[PGT] Flames lose 5-4 to the Jets in OT

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Husky

I still have no clue what was seen in lazar to give up a second. Baffling

I can see it, It was a calculated risk. He has performed as a above average second round pick does production wise. His numbers would actually place him first out of the 2nd rounders from his draft class (mostly due to games played). 2nd rounders are magic beans that have a low percentage of being a better player than what he is now. That and the fact he was a roster player that could contribute right away is where there was value. I think him taking that roster spot gave more time for other picks to develop and eventually pass him.

I think sometimes people associate too much value with draft picks. For every Bergeron, Weber, Lucic etc in the 2nd round, there are thirty-fold players like Mitch Moroz, Marco Roy, and Robbie Schremp.

[Robbob]

Regarding the game, it was exhibition so I don't read a ton into it. A couple of things viewing it live, was how smart Linholm was defensively. I know he probably will get roasted for OT, but during the game there were a ton of times he was just in the right position or effectively covered off a dman that pinched. I also liked Andersson's game for the most part. Foo probably had 4 grade A scoring chances that he just couldn't capitalize on, which is too bad. The silver-lining is he was smart enough to get to those spots.

[Toonage]

Yeah I saw Lindholm take some heat for that pass in OT but I loved the attempt. Had that connected it would have been sweet. Better to try these in the pre-season than in a game that really mattered.

Defensively he's sound, very sound, and won a ton of his face offs.

Perfect RW for the top line and fill in as C when needed.

[heep223]

The thing I loved most about this game was how comfortable Brodie looks again. Yes he had a bit of missed coverage on that cross crease goal but whatev. Him and Gio look like they're picking up where they left off and that is excellent news for the season.

Oh yeah and F U Gully.

[FBI]

At least Mike Smith looked in mid season form for puck handling.

[Flames_F.T.W]

I only watched the 1st but I also noticed that Brodie looked really good. A return to form would be amazing for this club.
The Lindholm play in OT didn't work and the Flames got burned... but it almost worked. I can't really fault him for making a ballsy play like that in pre-season overtime.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by heep223

The thing I loved most about this game was how comfortable Brodie looks again. Yes he had a bit of missed coverage on that cross crease goal but whatev. Him and Gio look like they're picking up where they left off and that is excellent news for the season.

Oh yeah and F U Gully.

I think Brodie 2.0 has also upped Gio's game offensively. Gio seems much more eager to join the rush, or in the case in the first, streak down the side and get a stretch pass from brodie.

[Pellanor]

First game at the dome in quite a while. Had a great time! Got upgraded from press level to lower bowl, behind Smith. Really enjoyed getting a closer look at his puck handling.


Did anybody else notice Smith throw a stick at the ref and nearly trip him? I'd love to see a gif of that.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I think Brodie 2.0 has also upped Gio's game offensively. Gio seems much more eager to join the rush, or in the case in the first, streak down the side and get a stretch pass from brodie.

I'm not so sure that's as much Brodie as it is coaching. The previous regime didn't allow our d to activate. One of the things I hated most about Gully.

[868904]

Dube made the one play to set up Gio but I didn't think he was particularly good relative to his previous games. I'm surprised people thought he played well. I don't think he can do any wrong to some right now.

Jankowski was very disappointing. He should have been Calgary's best forward but he was very ineffective. Not sure what people liked from him game.

Best forward for the Flames in my mind was Mangiapane, though even he had some ups and downs.

Lomberg looked good, but even when he is at his best, he's still a 4th line 13th forward type. Not good if he's one of your best forwards.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

I'm not so sure that's as much Brodie as it is coaching. The previous regime didn't allow our d to activate. One of the things I hated most about Gully.

Not everything Hartley did was bad. His activation of the defense led to several of them having career seasons and the team being dangerous offensively and never out of a game. There were issues in that he didn't have the forwards backchecking and covering enough leading to breakdowns but at least he had the defense playing to its strengths. Gulutzan simply went too far in neutering what this defense group was actually good at which is why we saw a lot of the defensemen struggle under his watch and the team losing some of it's edge.

[pepper24]

Mangiapane pass on the Valimaki goal was such a great feed. Very impressed with his preseason.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Pellanor

First game at the dome in quite a while. Had a great time! Got upgraded from press level to lower bowl, behind Smith. Really enjoyed getting a closer look at his puck handling.


Did anybody else notice Smith throw a stick at the ref and nearly trip him? I'd love to see a gif of that.

He was in a weird mood yesterday. I liked when there was a delayed penalty against the flames and he touched it behind the net. It looked like he didn't hear the whistle and kept hacking at the puck against the boards.

[Toonage]

Seemed angry at himself for most of the game. Good. Whatever gets him going.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not everything Hartley did was bad. His activation of the defense led to several of them having career seasons and the team being dangerous offensively and never out of a game. There were issues in that he didn't have the forwards backchecking and covering enough leading to breakdowns but at least he had the defense playing to its strengths. Gulutzan simply went too far in neutering what this defense group was actually good at which is why we saw a lot of the defensemen struggle under his watch and the team losing some of it's edge.

