[PGT] Flames fall apart again ... Lose 5-2 to the Avs

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I'm pretty surprised no one is blaming the goaltending at all. On the first two goals, he had all the time in the world to square up, and was beaten cleanly twice. The second went through him. He then tried to adjust and overcompensated, overcommitting on the third goal to give Barrie an empty net (notwithstanding that Barrie shouldn't have gotten to take the shot, and that Rantanen make a hell of a play). The fourth goal isn't on him. But by that point, you've really sucked some of the life out of the team. It's just not good enough.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

Yup GG has taken them to wildcard or just out of wildcard spots. Now its time to take the Flames to the division titles and winning playoff rounds. Honestly think AV is the next coach of the Flames.

If you wanna see youth play on the big club, AV is not the coach you want.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

If you wanna see youth play on the big club, AV is not the coach you want.

I think they go the experienced coach route this time if the Flames do miss this year. Treliving and Burke know they cannot afford any mistakes this off-season. Jobs are on the line for the 2018-2019 season.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I'm pretty surprised no one is blaming the goaltending at all. On the first two goals, he had all the time in the world to square up, and was beaten cleanly twice. The second went through him. He then tried to adjust and overcompensated, overcommitting on the third goal to give Barrie an empty net (notwithstanding that Barrie shouldn't have gotten to take the shot, and that Rantanen make a hell of a play). The fourth goal isn't on him. But by that point, you've really sucked some of the life out of the team. It's just not good enough.

Definitely not good enough and can't help but think that it's a different game with Smith in net. But that's the reality when your number one goes down. You're gonna get sub par goaltending and it's going to cost you.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I'm pretty surprised no one is blaming the goaltending at all. On the first two goals, he had all the time in the world to square up, and was beaten cleanly twice. The second went through him. He then tried to adjust and overcompensated, overcommitting on the third goal to give Barrie an empty net (notwithstanding that Barrie shouldn't have gotten to take the shot, and that Rantanen make a hell of a play). The fourth goal isn't on him. But by that point, you've really sucked some of the life out of the team. It's just not good enough.

Goalie wasn't very good...it's not all on Rittich but he hasn't been anywhere close to good enough lately.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Tkachuk is a competitor but I wouldn’t give him an ‘A’. Not yet. He has some growing to do.

So does the team. Again - it’s about balancing perceived personalities and introducing some fire.

This team lacks emotion at times, and seem to have a hard time “getting into” the game. As the organization has said numerous times, Tkachuk draws his linemates into the battle. That right there holds significant value.

[zarrell]

Flames now have more losses than wins and sit alone in 11th place in the conference. With the supposed talent they have they should be better and yet not. Fire gully and co and upgrade the bottom 6.

[Barnet Flame]

Unless there is some big change (and fast) to the mentality of the team, the playoffs aren’t happening.

I’m torn though because I’m getting to the point of questioning whether I even want them to make the playoffs. A late charge now may be counterproductive to initiating the changes we need to make in the offseason.

Make the playoffs now and the chances are we’re one and done. If that happens I fear we will see a repeat of 17-18 next season and I just won’t be able to stomach that.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Except there are about 4 teams going for 1 playoff spot, so at least one of them will go .700 to finish the season. The Flames are close to a playoff spot, but have to climb over a number of teams to do it. That means they need to go on a longer winning streak, as the odd win does nothing as some of those teams are sure to win too.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

4 spots are within 4 points. It's not easy but also not as tough as you are saying.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by AC

Here's Gulutzan's post game video:

https://twitter.com/user/status/969092369088880641

What a wiener. It's no wonder why the team does not battle for him, he does not battle for them. But bravo for shoehorning street cred in there, coach.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by dino7c

That call on Gaudreau is the biggest chicken #### bull crap I have ever seen from a ref

You are calling a guy for a high stick...how can you also call embellishment on a guy who was the puck carrier and didn't even go down.

Not sure if I have ever seen a worse call

That call is also right up there amongst the worst calls I've ever seen. Gaudreau came damn close to literally having his neck sliced opened Zednik-style, gets wacked in the face, and gets a penalty. Can't say I'm not surprised at his reaction. I think he's done a good job of cutting down his whining this season, but he was completely justified in reacting like that to the official. Even Hurdey commented how dangerous that play was. He said the blade of the players stick was purposely facing towards Gaudreau's face, therefore it was an intentional play by the Avs' player.

One of the worst calls I've ever seen. A stick being swung at your face by a 200+lbs man is going to bloody hurt, and you're doing to react to it.

It's not just the Flames' going through this painful officiating. It's a league-wide epidemic that the OBC running the NHL refuse to do anything about. I know players and organisations get fined for criticising the refs. But I would love to see every team just say ''F it'' and just accept each and every fine that comes it way. Get every team calling out the refs after each game, and just maybe we'll see some kind of change.

