[PGT] Pens 1 Flames 2 in OT

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HappyGilmore

My Oiler friend keeps going on about the Flames always getting teams off a Oiler back 2 back. Anyone know what the actual number would be for the end of the year? Are the Flames always getting a tired team ?

What did we tell you, you shouldn't be friends with Oiler fans, I mean I know that people want to be seen as open and tolerant and helpful of the misguided.

You know the whole, maybe I can change him or at least make his or her life better by being a friend.

It doesn't work, its equivalent to being a friend to a particularly stupid rock, you're not getting anything out of it.

And I certainly hope you wash your hands thoroughly with a blow torch and check your wallet for missing items after you hang out with your "friend"

[sixpacked]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

I notice this too.
There's at least 2 threads active right now for that debate

This point exactly, there is no need to incessantly bring it into a PGT, especially a winning PGT. And then that poster wonders why they are being attacked. Everyone knows that outside the top 6 and Smith that the team isn't performing at an optimum level yet, but to constantly harp on it is annoying, thank god for IGNORE.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Like?

Pittsburgh's fourth-line centre is Greg McKegg and Hagelin also has zero value.

If Hagelin has zero value why would you want the Flames to acquire him?

Like we really need another soft inconsistent forward.

[Insane_Flame]

I love Smith! Could have three shutouts on the season if not for some very unfortunate luck. Stupid linesman, stupid Letang...

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by sixpacked

This point exactly, there is no need to incessantly bring it into a PGT, especially a winning PGT. And then that poster wonders why they are being attacked. Everyone knows that outside the top 6 and Smith that the team isn't performing at an optimum level yet, but to constantly harp on it is annoying, thank god for IGNORE.

This is the first season I've ever used Ignore. And it was specifically because of this type of stuff in the GTs. I made a suggestion a couple games ago that people should agree to try and post just about the play going on at the moment and not overall generalities about players or the coach in general, but one poster in particular got offended and accused me of trying to dictate rules (even though I specifically said it was just a thought and a suggestion).

[MolsonInBothHands]

I have popped into a couple game threads between periods while sitting at the dome. It takes five seconds to realize its mostly over the top tantrums against the organization as a whole from a regular bunch that seem to enjoy 'delicious crow' a couple of hours later.

Rinse and repeat.

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

I notice this too.
Everyone has an opinion and i'm all for a fair debate. It just gets exhausting seeing it over and over, especially after a big W. There's at least 2 threads active right now for that debate

I'm convinced certain people don't even like the flames, they just follow them out of habit and if they don't eat everyone 10-0 they played like crap

Tonight's game aside from the first(against the defending cup champs who played the night before(so they had their legs early) against the flames with a 3 day break) is basically textbook Calgary over the last year

Oh yeah and they won in overtime via a crazy smart play from chucky. You'd figure the team is on a 5 game losing skid from many posters in here

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by stone hands

I'm convinced certain people don't even like the flames, they just follow them out of habit and if they don't eat everyone 10-0 they played like crap

Tonight's game aside from the first(against the defending cup champs who played the night before(so they had their legs early) against the flames with a 3 day break) is basically textbook Calgary over the last year

Oh yeah and they won in overtime via a crazy smart play from chucky. You'd figure the team is on a 5 game losing skid from many posters in here

That kid is gold. Plus, despite that great play, the pass took long enough to get to Gio that the Goalie was well set up and it took a terrific shot from Gio to score. It's fun that a kid like Tkachuk and the vet of vets on the team (except Jagr of course) can combine like that.

[transplant99]

People are complaining that others are complaining about the teams play?

Its pretty obvious that the Flames have some real issues that need to get ironed out. Not sure why that should be downplayed just because the team has won a couple games in a row.

Yes they have beaten a couple good teams now, however, both were in the 2nd of back to backs and both were playing their backup goaltenders. Great, they accomplished what they should have given the situations and the want of people for Calgary to be considered a contending club.

Its not gloom and doom to point things out like the team is giving up far far to many shots and scoring chances. That's just a fact...stop. Its great we have a guy in net that can cover those warts up until the team, hopefully, finds its way defensively. Mike Smith has been awesome and thats what he was brought into provide to a degree. Its not sustainable in the long run though.

Tkachuk and Gaudreau have been lights out for the most part. Monahan and Backlund have been real good at times as well. Beyond that though, the forwards on this club have been less than OK. Bennett, Ferland, Frolik, and the group of death on the 4th line have been abysmal more than anything else. Though some have shown signs of life lately, particularly 79.

The PK was tremendous for a couple weeks but has completely disappeared. That has to be better and includes many of the forwards who aren't doing anything at even strength. 24th in the league? No good.

The PP is another area of concern. 23rd in the league isnt good enough either. That will come IMO as they figure things out and use people properly.

Where things sit on defense is a huge concern though. Hamilton has not been great at times but we know he can and probably will be much better. The bottom pairing seems a lot more settled now that Kulak has pushed Bartkowski to popcorn duty. WHere there is a real big issue though in that Hamonic and Brodie partnership. It is not very good. That may change though as it does take time for guys getting used to new systems/teams, but to this point not what was expected.

As much as anything however, is the compete level at times. For the whole team. Losing board battles is a regular thing. This has nothing to do with X's and O's and everything to do with want. This has to improve greatly as we get into month 2.

Again the team is treading water, and thats wonderful. There are just so many red flags though and pointing them out is not raining on a parade...its just what is happening with this hockey team.

I was, and still am, hopeful this homestand will provide a nice steady diet of practice and games that will send this club into a routine of playing the right way, improving the areas they are deficient in, and set them up to rise in the standings and be contending for the division lead by seasons end.

[Caboose]

Its not gloom and doom to point things out like the team is giving up far far to many shots and scoring chances. That's just a fact...stop.

