[GDT] Flames @ Jets, 6:00 PM MST. Sportsnet West, Fan 960

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

There are few options for the RW with Monahan and Gaudreau.

Brouwer is off the table at the moment, otherwise he might be the best option.

Ferland has been tried before, and his production has stagnated yet again.

Versteeg is a suitable option skill-wise, but he's small and gets outmuscled along the boards in his own zone. You simply can't have him on the same line as Gaudreau who has similar problems.

Tkachuk is playing too well with Backlund and Frolik to split up that line. Frolik stays put for the same reasons.

The only option after that is Bouma or Hathaway, and that's simply not good enough.

Chiasson is perfectly fine as a 5 on 5 player with Monahan and Gaudreau. He's had some great chances in the past couple of games that the hasn't quite been able to capitalize on, but he's in the right spots and gets a good shot on net. He's also pretty solid defensively, which allows Monahan and Gaudreau to be more aggressive knowing Chiasson can cover for them. He also brings the "beef" element necessary to any line that has Gaudreau on it. Chiasson does well enough retrieving pucks in the corners to be a nice complement to Gaudreau.

Obviously Chiasson is not a top line RWer, but that just means the team needs to find a better option for that spot internally at some point. Short of trading for Tarasenko, that's the only way for this team to fill that spot.

Hathaway actually had a couple of shifts with Johnny and Monahan last game.

[FlameFan21]

I'll be representing the C of Red tonight!

[FBI]

Bennett will never score again!

PS if he scores a hat trick tonight, I will donate $50 to CP.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Bennett scores a hat trick and I donate $25 to suicide awareness Canada.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by FBI

Bennett will never score again!

PS if he scores a hat trick tonight, I will donate $50 to CP.

What if he scores 4? $66.67?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

Bennett scores a hat trick and I donate $25 to suicide awareness Canada.

Why don't you just donate the money anyways? Seems like a worthwhile cause with a low amount that shouldn't be predicated on a low probability event occurring.

[Soliak]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Why don't you just donate the money anyways? Seems like a worthwhile cause with a low amount that shouldn't be predicated on a low probability event occurring.

Maybe he already donates m8? Seems like a specific charity to pick out without prior involvement history. Do not be so quick to judge.

[TheScorpion]

Wearing my Bennett jersey tonight to watch the game. Because I am, and because of all of the Bennett discussion going on, I'll tell a little story.

So, last season, my father and I had the opportunity to go to a Flames game in January. The Flames weren't very good, and Bennett wasn't having all that productive a season. However, I never pass up a chance to go to the Dome, so when it was offered, I jumped at the chance to see Jagr and a pretty good Panthers team.

Not before running into the Travelling Jagrs (one of whom I'm pretty sure my brother-in-law knows, but that's another story), my father and I began to browse around FanAttic. I'd gotten my David Jones jersey at the previous Christmas, but I'd lost all of my other Flames memorabilia in the flood and so I wanted a jersey. However, Christmas had passed, and while I was happy with the gifts I received, no Flames uniform came. Ah well.

Off-hand, I begin looking around FanAttic for items which I could afford. I set my eyes upon two things: a Sam Bennett 93 jersey (script alternate), and a matching hat with the script logo adorned upon it. I look across the store to my dad, who is browsing the Joe Colborne and Kris Russell jerseys, and I ask of him, "hey dad, will you get me this hat?"

He says no, and that I should pay for the things I want (he's right), but said that if I made him a bet, he might consider it. So, I told him that if Johnny Gaudreau scored two goals in that game, he'd have to get me the hat.

"And?" he said. "Well," I started, thinking hard, "if he doesn't, I'll buy you a malt."

"Ok," he said. I nodded, and my eyes fell upon the Bennett jersey. Thinking wildly, I then blurted out something completely ridiculous.

"Oh, and dad?" I said, possibly slightly too loud, "If Bennett gets four tonight, you've got to get me his jersey."

His eyes widened. "That probably won't happen, but ok."

So, we headed up to our seats. They were pretty nice seats, if I recall correctly -- low in the second balcony. The game started soon after.

The opponent: the Florida Panthers.

Bennett had three by the end of the first. He still had three at the end of the second. The Flames were crushing the Panthers (even Mason Raymond scored), but Bennett's goal-scoring barrage seemed to have ended.

Finally, as the minutes ticked down in the third period, my dad turned to me and said, "empty-netters don't count."

Dang. That's what I had been hoping for. And with under a minute left, the Panthers began advancing it out of their own zone. Bennett was on the ice, but he was far behind the play.

And then Jiri Hudler stopped the puck at the blueline. He fed Bennett, who made some kind of move before unleashing an unbelievable backhander past the Panthers' goaltender. I had won the bet.

As we were leaving the Saddledome, I wouldn't stop talking about how lucky I was, how wrong my dad was, et cetera. And then, just as we were about to exit the arena, he stopped me in my tracks.

"How about that malt?"

[Cycling76er]

Originally Posted by FlameFan21

I'll be representing the C of Red tonight!

