[PGT] WCQF Game 4: Ducks 3 - Flames 1; Anaheim wins series in sweep

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

The team was jittery because Gulutzan made an assanine decision to start Elliott. The third shot of the game essentially went in from behind the red line and that set the stage.

Yeah. I would've started Johnson. Something needed to change, and the 4th line wasn't significant enough. See then Chad would've prepared for the start and been ready, likely. He settled in really well. Didn't do anything too special, but didn't #### up after that first shot when he was cold. That's really all the team needed. A steady presence that wouldn't let in those poor ones.

Confidence in the goaltender boosts this team as much as it hampers it when that isn't the case. It affects them a lot out there.

With Elliott's series so far you just knew you were gonna get more of the same. A rebound did NOT look imminent. I feel like Elliott should've lost the right to the net getting down 0-3 playing a large factor in two of them. At that point, you're probably 90% chance finished. So take the high risk high reward and make the change to spark the team. Just like getting down 3-0 in a first period and yanking your goalie. Same concept. He read the situation poorly, but others would've made the same mistake. Situational intelligence should trump loyalty (the "he got us here" reasoning). Hopefully a lesson for GG too.

That probably would've been a more wide open game that the Flames could've taken advantage of if they didn't allow the two weak ones right off the hop. That allowed the Ducks to just go into a shell and clog everything up with the sole purpose of sending the Flames chasing back into their own end all night.

Switch the goaltenders and yeah, that's Calgary with a stranglehold on the series. Sorry to Moose, but it just wasn't good enough. .880 doesn't win you games in the regular season, so you sure as hell can bet it doesn't win in the playoffs.

This goalie coach has to go. This is becoming a case of insanity with how various goalies from different backgrounds are suffering similar fates here. At some point it's clear that it goes beyond throwing a new face between the pipes.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

This was exactly why I didn't want the Ducks. Flames played great in the 2017 calendar year, but always found ways to lose to Anaheim. Yes Elliott's goal was a softie, but I for the life of me don't understand the physics on how the puck got until Elliott's leg; mind you neither does Elliott.

I understand wanting to break the curse, but come playoff time, just focus on the game. The curse was a distraction, one that bleed over into the Saddledome where we were up 4-1 and it became not winning in the Honda Center but simply beating Anaheim.

I thought we outplayed the Ducks 3 of the 4 games. I've never seen a team in the playoffs outplay the other consistently and then end up getting swept.

That said, I'll take solace that there are no more 11:00pm and 11:30pm start times.

[DuffMan]

Bad luck and bad goaltending and an allowed high stick goal doomed the Flames. Too bad.
Aside from that I don't think they got beat 4 straight.

[DuffMan]

I want to see a Washington player score one with his stick 6' off the ground.

[flameester]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Really tough series. Flames were right there in every single game, and even dominated for much of the series. Bad goaltending, bizarre flukey bounces, 2 horrible game-changing calls by the officials, and some undisciplined play cost them in the end.

Some thoughts on the season:

Gaudreau- he had a decent season and still lead the team in scoring, despite being injured and missing training camp. But man, he clearly struggles against big physical teams and was pretty much a non-factor against the Ducks, except on the PP. Tonight was arguably his worst game as a Flame. He can be an amazing dynamic player against most teams, but until he learns how to play in those rough, physical tight-checking games, he'll continue to struggle. Same thing happens when he plays against the Kings as well. Really hoping he can figure out how to make the necessary adjustments to his game for next season. He's still young, so I'll give him some time.

Monahan- really stepped up in these playoffs. I'm so proud of him. And he's only gonna get better next year. He's a special player and will continue to be for a long time.

Tkachuk- what more can you say about him. Kid's a stud, and he's gonna be an absolute pleasure to watch for the next few years. Skilled, tough, and gets under the skin of pretty much everyone he plays against. Love it.

Elliott, Wideman, Bouma, Brouwer, Chiasson...bye bye. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

Johnson- we need to keep this guy. He's a solid backup, and he's one of the sole reasons we were able to climb out of the basement and make the playoffs.

Backlund- what an awesome year by Backs. So proud of him. The 3M line almost single-handedly got us back in the playoffs.

Gio/Hamilton- easily one of the best D pairings in the league. They both struggled a bit to start the year, but so did the entire team. But they eventually rounded into form. Dougie struggled somewhat in the Ducks series, but he's still pretty young. He'll figure it out.