After reading some of Kerry Fraser's articles about officiating, it's clear as day that the ref's union very much has an ego about themselves and an image they want to maintain. I like his articles that give insight into the job the officials perform. But it also concerns me that Fraser pretty much confirms what we all think; that the refs purposely dictate the games and are just as emotionally involved in the game as the players are. Not good.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I'm pretty surprised no one is blaming the goaltending at all. On the first two goals, he had all the time in the world to square up, and was beaten cleanly twice. The second went through him. He then tried to adjust and overcompensated, overcommitting on the third goal to give Barrie an empty net (notwithstanding that Barrie shouldn't have gotten to take the shot, and that Rantanen make a hell of a play). The fourth goal isn't on him. But by that point, you've really sucked some of the life out of the team. It's just not good enough.

Agreed. The second goal was extremely deflating. That being said, this team did absolutely nothing after the game was tied with ~ half the game left. They immediately took their foot off the pedal. That tic-tac-toe goal 3rd goal was not the goalie's fault in my opinion. Monahan looked pretty lack lustre there covering a whole lot of nothing. Not taking a man, not blocking a passing lane, just useless.

At the end of the day, the goalie injury at this crucial juncture of the season will be one of the justifications (or one of the crutches) when the team misses the playoffs. At that time, it will be convenient to forget that the ducks were down 2 of their top 3 centers for huge chunks of the season plus perry and numerous others. Or how about those sharks who just keep winning despite losing Joe thornton for an extended time at the same point of the season.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by zarrell

Flames now have more losses than wins and sit alone in 11th place in the conference. With the supposed talent they have they should be better and yet not. Fire gully and co and upgrade the bottom 6.

With what supposed talent???
Flames dress at least 3 AHL caliber forwards on a nightly basis, and play a couple more young forwards who are mostly fumbling around in the dark. Every game. And right now two AHL tenders.

The LOFT quotient on this team is way too high. That's the problem, friend.

[dirk diggler]

Somewhere Garth Snow is rubbing his hands together with glee at the possibility of what this pick can turn into. I understand Trelivings thought pattern when acquiring Hamonic but he seriously overrated this team. I prefer the Doug Armstrong approach, look at your team, acknowledge they aren't good enough and male solid moves for the future while still keeping the window open.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Unless there is some big change (and fast) to the mentality of the team, the playoffs aren’t happening.

I’m torn though because I’m getting to the point of questioning whether I even want them to make the playoffs. A late charge now may be counterproductive to initiating the changes we need to make in the offseason.

Make the playoffs now and the chances are we’re one and done. If that happens I fear we will see a repeat of 17-18 next season and I just won’t be able to stomach that.

This is exactly how I feel. I don't know if I want to pay for my season tickets next year to watch another year of this boring and inconsistent Gulatzan hockey.

[nemanja2306]

If it's the coach, fire him. (My preferred option)
If it's the players, do a retool. Trade assets that aren't part of the long term (Ferland, Brodie, Hamonic, Frolik, Stone...). Give young players a chance (ie Andersson, Kylington...), recoup some picks and hopefully (with a top 10 pick) draft an impact forward next year. Perhaps, look at signing a guy like Kane during the summer who is still relatively young.

All we're doing now is spinning our wheels. The way this team is built and coached, it's not going anywhere. Playoffs this year or not. Just don't stay status quo.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Agreed. The second goal was extremely deflating. That being said, this team did absolutely nothing after the game was tied with ~ half the game left. They immediately took their foot off the pedal. That tic-tac-toe goal 3rd goal was not the goalie's fault in my opinion. Monahan looked pretty lack lustre there covering a whole lot of nothing. Not taking a man, not blocking a passing lane, just useless.

At the end of the day, the goalie injury at this crucial juncture of the season will be one of the justifications (or one of the crutches) when the team misses the playoffs. At that time, it will be convenient to forget that the ducks were down 2 of their top 3 centers for huge chunks of the season plus perry and numerous others. Or how about those sharks who just keep winning despite losing Joe thornton for an extended time at the same point of the season.

Sharks are .500 without Thornton

[Toonage]

Silver lining: Mike Smith was on the ice at home yesterday. I expect he'll be out there again today.

[Ryan Coke]

The goaltending hasn’t been awesome. Having said that, the inconsistent play and .500 results have been there all year, even with Smith playing great.

The team wasn’t getting consistent results when everyone was healthy, but now we’re going to say it’s the goaltending?

The second goal last night was the one Rittich should have had, but we lost plenty of games like this with Smith in net as well, when he either let in a soft goal or played lights out.

[Monahammer]

Gillies > Rittich