[PGT] Flames lose 3-2 in Montreal

[Bunk]

Bad powerplay was a real factor. Could have got up early, could have gotten back in late. Playing in slow mo.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Defensively, yes, they've been bad. Way too many grade A chances and shots given up. But offensively they've been one of the highest scoring teams in the league so far, and when they use their speed and get their forecheck going, they've looked absolutely deadly. If they can tighten up the D and get the PP going, they'll be fine.

They were thoroughly embarrassed tonight and I'm sure the coaching staff tore a strip off them after this game. I think we'll see a much better effort against the Pens on Thursday.

Hope you’re right. The offensive talent is there. It is the D I am really worried about. We have a rookie (basically) pulling all-star minutes right now. Good for him and his development, but bad for the team in general.

Season is young. But not a great start. And giant opposition coming up here.

[pepper24]

Flames still have 5-4-0 record, move on and focus on next game.

[GullFoss]

Johnny-Lindholm-Neal
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Bennett-Monahan-Czarnik
Dube-Janko-Hathaway

PP1
LW: Lindholm
Centre: Monahan
RW: Johnny
Net: Tkachuk
Defense: Giordano

PP2
LW: Stone
Centre: Backlund
RW: Neal
Net: Bennett
Defense: Valimaki


Blend it up.

1) Try to get Neal going and still Johnny a RH shot pass
2) Break up Monahan-Johnny
3) Keep Tkachuk-Backlund pairing
4) Put Bennett with Monahan to see if it gives Monahan some jump
5) Use valimaki's killer slap shot on the PP
6) Give Bennett and Stone some time on PP

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by TheChief

IM OUT PEACE!!!!!

Stay out please.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by TheChief

Wait a second. Your saying that Hanifin has been worse then Brodie?


IM OUT PEACE!!!!!

...OK bye? Hanifin's CF% rel is by far the worst on the team this season and he's looked incredibly shaky back there.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1054905029969162240

He was terrible tonight. Absolute trainwreck.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by TheChief

Wait a second. Your saying that Hanifin has been worse then Brodie?


IM OUT PEACE!!!!!

Is that a promise?

[Dion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1054926264480555008

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Stay out please.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'm not arguing that Brodie has been anything better than slightly-above-average in general, and that his (terrible) mistakes often seem to overshadow his otherwise steady play.

I'm arguing that Hanifin is much, much worse and should sit first.

Leave it to CP to have hyperbole-ridden takes.


- Yes, indeed Hanifin had a bad game. He is still a player who gives this team its best chance to win, as evidenced by his feed to Neal which should have been goal. Sitting him is absurd. If he has struggled, it's because his partner is a rookie and he's not ready to fully carry a pair. As much as I think Hamonic's an overrated player, he's presently still presently the fourth best defenseman on this team and Hanifin needs that stability and veteran savvy to trust his own gap control. That's not to say Andersson isn't ready, but he too needs a steady, older partner.



- Brodie did not have a bad game. The refs jobbed him on a penalty but he was actually one of the few players who came to play. And people acting like he is garbage are getting tired.

- Neal also did not have a terrible game and he hasn't been that bad to start the season either. Not scoring on chances is far preferable to not getting chances at all because you suck and for that reason he's not Troy Brouwer. He's a tad bit slow but he wins puck battles and makes good plays, reads off his linemates, gets open, etc. If he needs anything, it's probably a better power play setup that plays to his strengths. I do think that line needs a different look than Derek Ryan. For all the centers that have been tried there - Jankowski, Dube, Ryan.. there's one obvious choice, Sam Bennett and then have Czarnik or Dube be the LW.

[kman35ca]

I know it’s early and everything. But after last year, among other years, my patience is worn thin. If they actually played hard, skated like they didn’t just drink a 40 of whiskey the night before, I could say, “Well that sucks, can’t win em all.”
If they aren’t playing hard night in, night out, 20 games from now. I think we have a serious problem with the core of this team.

I’d really like to know if they are really preparing for games, or just half arsing it. Just tired of seeing this lack of effort I saw the majority of last year...

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Leave it to CP to have hyperbole-ridden takes.


- Yes, indeed Hanifin had a bad game. He is still a player who gives this team its best chance to win, as evidenced by his feed to Neal which should have been goal. Sitting him is absurd. If he has struggled, it's because his partner is a rookie and he's not ready to fully carry a pair. As much as I think Hamonic's an overrated player, he's presently still presently the fourth best defenseman on this team and Hanifin needs that stability and veteran savvy to trust his own gap control. That's not to say Andersson isn't ready, but he too needs a steady, older partner.



- Brodie did not have a bad game. The refs jobbed him on a penalty but he was actually one of the few players who came to play. And people acting like he is garbage are getting tired.