Wish I could've afforded tickets Could always use an extra Flames jersey in the crowd! I have to settle for watching the game at BPs in Kildonan.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Wearing my Bennett jersey tonight to watch the game. Because I am, and because of all of the Bennett discussion going on, I'll tell a little story.

So, last season, my father and I had the opportunity to go to a Flames game in January. The Flames weren't very good, and Bennett wasn't having all that productive a season. However, I never pass up a chance to go to the Dome, so when it was offered, I jumped at the chance to see Jagr and a pretty good Panthers team.

Not before running into the Travelling Jagrs (one of whom I'm pretty sure my brother-in-law knows, but that's another story), my father and I began to browse around FanAttic. I'd gotten my David Jones jersey at the previous Christmas, but I'd lost all of my other Flames memorabilia in the flood and so I wanted a jersey. However, Christmas had passed, and while I was happy with the gifts I received, no Flames uniform came. Ah well.

Off-hand, I begin looking around FanAttic for items which I could afford. I set my eyes upon two things: a Sam Bennett 93 jersey (script alternate), and a matching hat with the script logo adorned upon it. I look across the store to my dad, who is browsing the Joe Colborne and Kris Russell jerseys, and I ask of him, "hey dad, will you get me this hat?"

He says no, and that I should pay for the things I want (he's right), but said that if I made him a bet, he might consider it. So, I told him that if Johnny Gaudreau scored two goals in that game, he'd have to get me the hat.

"And?" he said. "Well," I started, thinking hard, "if he doesn't, I'll buy you a malt."

"Ok," he said. I nodded, and my eyes fell upon the Bennett jersey. Thinking wildly, I then blurted out something completely ridiculous.

"Oh, and dad?" I said, possibly slightly too loud, "If Bennett gets four tonight, you've got to get me his jersey."

His eyes widened. "That probably won't happen, but ok."

So, we headed up to our seats. They were pretty nice seats, if I recall correctly -- low in the second balcony. The game started soon after.

The opponent: the Florida Panthers.

Bennett had three by the end of the first. He still had three at the end of the second. The Flames were crushing the Panthers (even Mason Raymond scored), but Bennett's goal-scoring barrage seemed to have ended.

Finally, as the minutes ticked down in the third period, my dad turned to me and said, "empty-netters don't count."

Dang. That's what I had been hoping for. And with under a minute left, the Panthers began advancing it out of their own zone. Bennett was on the ice, but he was far behind the play.

And then Jiri Hudler stopped the puck at the blueline. He fed Bennett, who made some kind of move before unleashing an unbelievable backhander past the Panthers' goaltender. I had won the bet.

As we were leaving the Saddledome, I wouldn't stop talking about how lucky I was, how wrong my dad was, et cetera. And then, just as we were about to exit the arena, he stopped me in my tracks.

"How about that malt?"

If that story is true, that's pretty cool.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by FBI

If that story is true, that's pretty cool.

100%. It was unbelievable at the time, still is to this day. I'll never forget it.

[Burner]

at the game tonight - one more Flame Fan in Winnipeg....

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

What if he scores 4? $66.67?

Sure
$10 for one.
$20 for two.
$50 for three.
$66.67 for four.
$100 for five.

[Beninho]

I don't even care if Bennett gets a goal, just want to see him drive the net. Someone needs to tell him he isn't Johnny and we don't want him to be, be what got you into the league. DRIVE THE NET BENNETT!!!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Soliak

Maybe he already donates m8? Seems like a specific charity to pick out without prior involvement history. Do not be so quick to judge.

Not judging. Don't know where you got that from. Merely suggesting an amount that low should have a high probability event like "the starting goalie makes 10 saves" or something.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Not judging. Don't know where you got that from. Merely suggesting an amount that low should have a high probability event like "the starting goalie makes 10 saves" or something.

Chill out Mr Monopoly

[Beninho]

I know it's also been said here a ton but it wouldn't hurt to try Bennett on the top line as the RW. It's not an insult to Bennett, look at how Drai plays the wing for the Oil. It's not an insult to put him on the top line, even as a RW. Obviously we will need someone to take over the 3rd line center role but it's worth the shot.

[ASP#26525]

Excited for this one. I hope Benny has a good game.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by FBI

Sure
$10 for one.
$20 for two.
$50 for three.
$66.67 for four.
$100 for five.

Is this one contingent on you winning the Safeway Score and Win million dollar prize?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Beninho

I know it's also been said here a ton but it wouldn't hurt to try Bennett on the top line as the RW. It's not an insult to Bennett, look at how Drai plays the wing for the Oil. It's not an insult to put him on the top line, even as a RW. Obviously we will need someone to take over the 3rd line center role but it's worth the shot.

You mean, put him with Gaudreau and Monahan? In theory it would work well - but I believe it was tried more than once last season, with underwhelming results. It was a revolving door of RW'ers on that line last year and no one stuck, Bennett included.

I'd be all for giving it another go, just saying it's been tried before and hadn't worked. And I think you want at least 1 experienced player on each line - or at least, that's what I think Gulutzan is going for with his lineups. We're in the playoff hunt, yes, but this is still a young team with many key core players in their 20's and should be played as such.