[PGT] Loss to LA 2-1 in extra time, three times in a row

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Team is playing really good overall defensively, and getting strong goaltending.

They need to find more offense somewhere though.

Overall I'm pretty happy with how they are playing defensively and it must be noted Hamonic has been really solid of late. I personally have no issues with them emulating the Wild as good defense wins games but when you don't score a lot you really need to have better than average special teams. I've never called for Cameron to be fired because I don't know if he has final say powerplay personnel (I feel Gulutzan has input because who else would want Brouwer out there?) which at times has been questionable and he's certainly not told the players to make terrible passes and turnovers. This is a problem that that the coaches and players need to solve but I feel they need to just get to basics and start shooting pucks from the point like the Kings did on their goal last night.

[tkflames]

Well...not entirely unexpected outcome.

Win today and its the equivalent of a 2-1-1 record. I don't think anyone would be too upset about that after a 7 win run.

Lose tomorrow and its the equivalent of a 1-2-1 record. Does not require a panic move but certainly some changes required after the all star break.

I know it's not much for those upset about the last 3 games, but I was quite worried about this 4 pack early in the season. The flames seemed to be one of the only teams to only get exactly 5 days off. This meant no extra get back into it practice days and will after tonight have played 4 games in 6 nights against 3 heavy teams. Circumstances do matter but this team will need to find a way to overcome them if they want to be a playoff team.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Infinit47

Smith trying to do way too much in OT and it burned the Flames. All he has to do is cover hat puck and work from the faceoff.

He was giving the puck away all night and he's lucky he's so damn god-like making saves that he didn't let any in.

I've said it before; I'm not a fan of puck handling goalies like him but I grew to accept Smith's puck skills. But I can totally see him losing us a playoff game/series by bumbling the puck around at the wrong time.

[dash_pinched]

Just testing this out, looks like we can now embed tweets - It's a good day.

https://twitter.com/user/status/956383161675649024

[Tinordi]

Backlund's been noticeably bad since the bye week. Playing line he doesn't give a crap. Contract negotiations not going the way he would like?

[Enoch Root]

I am loath to say anything critical here, because there is far too much negativity already, but I am concerned about 2 things:

1) the PP, and enough is being said about that

2) blowing leads

I know the Flames are 7-0-3 in their last 10 and that is great. However, by my quick count, they have blown leads in 9 of their last 12 games. And if I'm not mistaken, 8 of those were in the 3rd period.

Yes, I know... 50-some games without losing when leading after two. But a large part of that is because they got the W back in OT. And lately, they aren't even doing that.

If you want to be a playoff team, you can't blow leads 9 times in 12 games. And that was during a stretch where they have played their best hockey of the season. And where their goaltending has been other-worldly.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I think a loss to EDM tomorrow night should cost GG his job. I would be more than ok with a mid season change.

GG isn’t getting fired this year - even with a loss to Edmonton today...

The flames minor slump sees them still pick up 3 of 6 and if a bounce happened in any three of those games for us we could easily have another 10 game streak here and people would be talking about Jack Adams potential..

People needs to chill on this fire Gulutzan crap... it’s like reading that post - they’d be ok losing to Edmonton if it meant GG got fired because of it... we should never be ok with a loss to Edmonton and GG is close to having this team rolling on all cylinders.

Start of the year - all offense no D
Mid year - D is nice and tidy but bit of a dry spell on scoring

Part of that has been the inconsistency in the month of Jan schedule - the bye week and another 5 day break coming - after that it’s basically every other night and when this team hits a rhythm they start fly.

[flamesforcup]

At least we are getting points i guess

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

He was giving the puck away all night and he's lucky he's so damn god-like making saves that he didn't let any in.



I've said it before; I'm not a fan of puck handling goalies like him but I grew to accept Smith's puck skills. But I can totally see him losing us a playoff game/series by bumbling the puck around at the wrong time.

