Not sure I'd classify the game against Habs in Bell Centre as 'very winnable'. Habs are something like 16-4-2 on home ice and have everyone back in the lineup, except Gallagher. Price has been really ordinary for the last 10 games or so, but I wouldn't count on that continuing, and the schedule lines up so that he will play against the Flames.
That said, the Flames did spank them hard last season in Montreal, and here's hoping for more of the same this time.
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Fine, downgrade it to winnable. I think the Flames have won what, 4 of their last 5 games there? They just seem to do well in Montreal. Kind of fitting.
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Exactly. If you didn't think the Flames would be more defensively focused this season after all Treliving and Burke had to say about lowering the goals against and special teams, you weren't paying close enough attention.
There is a bizarre narrative from some of the fanbase that this Flames team is somehow being held back by Gulutzan, that he is stifling the 'skill' on the roster which is balderdash. A huge part of the reason the Flames were 'activating' the defense was because the Flames don't have the horses up front to score enough goals. Subtracting guys like Colborne and Hudler and even guys like Jooris and David Jones, and replacing them with Brouwer and Chiasson and Hamilton and Hathaway isn't going to get you any more goals but it WILL help you defend and hold leads.
It already is balancing itself out if you look at the snake or the standings.
This season has been pretty predictable all things considered.
I just looked this up.
Between October 1st and January 16 last season the flames had scored 114 goals in 42 games. 2.714 GF/PG. Over an 82 game schedule that's 222 goals for (The Flames finished with 229)
This season for the same time frame they've scored 117 in 46 games. 2.543 GF/PG. Over an 82 games schedule that's 208 goals for.
Goals against tells a much more significant story though:
Last season, from the start in october to january 16th the Flames had allowed 128 goals against in 42 games.
This season in the same time frame, 123 ga in 46 games.
The Flames, even though they are scoring less goals, have cut their goal differential in half at this point in the season compared to the previous one. The powerplay has improved by 6% over the previous season and the PK has improved by 7%.
They've allowed 100 more shots this season than last but surprisingly have taken about 100 more shots this season as well.
All in all, this is a vastly improved team from last year's squad which accounts for the difference in the standings.
The other huge difference is the Flames were shortedhanded 100 times last year between the start of the season and mid january. This year? 170
Last edited by Flash Walken; 01-16-2017 at 01:29 PM.
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Our worst forward is former 15-goal-scorer Lance Bouma, our worst defenseman is Finnish World Cup team member Jyrki Jokipakka, and our worst goaltender is two-time All-Star Brian Elliott.
I'll take that any day over having to watch Kevin Westgarth, Shane O'Brien, and Joey MacDonald.
For real? Brian Elliot is a two-time allstar? Holy crap.
There is a bizarre narrative from some of the fanbase that this Flames team is somehow being held back by Gulutzan, that he is stifling the 'skill' on the roster which is balderdash.
I have heard few if anyone say that Gulutzan has stifled skill. However it's pretty clear that the top offensive players on the team are having their worst years under him. I predicted that the defensemen would see their numbers drop due to picking their spots better when joining the rush and being more responsible but Monahan may not even hit 20 goals for the first time in his career, Gaudreau may not match his rookie totals, and Bennett the same. I don't think Gulutzan is to blame for all of this but it's his job to get them going. Is there any particular reason I'm missing that Alex Chiasson has had to be a staple in the top 6? I can accept if this season is a bit of a struggle for some of these players but if we see the same thing next season there's a problem.
Between October 1st and January 16 last season the flames had scored 114 goals in 42 games. 2.714 GF/PG. Over an 82 game schedule that's 222 goals for (The Flames finished with 229)
This season for the same time frame they've scored 117 in 46 games. 2.543 GF/PG. Over an 82 games schedule that's 208 goals for.
Goals against tells a much more significant story though:
Last season, from the start in october to january 16th the Flames had allowed 128 goals against in 42 games.
This season in the same time frame, 123 ga in 46 games.
The Flames, even though they are scoring less goals, have cut their goal differential in half at this point in the season compared to the previous one. The powerplay has improved by 6% over the previous season and the PK has improved by 7%.
They've allowed 100 more shots this season than last but surprisingly have taken about 100 more shots this season as well.
All in all, this is a vastly improved team from last year's squad which accounts for the difference in the standings.
The other huge difference is the Flames were shortedhanded 100 times last year between the start of the season and mid january. This year? 170
That said if you give Hartley this season's goaltending tandem that team is probably at the same point or higher in the standings than this one. I've never been a big Hartley guy but you have to put an asterisk next to last season because the Flames received historically bad goaltending.
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I wish that game just ended in a tie. I officially hate overtime and the shootout.
I've always hated the shootout, but I do admit 3 on 3 was exciting (although still a gimmick). Nowadays though, 3 on 3 isn't what it used to be and again the game has evolved to a more careful approach in 3 on 3.
3 points for a regulation win and nothing for a loss would really incentivize teams to chase a win. But the NHL likes having all teams "in it" so losing teams are propped up, and winning clubs are held back.
Someone mentioned in another thread about doing away with points, and just ranking by wins. I would be OK with that too.
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3-3 is becoming a dog, because frankly once your team wins a face off and gains possession its 3 minutes of zone circling to get the perfect shot. Its literally basketball without a shot clock. Its become really cautious with the defending team not wanting to attack because they could end up out of position.
