. No one is going to give him a contract after this season. Just a brutal performance.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The team was making no ground on the playoffs when Ramo got hurt as the team's place in the standings is the same today as it was the game he got injured. The issues are deeper than just goaltending. Just swapping goaltenders in the offseason isn't going to make this a playoff team if they play the same game they have played this season.

Disagree.

Goalie swap for league average changes everything. It's the black hole this season. Ramo is 46th / 42nd by the same metric, so we haven't received league average goaltending from him either.

He did impress in small stretches here and there like Hiller for 5 games through 2016. But the bright spots on the back end were few and far between and did not make up for the shadows they cast.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by true#1center

On a weird note, I was quite happy with Louis DeBrusk as colour guy. I came into the game thinking he was gonna be all against the flames cause of his oiler colour background. But he did awesome and praised the flames every chance he got. Very nice to see.

DeBrusk is actually not a bad colour guy. Not exactly sure what RSN was thinking replacing him with Remenda who even annoys Oilers fans.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by AC

I really liked what I saw from Wotherspoon tonight.

The last two games have been the best he's played all year.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Monahan is also worrying me. Not really an impact player.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by ScorchyScorch

Laine and Jankowski.

Jankowski may add size down the line but he's not very physical from what I've seen. He's probably 1-2 years away still. But yeah, his size/skill combo could be very useful in few years. I'm still quite excited about his potential.

Yeah this draft has an excellent selection of big, skilled forwards. Laine, Puljujarvi, Matthews, Tkachuk would all excite me a ton. I'd be pretty happy to land Dubois or Gauthier too. It's gonna get us a key piece for sure.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Disagree.

Goalie swap for league average changes everything. It's the black hole this season. Ramo is 46th / 42nd by the same metric, so we haven't received league average goaltending from him either.

He did impress in small stretches here and there like Hiller for 5 games through 2016. But the bright spots on the back end were few and far between and did not make up for the shadows they cast.

Ramo was at least league average for over a month there and the team still never became a legit threat to make the playoffs. The home winning streak is the only thing keeping this team out of 30th right now goes to show that as bad as goaltending has been the issues go deeper. Since we have no idea who will be in the nets next season there's every reason to believe the results may be the same if this team continues to play sloppy in their own end.

[true#1center]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Monahan is also worrying me. Not really an impact player.

Time to break up him and Johnny. They just aren't working that well anymore together, Johnny is carrying him. Just my opinion.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Jankowski may add size down the line but he's not very physical from what I've seen. He's probably 1-2 years away still. But yeah, his size/skill combo could be very useful in few years. I'm still quite excited about his potential.

Yeah this draft has an excellent selection of big, skilled forwards. Laine, Puljujarvi, Matthews, Tkachuk would all excite me a ton. I'd be pretty happy to land Dubois or Gauthier too. It's gonna get us a key piece for sure.

Assume we draft 5-6, and Puljujarvi, Matthews, Laine, and Tkachuk are gone who is the best forward that meets our needs?

[Gaudfather]

Ducks -5, Flames - 2, Duck's goalpost - 4. The curse is alive and well!

Flames play under O'Toole's Law when the are in Anaheim. (O'Toole's Law basically is that Murphy was an optimist!)