[PGT] Flames Lose 2-1 + EN to the Caps.

[Bunk]

Needed the last road trip to get team going, need this one to get the top line going.

[corporatejay]

Was at the game. Thought the team played well and just couldn't capitalize on the chances they had.

Hard to be upset with this game but at times it was frustrating seeing them miss passes.

While I appreciate that JG and Money are our top pair, I would go out with Frolik and Backlund on the 1st unit PP next game. those guys are dominant out there.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Easy.

1. The coaches did not forget how to coach.
2. Top players were not invisible. They had zone time, but were shutdown by a Caps team that played an exceptional road game and who are one of the best teams in the NHL.
3. A veteran laden team with boatloads of playoff experience played a defensively sound game against out top guys. That's not shocking, nor is it a knock against Johnny or Mony
4. Backcheckin was embarassing? Held one of the highest scoring offences to 2 goals if you don't include the empty netter.
5. Elliott has been playing like a starter. That should be expected.

Perhaps you should note there are two teams on the ice. The Flames held Ovechkin to one point, where he normally smokes the Flames every game he plays (career 1.58 pts/g).



Each time the Flames lose, it's like they were the worst team in the history of the NHL according to you. They played OK, and were beat by an exceptional team. Move on, regroup, and continue playing your game. You won't win them all.


Chill yourself.

The coaches did not forget how to coach, that was obviously sarcastic for the guys (like yourself) who always excuse the players for their crap efforts. That's an Edmonton Oiler attitude and yes the back checking was embarrassing the Caps were open all night in the slot.

I honestly wonder if people even know how to analyze games without looking at the score. Yes the game was 3-1 but they played like crap for 50 minutes and most of the top players didn't show any effort. Backlund, Brodie, Frolik and Bennett were the only guys hustling out there.

They were continually out of position and had barely any zone time. I wonder what the possession stats were tonight? Couldn't be better than 40%. Wouldn't be shocked if it was lower either.

If you're happy with that effort then good for you but I'm not. It doesn't matter what team you're paying skating hard should not be influenced by that and neither is good positioning and hard back checking.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Was at the game. Thought the team played well and just couldn't capitalize on the chances they had.

Hard to be upset with this game but at times it was frustrating seeing them miss passes.

While I appreciate that JG and Money are our top pair, I would go out with Frolik and Backlund on the 1st unit PP next game. those guys are dominant out there.

I'd like to see Johnny with them for a full game (or string of games).

Johnny - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Monahan - Chiasson
Ferland - Stajan - Bouma

[Alpine Fisher]

I am as big a fan of Gaudreau as Gaudreaovertime, but Johnny played terrible tonight. Alot of passes to no where, out muscled on the puck. Monahan played brutal as well.

The only forwards that played good were Backlund & Frolik.

Terrible waste of a stellar goaltending performance by Elliot, who played awesome.

This team was very sloppy tonight. Unacceptable when Washington plays the night before and gets into town at 1:30am. The Flames players looked like they drank alot last night!

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

The coaches did not forget how to coach, that was obviously sarcastic for the guys (like yourself) who always excuse the players for their crap efforts. That's an Edmonton Oiler attitude and yes the back checking was embarrassing the Caps were open all night in the slot.

I honestly wonder if people even know how to analyze games without looking at the score. Yes the game was 3-1 but they played like crap for 50 minutes and most of the top players didn't show any effort. Backlund, Brodie, Frolik and Bennett were the only guys hustling out there.

They were continually out of position and had barely any zone time. I wonder what the possession stats were tonight? Couldn't be better than 40%. Wouldn't be shocked if it was lower either.

If you're happy with that effort then good for you but I'm not. It doesn't matter what team you're paying skating hard should not be influenced by that and neither is good positioning and hard back checking.

It was much closer than you think.

Flames had 48.8% possession and scoring chances were 12-10 for the capitals at even strength.

Capitals played a great road game and the Flames didnt convert on their chances - simple as that tonight.

Flames top players still do need to be better though. Gaudreau, Monahan, and Gio need to be our teams top 3 players and they werent close to that tonight.

[tvp2003]

I miss Norris Gio. He hasn't been terrible, but he hasn't been anything special for the most part.

Very tough road trip coming up. Hope they can continue to build momentum -- another 3 out of 4 wins would be amazing.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

i really fail to see how showing frustration is a bad thing.

When Iggy was frustrated he would literally fight people

Totally agree. I think we should be more worried if he doesn't show frustrations.

He's a skilled, young, competitive kid. It's totally normal and it means that he knows he needs to do something or figure out a way out of this sloppy play.

I don't know what people would be pleased with? Just skate away with a smile?

[Hockey_Ninja]

My jets fan friend wore his Ovechkin jersey at the dome tonight. I blame him.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It was much closer than you think.

Flames had 48.8% possession and scoring chances were 12-10 for the capitals at even strength.

That is skewed heavily by the ridiculously good Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik line which may as well be our #1 line. They were 66%. The only other forward over 50% was Kris Versteeg.

Also, score-adjusted (which is relevant, since Washington turtled with a lead) shot attempts were only 43.7%, Score-adjusted unblocked shot attempts were even lower at 42%.

Flames got dummied which matches perfectly with the Brent Sutter 2.0 Hockey that we had to vomit through.