You want 3-3 to work, then you might as well put in a 30 second shot clock.
Its rarely about end to end action, its more about hoping your goalie can make the save and smother the puck so you can bring out your face off specialist.
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3-3 is becoming a dog, because frankly once your team wins a face off and gains possession its 3 minutes of zone circling to get the perfect shot. Its literally basketball without a shot clock. Its become really cautious with the defending team not wanting to attack because they could end up out of position.
You want 3-3 to work, then you might as well put in a 30 second shot clock.
Its rarely about end to end action, its more about hoping your goalie can make the save and smother the puck so you can bring out your face off specialist.
I think that must be how your coach wants it? Every Leafs game after they blow a 2-goal 3rd period lead their OT is always end to end action, very little waiting to set-up the perfect shot.
An OT between a bottom team and a mediocre team doesn't have much structure?
Shocking.
True. An OT between the mighty Oilers and the Flames is on a completely different level. Sorry. Because I know when I think of a team with "structure" Oilers are the first team that comes to mind.
That said if you give Hartley this season's goaltending tandem that team is probably at the same point or higher in the standings than this one. I've never been a big Hartley guy but you have to put an asterisk next to last season because the Flames received historically bad goaltending.
I'm not so sure that's the case. There's no question this years tandem is better than last years, but the team for the first 10-15 games of this season were largely playing Hartley style hockey, or the remnants of, and it was making the goalies look horrific.
Elliot hasn't been fantastic this year but he looks a lot better getting starts behind the december/january Flames than he did behind the October/November Flames.
I can't discount that the Flames have better goaltenders this season and that may be a significant factor in things like the PK % increasing but I think it's plain to see that the effort being put in to be a responsible unit in all 3 zones is having a greater impact on the goal differential and overall team results than the goaltending alone.
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Exactly. If you didn't think the Flames would be more defensively focused this season after all Treliving and Burke had to say about lowering the goals against and special teams, you weren't paying close enough attention.
There is a bizarre narrative from some of the fanbase that this Flames team is somehow being held back by Gulutzan, that he is stifling the 'skill' on the roster which is balderdash. A huge part of the reason the Flames were 'activating' the defense was because the Flames don't have the horses up front to score enough goals. Subtracting guys like Colborne and Hudler and even guys like Jooris and David Jones, and replacing them with Brouwer and Chiasson and Hamilton and Hathaway isn't going to get you any more goals but it WILL help you defend and hold leads.
It already is balancing itself out if you look at the snake or the standings.
This season has been pretty predictable all things considered.
I recall an interview somewhere where Gulutzan mentioned that he specialty was the defensive side of the game but that he was not well versed on the offensive side. Not sure if I can find it now it was awhile back before, or after he was hired.
The need for some sort of top end forward to play on the top line is simply not true and you can very easily look around the league and you'll see guys like Sheary, Coyle, etc playing on top lines. The salary cap won't allow anymore for three top flight guys anymore and sometimes, like with the Pens even two. Nothing wrong or crazy with the coach putting Chiasson on the top line. It might not be working but every team needs to find something similar that works.
The need for some sort of top end forward to play on the top line is simply not true and you can very easily look around the league and you'll see guys like Sheary, Coyle, etc playing on top lines. The salary cap won't allow anymore for three top flight guys anymore and sometimes, like with the Pens even two. Nothing wrong or crazy with the coach putting Chiasson on the top line. It might not be working but every team needs to find something similar that works.
Yup, every year there are unsung heroes throughout the league producing in the top 6. I think it's safe to say Chiasson is not that guy. Keeping him up there when it's clearly not working seems asinine. He hasn't been as terrible as I expected, and it's not his fault; he's just not skilled enough, and isn't playing over his head like Sheary and Coyle are.
Also, can't say I'm a fan of Gaudreau and Monahan being split up. I know they haven't really jived this season, but the forward lines right now amount to one fully functioning line and a bunch of wishes in a teacup.
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Chiasson does kill a lot of offensive zone plays because he doesn't have good awareness of where his teammates are. He'll often throw the puck away because he often doesn't see/notice Gaudreau or try to get it to him. He grinds it out on the boards but then can't create much in the way of plays if possession is gained.
He's not a bad player, he's just not the right winger for our top players.
When the boys were split up, Monahan was ice cold. He's got the monkey off his back since so I say put him and Johnny back together with the next best playmaker on the team.
Mony and Versteeg work, and Johnny needs to get going. I'd say put those three together again. Versteeg can try and feed the other two guys, he's good at that. Johnny just need to get teed up in a dangerous spot and he'll break his own slump.
Bennett isn't really helping or complimenting anyone right now. Put Stajan in the middle of his line and shuffle him to the wing already. Brouwer and him worked early on, maybe that can be rekindled.
I think that must be how your coach wants it? Every Leafs game after they blow a 2-goal 3rd period lead their OT is always end to end action, very little waiting to set-up the perfect shot.
Need to learn references beyond the Leafs.
Last edited by MrMastodonFarm; 01-16-2017 at 11:16 PM.
Chiasson with Gaudreau, particularly. That's probably not a pairing you should stick with if you want Gaudreau to get out of his funk any time soon. Chiasson averages one point every 4 games, he's not a guy that's going to prop up any offensive line on any team in this league. As Obi-Wan might say, "This is not the net-front presence you're looking for..." *wave of hand*