With how he’s playing (undeniable team MVP), he’s going to be one of the few reasons we make the playoffs...if we make it.

[wooohooo]

With a 7-0-3 it's pretty good but I'm more worried about the lack of urgency. The Buffalo game was pretty meh. The 3rd period against LA was meh. The OT was an utter meh.

Backland's having a rough few games. Brodie needs to sit a game. Lines 2-4 aren't doing much of anything. And the games are frankly boring to watch

[CliffFletcher]

This team can't score goals, despite having a elite first line.

Isn't it maybe time to consider that the incredible, untouchable 2nd line is good defensively, but not very good at putting the puck in the net? And that maybe a 2nd line that struggles to put the puck in the net isn't a great 2nd line?

[tvp2003]

Has Kulak shown enough to warrant increased 5-on-5 ice time alongside Hamonic? We know Brodie and Stone are comfortable together; perhaps Kulak could move "up" and give Brodie some "easier" minutes defensively (when we see the brain farts in overtime I wonder if fatigue really is a factor for him).

I know they're playing well defensively but having the top pairing and then essentially two second pairings might be an option.

[Monahammer]

It's become very apparent that the coaching staff of this team is very stubborn, or stupid. It takes them far too long to make obvious changes- it's like they're so sure that their original plan will work out they're incapable of believing otherwise until it's been shoved down their throat and they are forced to change.

The powerplay is not working. Change your strategy.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

This team can't score goals, despite having a elite first line.

Isn't it maybe time to consider that the incredible, untouchable 2nd line is good defensively, but not very good at putting the puck in the net? And that maybe a 2nd line that struggles to put the puck in the net isn't a great 2nd line?

They should rearrange that second line and run with Bennett-Janko-Tkachuk maybe that can produce some goals.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

They should rearrange that second line and run with Bennett-Janko-Tkachuk maybe that can produce some goals.

Worth a try. Brouwer’s poor possession is starting to neg effect Tkachuk.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Has Kulak shown enough to warrant increased 5-on-5 ice time alongside Hamonic? We know Brodie and Stone are comfortable together; perhaps Kulak could move "up" and give Brodie some "easier" minutes defensively (when we see the brain farts in overtime I wonder if fatigue really is a factor for him).

I know they're playing well defensively but having the top pairing and then essentially two second pairings might be an option.

I'm not sure Kulak is in the long-term plans here. Andersson seems to be the guy, though he's a right shot and Gulutzan really like his right/left shot splits.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

A team that just went 7-0-3 in their last 10 games, which is also a 10 game point streak is NOT going to can their coach.

But losing 7 in a row to the Oilers definitely does!

I don't care if the Flames go into tonights game on a 10 game winning or a 10 game losing streak. As long as they beat the Oilers it's all good.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

This team can't score goals, despite having a elite first line.

Isn't it maybe time to consider that the incredible, untouchable 2nd line is good defensively, but not very good at putting the puck in the net? And that maybe a 2nd line that struggles to put the puck in the net isn't a great 2nd line?

I love that second line... as a third "shut down" line on a contending team.

They had some good scoring depth last year, but Frolik and Backlund haven't kept up that level of production. The third line isn't producing enough to be considered a second line. Maybe with one more quality scoring winger to go with Bennett and Jankowski, or maybe even try playing Tkachuk with them, but either way the Flames are lacking secondary scoring to make that jump to a top divisional team.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Backlund's been noticeably bad since the bye week. Playing line he doesn't give a crap. Contract negotiations not going the way he would like?

LOL...nice.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Wild GM

Not how I see it
Teams have adjusted to how they defend the Flame in overtime and particularly Johnny
Now the Flames have to adjust back
Lack of finish doesn’t mean lack of killer instinct. It means lack of finish

One could also suggest that the Flames overtime record was an outlier and they are coming back to the mean

Given how quickly our coaching staff has reacted and made changes, I predict a brand new OT strategy is coming sometime in 2020.