- Neal also did not have a terrible game and he hasn't been that bad to start the season either. Not scoring on chances is far preferable to not getting chances at all because you suck and for that reason he's not Troy Brouwer. He's a tad bit slow but he wins puck battles and makes good plays, reads off his linemates, gets open, etc. If he needs anything, it's probably a better power play setup that plays to his strengths. I do think that line needs a different look than Derek Ryan. For all the centers that have been tried there - Jankowski, Dube, Ryan.. there's one obvious choice, Sam Bennett and then have Czarnik or Dube be the LW.

I agree with all of these opinions almost 100%. Were you accusing me of having hyperbole-ridden takes?

I will say that the one area that I disagree with you slightly is on Neal. I don't think he's been cataclysmically deleterious by any means but when you're paid nearly $6 million, you gotta score.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I'm not arguing that Brodie has been anything better than slightly-above-average in general, and that his (terrible) mistakes often seem to overshadow his otherwise steady play.

I'm arguing that Hanifin is much, much worse and should sit first.

If you think Brodie is slightly above average then we are watching a different player out there. He is awful. Has been for three years. Got a pass to start the season so he could go back to his proper side. Did not matter. He still sucks.

I don’t disagree that hanafin has also been bad. He has. As I said up thread, a significant downgrade from Hamilton. Through 9 games we’ve lost that trade.

Also, otherwise average (you say steady) can’t rescue terrible and costly decisions/play. You have to look at his whole game. And his whole game is bad. Not even close to top 4 d level play.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by pepper24

Flames still have 5-4-0 record, move on and focus on next game.

You say "still" like that's a good record. That point pace probably has them outside the playoffs at the end of the year.

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by TheChief

Wait a second. Your saying that Hanifin has been worse then Brodie?


IM OUT PEACE!!!!!

[taxbuster]

Well. No wonder my wife is mad at me.

And she wasn't watching the game.

Great and entertaining first 10 minutes or so, even if the turnovers were hot out of the oven. After that....not so much.

[timbit]

Bottom line.

The flames have been lethargic and flat out terrible in preventing quality scoring chances.

NOT just the defensemen, the team in general has been far weaker positionally and battlewise without the puck up to this point. That, along with some very questionable puck decisions , puts the Flames at one game above 500.

Without amelioration in the above mentioned areas , Patrick Roy and MA Fleury in their prime would not save this team.

This is a talented team, offensively. Work , awareness and team defense will make the difference.

Straighten out those problem areas and they are a contender IMO.

[Funkhouser]

Heading back from the game now. My observations:

-I was behind Rittich for two periods and he was fantastic. It could have easily been 6/7 against. He needs to work on. His rebounds but I’m excited we may have a home grown starter. Time will tell.

-Anderson was the only other flame who stood out in a positive way. Solid both ways.

-Brodie was fine, as was Bennett

-Hanifin and the top line were ****

-you had the advantage of replays but the refereeing actually seemed biased in the flames favour in person.

This loss should be blamed on effort, hangovers, culture, but not on Brodie or Refereeing. Shame on the flames for wasting my $ and my only chance to see them for a year.

[Duffalufagus]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Leave it to CP to have hyperbole-ridden takes.


- Yes, indeed Hanifin had a bad game. He is still a player who gives this team its best chance to win, as evidenced by his feed to Neal which should have been goal. Sitting him is absurd. If he has struggled, it's because his partner is a rookie and he's not ready to fully carry a pair. As much as I think Hamonic's an overrated player, he's presently still presently the fourth best defenseman on this team and Hanifin needs that stability and veteran savvy to trust his own gap control. That's not to say Andersson isn't ready, but he too needs a steady, older partner.



- Brodie did not have a bad game. The refs jobbed him on a penalty but he was actually one of the few players who came to play. And people acting like he is garbage are getting tired.

- Neal also did not have a terrible game and he hasn't been that bad to start the season either. Not scoring on chances is far preferable to not getting chances at all because you suck and for that reason he's not Troy Brouwer. He's a tad bit slow but he wins puck battles and makes good plays, reads off his linemates, gets open, etc. If he needs anything, it's probably a better power play setup that plays to his strengths. I do think that line needs a different look than Derek Ryan. For all the centers that have been tried there - Jankowski, Dube, Ryan.. there's one obvious choice, Sam Bennett and then have Czarnik or Dube be the LW.

This is classic CP blue sky analysis. Brodie had a good game? Neal was good? Hanafin gives the Flames the “best chance to win”? Bennett back to centre? Lol.

Good gravy.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by chummer

You say Brodie doesn't worry you yet Hannifin worries you and he is Brodie-level bad.


Strange take.

I should've clarified when I said he's bad-Brodie-level-bad. Hanifin has played consistently at the level that Brodie plays at when he makes mistakes -- at the level of "Bad Brodie," hence me saying "bad-Brodie-level" and not simply "Brodie-level."