You're right. You're absolutely right. However, we're fans, and therefore can do nothing about this team except be happy when they win, and disappointed when they lose. I, for one, am going to embrace the wins with joy, and save the disappointment for when they actually lose.

Suck it, Pens. And Oilers. Ha!

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by sixpacked

This point exactly, there is no need to incessantly bring it into a PGT, especially a winning PGT. And then that poster wonders why they are being attacked. Everyone knows that outside the top 6 and Smith that the team isn't performing at an optimum level yet, but to constantly harp on it is annoying, thank god for IGNORE.

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This is the first season I've ever used Ignore. And it was specifically because of this type of stuff in the GTs. I made a suggestion a couple games ago that people should agree to try and post just about the play going on at the moment and not overall generalities about players or the coach in general, but one poster in particular got offended and accused me of trying to dictate rules (even though I specifically said it was just a thought and a suggestion).

Originally Posted by MolsonInBothHands

I have popped into a couple game threads between periods while sitting at the dome. It takes five seconds to realize its mostly over the top tantrums against the organization as a whole from a regular bunch that seem to enjoy 'delicious crow' a couple of hours later.

Rinse and repeat.

Originally Posted by stone hands

I'm convinced certain people don't even like the flames, they just follow them out of habit and if they don't eat everyone 10-0 they played like crap

Tonight's game aside from the first(against the defending cup champs who played the night before(so they had their legs early) against the flames with a 3 day break) is basically textbook Calgary over the last year

Oh yeah and they won in overtime via a crazy smart play from chucky. You'd figure the team is on a 5 game losing skid from many posters in here

This is just in the last 7 or 8 posts.

The complaining about complaining is more annoying than the actual complaining. Skip the posts you don't like and don't let them effect you. People have the right to complain and you also have the right to complain but make no mistake you come across as a bigger whiner than what you're complaining about.

[SportsJunky]

Nope

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

I notice this too.
Everyone has an opinion and i'm all for a fair debate. It just gets exhausting seeing it over and over, especially after a big W. There's at least 2 threads active right now for that debate

By the same token, there is no need to discuss Mike Smith into a PGT since he has threads of his own as well.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by transplant99

...Its not gloom and doom to point things out like the team is giving up far far to many shots and scoring chances. That's just a fact...stop...

But it is NOT a fact, so people have a right to complain. I agree that in the first five or six games of the season, the Flames were surrendering way too many shots. But a lot of the reason for this had to do with the number of penalties they were taking, and how many games they had played on the road. In another thread I showed how in the past six games prior to last night, the Flames were actually top-five in the entire league for shots allowed, so clearly an adjustment has been made and a correction has taken place.

So, what happened last night? They played the Stanley Cup champions, who were DESPARATE to win a second game in back-to-back nights for the first time this season, where they have been poor. The Flames came out predictably flat after a long break, and the Penguins hammered them in the first period. But again, a correction was made and the play evened out for the final two periods. In other words, the first period was an outlier, which in turn means the whole game was an outlier for the shot count.

I think that some of your concern about scoring is fair, as it is for the power play. But you are wrong about shots against and scoring chances allowed (you are also wrong about the penalty kill, which is starting again to look very good). The team still has some issues to sort out, but they have actually looked excellent in a number of areas for a few games now.

[stone hands]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

This is just in the last 7 or 8 posts.

The complaining about complaining is more annoying than the actual complaining. Skip the posts you don't like and don't let them effect you. People have the right to complain and you also have the right to complain but make no mistake you come across as a bigger whiner than what you're complaining about.

If I skipped the posts dogging the flames this season the gt would be about 2 pages long

[CaptainCrunch]

Last year the Flames started with a 5-9-1 record in the first 15 games for 11 points, after 13 games they have 14 points so they're plus 3.

These are points that are banked and make it so the Flames don't have to go on miraculous 10 games winning streaks.

to put that into perspective the Oilers started the first 15 last year with a 9 5 and one record for 19 points compared to their current 7 points so they're - 12.

While the Flames start hasn't been what we wanted it to be, its put them in a far better position heading into the quarter pole of the season.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by transplant99

There are just so many red flags though and pointing them out is not raining on a parade...its just what is happening with this hockey team.

Oh please, your post is the very definition of raining on a parade.

None of the critics in this thread have said anything that adds anything to the general conversation around the team. Every piece of criticism in this POST GAME THREAD has been talked to death before this game started.

It's not informative, it's not necessary, it's not really even post-game talk, but just general complaints about the common problems everyone knows about, and it's taking away from the enjoyment of others.

A lot of people, me included, are just tired of the negativity in every damned thread.

Keep the winning PGT's fun.

[slybomb]

Flames have scored 29 goals and 25 of those goals have flowed through or been scored by Tkachuk or Gaudreau. They are definitely the catalysts offensively while Smith holds us in the game.

Once the rest of our team starts creating a little more offense, we should be in a better position than we were for the latter part of last season.

[bubbsy]

The flames started fugly, but from the second onwards, the game was extremely even, with both teams getting their chances.

Credit to the flames for the old cliche "finding a way to get the W".

Remember, the biggest knock on the pens going into yesterday was how crap they are on the second of back to backs. Like a true champion, they came out and played to ensure they didn't give this notion any more legs then it already had. So i get the "team with tired legs" stuff, but i actually think they were on a mission to win last night.

Lot's to take away from the game sure, but credit to Smith for being the game's best player (for both teams), credit for the flames to get the 2 points.

[dammage79]

Only caught the third but Smith was lights out.
The Janko line is starting to find their groove. The points should come real soon for them. They're doing all the right things

That Tkachuk play in OT was brilliant and Gio with the nice finish to win the game and reward Tkachum with an amazing primary assist.