[CaptainYooh]

It did not feel like a close game at the Dome at all. We were in the attack zone and saw very little of Flames in the 1st period, a lot of Capitals in the 2nd and then, in the 3rd, Flames woke up and started playing but it was two periods was too late. If it wasn't for Elliott, who made a few unreal saves, the score would have been much higher.

Top two lines can't seem to find their groove. Just not clicking - passes going nowhere, can't gain zone and hold the puck long enough. Johnny is visibly frustrated. Line 3 and Line 4 are doing most of the work right now... Hopefully, they'll find it soon.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

i really fail to see how showing frustration is a bad thing.

When Iggy was frustrated he would literally fight people

Thus using his frustration to do something that would generally give the team, and the fans, a boost of energy.

Sulking sucks the energy out of everyone. It makes people roll their eyes, not cheer and want to follow your shift with an even better one.

If he wants to take his frustration out and show his competitiveness, he should be making up for his mistakes with fierce flashes of effort to get the puck back like we've seen from him before.

I would always say to people I coached, there's a big difference to being a competitor and being a bitch. Channeling frustration into the energy to show why your a better player than the guy that just beat you is being competitive. Channeling your frustration into self-pity and stick-slamming is being a bitch. It doesn't help you or anyone. It's just a waste of energy.

[Ashasx]

he's not sulking. he's frustrated.

a lot of specious conclusions are being drawn here with no logic

literally every player in the league goes through stretches where they look like this.

let's criticize, but focus on areas that matter.

[Knut]

not sure why people are frustrated with Wideman. He has been solid the past 3 games. If he keeps it up he has a tonne of value at the deadline, or is a valuable piece for the Flames on a playoff run.

[CaptainYooh]

Interesting thing I noticed during warm-up. Capitals were at ease - relaxed, chatting to each other, laughing, one player was bumping a few others into the boards jokingly. Flames did not look nearly as comfortable.

[Caged Great]

If it was up to me, I'd set these as the lines for the Chicago game.

Gaudreau-Bennett-Brouwer
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Monahan-Chiasson
Ferland-Stajan-Bouma

The lines need a bit of a shake up. The Backlund and Stajan lines have been the only good ones lately. Shake the other two up and see if anything works.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

That is skewed heavily by the ridiculously good Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik line which may as well be our #1 line. They were 66%. The only other forward over 50% was Kris Versteeg.

Also, score-adjusted (which is relevant, since Washington turtled with a lead) shot attempts were only 43.7%, Score-adjusted unblocked shot attempts were even lower at 42%.

Flames got dummied which matches perfectly with the Brent Sutter 2.0 Hockey that we had to vomit through.

Washington didn't turtle with the lead at all IMO. They played the same structured Barry Trotz road game the whole time - it was a 2-1 lead so wasn't like the capitals were just sitting back with a huge lead.

The success of the Backlund line was easily cancelled out by the 4th line being ar27% possession.

For the most part rest of the forwards were in the 45-48% possession range.

Wasn't the teams best effort by far but wasn't close to the shambles the team was in the first 6 games of the season. Need to remember that there was a very talented team coached by Barry Trotz on the other side of the ice and his teams rarely give up very much.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If it was up to me, I'd set these as the lines for the Chicago game.

Gaudreau-Bennett-Brouwer
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Monahan-Chiasson
Ferland-Stajan-Bouma

The lines need a bit of a shake up. The Backlund and Stajan lines have been the only good ones lately. Shake the other two up and see if anything works.

I would do:

Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Gaudreau-Bennett-Ferland
Versteeg-Stajan-Brouwer
Bouma-Monahan-Chiasson

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Wideman
Kulak-Engelland or Jokipakka-Kulak

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

he's not sulking. he's frustrated.

a lot of specious conclusions are being drawn here with no logic

literally every player in the league goes through stretches where they look like this.

let's criticize, but focus on areas that matter.

He can be both. Sulking as an action that we can all see. Frustrated is the feeling he very likely has. How he deals with it is what will make the difference for him and the team. He can sulk, like he has been (and yes I consider stick slamming and visibly upset over every missed play sulking), or he can channel the frustration into more positive action. Most psychological research would show that the latter is more likely to help him than the former.

And to clarify, there's nothing wrong with these actions in a vacuum. Stoned on that breakaway? Throw your head skyward, sure. Miss that open net? Slam your stick. But when it happens over and over, multiple times per shift, it gets tired for the people surrounding you. Once or twice a game, you'll have someone come over to you, give you a pat, tell you it's OK and that you'll get em next time. But no one is doing that every shift for you, and teammates/coaches/fans get fed up with it pretty quickly (not saying this is happening, but obviously some of us fans are picking up on it, it would surprise me if the team isn't getting a least a little annoyed by it). It tends to drain the energy of a bench to not only see your best player struggle, but to see them dealing with it in a pretty poor way. And it certainly does nothing to help yourself. Frustration is a by product that can't be avoided, but it can be dealt with in a number of ways. SOme of us don't really like how Johnny is dealing with it, especially ebcause we've seen him deal with it better in the very recent past.

And he's not even struggling that hard. 7 points in 10 games is good, especially while looking pretty bad doing it. Relax kid. Put a smile on. Laugh off that pass that didn't work and try it again. It's a game.

[D as in David]

Someone needs to tell Debrusk he isn't in Edmonton anymore. We generally don't give out the first and third stars of the game to Flames when they lose.