Stone- please re-sign this guy. Dude is a beast.

Brodie- definitely an off year for him. He needs to be much better next year.

Ferland- really took his game to a new level this year. He's still too inconsistent, but I have faith he'll continue to improve next year.

Overall I think it was a pretty good season despite being swept. Lots of positives to build on for next year. #1 priorities for the summer: find a legit #1 netminder and get a decent scoring RW.

Somewhat struggled. That is the understatement of the year. He was horrid. He looked afraid the entire series. He still got his shots on net but that was about it. He was bailed out repeatedly by Gio in not only this series but all year. Everyone was willing to overlook it during the season because he was scoring and photobombing. The first goal last night he had a chance to play the puck but shied away instead of taking the hit and it led to Eaves with the puck in the corner. Sorry but unlike most on here I am not quite as infatuated with him.

[Resolute 14]

When the coach does stupid things like start a goalie with a lifetime record of 1-13 against the Ducks and who was the primary goat on two losses already.... continues to throw Troy Brouwer out in key situations.... sends F'ing Gaudreau in as the forward responsible for digging the puck out on dump and chase plays.... you're just not going to succeed. Gulutzan set us up to fail, and fail we did.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Flames were the better team in this series. Period. Goaltending let them down in a massive way. You can't win with goaltending like that. Now we know how St. Louis felt? I honestly didn't think that Elliot was the problem there, but after this performance and the Blues up in their series against the against the favored Wild, maybe he just isn't a playoff goaltender? It will be interesting to see what the Flames do with the goaltending moving forward. We'll find out quickly what confidence level the Flames have in Gillies and their other young puck stoppers in short order with the decisions they make about bringing in another goaltender.

This was a disappointing end to the season, but the most disappointing thing was reading the PGTs after each game. The fans turn on our players way too quickly and don't give the opposition enough credit. I'm pretty disgusted to read the comments about people taking runs at many of the same players that got us into the post season in the first place. People on this board like to point at Oiler fans for being such horrible fans, but what I saw in these threads were no better than the stuff we would gleefully read in Gaskal's ATL report. I hope the Flames improve in the off season, and I hope the fans do the same.

[PeteMoss]

I'm still working my way through this thread and this talk about Gaudreau not being able to play against big deals is gibberish. He didn't have a good series - that is true.

But this is such a false narrative. Scoring by Gaudreau in his career by team:

1. LA - 15 points in 14 games
2. Nashville - 13 points in 12 games
3. Anaheim - 13 points in 14 games

He's been much worse against Edmonton that any of those teams.

Source: http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...drjo01/splits/

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Jore

I was trying to say that the amount of damage he does to the team in his 10 minutes is incredible. he's overused in the sense that he does not belong in an NHL lineup. a liability since the day they signed him.

Unfortunately, he's signed for another season. We can only hope treliving waives him quickly into training camp or he might consign our young d to the press box again. engelland better be gone too

He's signed as he is the ONLY defenceman we have to expose, and we have to expose one.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

I'm surprised people are putting the blame on Gulutzan, he's one of the first coaches since Darryl that has me actually confident that the Flames have the ability to beat good teams without getting killed in all other stats. I know that sounds wrong after we got crushed by the Ducks, but I at least want to see another year out of him.

There are posters on this message board that get giddy with excitement at the misfortune of the team if it means being able to restate a previously unpopular or flat out incorrect opinion.

[Rick M.]

We matched up against the Ducks a lot better than I expected, apart from goaltending. The good news is that Getzlaf and Perry turn 32 next month and Kesler turns 33 in August. The Flames will be better next season; I doubt the Ducks are.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

I'm surprised people are putting the blame on Gulutzan, he's one of the first coaches since Darryl that has me actually confident that the Flames have the ability to beat good teams without getting killed in all other stats. I know that sounds wrong after we got crushed by the Ducks, but I at least want to see another year out of him.

We ended the season with 10 straight games against the California teams and went 2-8.

Not sure where you are getting the confidence thing from, nor where Flash is justifying his typical holier than thou attitude from.

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Retire you bum Elliott. What a disgrace of a goalie. Folds like a cheap tent every playoffs.