Not to give him a free pass, but Hartley's biggest shortcoming was that he didn't have the personnel to execute his vision at ES. He had at the very top end (Backlund / Brodie / Gaudreau / Giordano / Frolik / Hamilton and I'd even toss Bennett out there) but Monahan was still developing his two-way game while Ferland was just plain snakebitten. We didn't have guys like Tkachuk, Kulak, Hamonic and Jankowski, and the guys who couldn't execute his uptempo stretch pass heavy system really struggled to make the desired impact (Russell, Jones, Granlund, Engelland, Bollig, Stajan, Smid) and Wideman... we all know skating and D-zone play were a bit of an issue for him even if he was decent at executing Hartley's vision. Two guys who really made Hartley's system work were Paul Byron and David Schlemko and I think both were legitimately missed in Hartley's final year here. Hartley had other issues on the penalty kill and purportedly behind closed doors, but I truly think the roster we have had the last two years is tailor-made to play that style that Hartley had them playing. TBH I think Peters still has them playing with too much puck support and too closely spaced - I'd like to see them stretch the ice a bit more in both directions. Last year's Bruins played roughly what I envision this team excelling at - structured enough, but only enough.

[united]

First chance getting to see a couple guys live in Flames colours.

Derek Ryan looks to be as described: quite the utility player. Overall a good game - showed some flashes of offence and mostly solid defensively with a couple questionable decisions mixed in. Good work ethic away from the puck. Will need a couple more viewings for sure.

Buddy Robinson looks like a freaking giant out there even knowing how big he is. I was actually pretty surprised how much I liked his game. Didn't do anything remarkable just kept noticing him doing many right things. I think he's a good AHLer and possible depth call-up.

Dillon Dube was the Flames' best forward, and despite what the counting stats say I thought he was better than he was against the Canucks. His skating through the neutral zone and cycling in the offensive zone is something to watch. Some evident defensive warts but his first few steps help him mitigate them and he's just 20 so what do we expect? He has to be on the opening night roster and someone who can play a depth role in all three forward positions and really push the pace against other teams' depth lines.

Andrew Mangiapane was excellent again in all three zones. Terrific work ethic and ability to anticipate plays. He demolished the AHL last season so really should be a fulltime NHLer this season...I just don't know how the Flames fit him in even though they should find a way. Curious to watch things play out.

Spencer Foo is much quicker than I was expecting and like his linemates has a non-stop motor. Don't think he's quite ready for fulltime NHL duty though and didn't do as many things to drive play as his linemates. Curious to see how he does in his second season of pro in the minors. Have to remember he's 24 so doesn't have as much ceiling as most others, especially a year or two from now.

As all know, Noah Hanifin can sure fly. He reminds me of vintage TJ Brodie with more offensive ability. The opposite of Foo (who is older than most think), have to remember Hanifin is only 21 years old despite looking more seasoned. Some defensive shortcomings still there but given how hard it is to play defence at the NHL level I don't doubt those will slowly begin to disappear. I thought him and Hamonic read well off each other - a welcome change after last season's second pairing.

Love seeing Brodie back on the right. It's evident how much better he sees the ice from that side, how much better his escapability is from that side, and how well Giordano is able to read off Brodie's skating to present himself for Brodie to quickly shift flanks with the puck allowing for all important speed through the neutral zone. From him playing the right quite a bit in junior, saying he prefers the right, and having success on the right previously, it's insane he was forced to the left.

Valimaki again looked like he was thinking the game a step slow. He needs a year in the minors, maybe two. He has all the physical attributes just seems a bit tentative and like he doesn't quite trust his skating at this level causing many poor gaps.

Andersson didn't play as well this game but is so confident in transition. Will no doubt get burned by his pace every now and then but is learning to be more efficient in his positioning. Setting aside contract status, no doubt in my mind he's the Flames' third-best option on the right side of defence but may be forced left with Stone remaining in the picture. Definite top four potential in the next year or two.

I like the guy and made a point of watching for him but just don't see Klimchuk making it with the Flames' depth on the left. Good guy, tries hard, loves the game etc.

Alan Quine seems like the classic tweener: not good enough offensively to make it and not good enough defensively to make it. A couple okay plays offensively but mostly anonymous defensively.

Oddly I didn't notice Lindholm much at all. Will have to make a point watch better for him next time as my own miss disappointed me.

[MissTeeks]

From Smith last night:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1044436427608477696

[Toonage]

Ordinarily I might roll my eyes at that, but I stayed up late to watch the first game from China, then got up early a few days later to watch the second game and I'm still recovering. I can only imagine how dead I'd be if I actually went there.

[Huntingwhale]

double post

[Huntingwhale]

I haven't had a chance to watch any of the game yet, but sounds to me like Brodie is back to his old self and Brodano is picking up where they left off. Would this be an accurate statement? I've maintained for the past 2 season that the Flames go as Brodie goes. More so then Gaudreau, Monahan or any other player (other then the goatender), the Flames success is correlated to how Brodie is playing.

It was a travesty he was moved off his right side after how well he played, and even more ridiculous how he was never put back for 2 goddamn seasons. Reminds me of Dan Bylsma using Iginla as a LW in Pittsburgh. Makes me angry just thinking about that.

Have his giveaways disappeared? His backhander being utilized? Skating back to what it was? Or is it more a case of a player beating up on AHL competition?