Yeah, he really sucked last year when he led the Blues to the Western Conference Final!!🙄

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

When the coach does stupid things like start a goalie with a lifetime record of 1-13 against the Ducks and who was the primary goat on two losses already.... continues to throw Troy Brouwer out in key situations.... sends F'ing Gaudreau in as the forward responsible for digging the puck out on dump and chase plays.... you're just not going to succeed. Gulutzan set us up to fail, and fail we did.

The goaltending crippled this team, but they also didn't show any of perseverance. You need both of these to win in the playoffs. As a coach you can't exactly go away from your number one goalie in a pivotal game like last night. Especially when the alternative is a lifetime backup, who has been abysmal since Christmas in all but a couple of his starts.

The entire first round is easily summed up by the bonehead line change in game 1. The group was in control but simply shot themselves in the foot every time they had a chance to succeed. Maybe that boils down to coaching...I don't really know.

[Wolfman]

There's a lot of things that happened this series.

1) Goaltending was awful
2) Gaudreau was nowhere to be seen
3) Backlund line also nowhere to be seen
4) Dougie and most of the D didn't offer up much offensively
5) Brouwer offered nothing at all


I could keep going, but to me those are the most glaring. There was a couple bright spots but nothing to get too excited about. Versteeg would be one plus for me I guess.

[clancy]

Originally Posted by New Era

Flames were the better team in this series. Period. Goaltending let them down in a massive way. You can't win with goaltending like that. Now we know how St. Louis felt? I honestly didn't think that Elliot was the problem there, but after this performance and the Blues up in their series against the against the favored Wild, maybe he just isn't a playoff goaltender? It will be interesting to see what the Flames do with the goaltending moving forward. We'll find out quickly what confidence level the Flames have in Gillies and their other young puck stoppers in short order with the decisions they make about bringing in another goaltender.

This was a disappointing end to the season, but the most disappointing thing was reading the PGTs after each game. The fans turn on our players way too quickly and don't give the opposition enough credit. I'm pretty disgusted to read the comments about people taking runs at many of the same players that got us into the post season in the first place. People on this board like to point at Oiler fans for being such horrible fans, but what I saw in these threads were no better than the stuff we would gleefully read in Gaskal's ATL report. I hope the Flames improve in the off season, and I hope the fans do the same.

Thanks for this. Their goalie was better than ours......PERIOD.

This team has made incredible strides, and should be better next year.

[Locke]

Congratulations to the Ducks. They played us like a fiddle.

They protected a 2 and then 1 goal lead like they read it out of a textbook. You cant draw it up any better than that.

Boring as hell. Effective as hell.

And Brian Elliott just cost himself a lot of money.

On a positive note though, they are saving me money on car flags, those things dont last forever but I dont have to use them all that long.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by New Era

This was a disappointing end to the season, but the most disappointing thing was reading the PGTs after each game. The fans turn on our players way too quickly and don't give the opposition enough credit. I'm pretty disgusted to read the comments about people taking runs at many of the same players that got us into the post season in the first place. People on this board like to point at Oiler fans for being such horrible fans, but what I saw in these threads were no better than the stuff we would gleefully read in Gaskal's ATL report. I hope the Flames improve in the off season, and I hope the fans do the same.

I think people vent as a way of coping. Calgary is full of ardent hockey fans and sometimes when their team is getting swept it is all they have.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by New Era

This was a disappointing end to the season, but the most disappointing thing was reading the PGTs after each game. The fans turn on our players way too quickly and don't give the opposition enough credit. I'm pretty disgusted to read the comments about people taking runs at many of the same players that got us into the post season in the first place. People on this board like to point at Oiler fans for being such horrible fans, but what I saw in these threads were no better than the stuff we would gleefully read in Gaskal's ATL report. I hope the Flames improve in the off season, and I hope the fans do the same.

As do we all. Guess what thats going to mean? Replacing under-performing players.

St. Louis is a good example, as is Columbus, they had to change their team. They let some good players go and some other players got an opportunity and ran with it.

The fact that some of these players got us to the playoffs doesnt matter if they dont play well in the playoffs. It has to be both.

Corey Perry had a 53 point season. Did he look like a 53 point player over the last 4 games?

I'd go so far as to say that performance in the playoffs trumps regular season performance.

You can be a 100 point player in the regular season but if you completely fail in the playoffs then whats the point?

[CaptainCrunch]

Randy Carlye's press conference after the series ended.