[GDT] Tonight! Live from the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames take on the Penguins.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I really don't get the whole "lets attack this player for 2 days on CP because he took a penalty" mentality.

Penalties happen, was it unfortunate timing? Yes but any good team should have an 80% chance or better of killing it off. In my opinion you can't really get after Dmen who take penalties, it just has to be assumed as part of the game, you can prefer they don't but the fact he took one isn't what was so bad about his play.

It's just more of the same. The penalty was purely selfish. Center ice, retaliatory, and the Habs scored off it. Pissed.

His play has been a steady decline for the last three years and being reunited with Gio hasn't made a difference. Any attack is well deserved.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's not playing terrible. He's had some stretches of solid play for this team to start this season. He simply needs to cut down the defensive miscues as his for whatever reason a lot of his seem to end up in the back of the net relative to other players. Also to be fair he's not typically been a big offender when it comes to bad penalties as a person that's been critical of him this year I'm going to give him a pass on that one even though it was a stupid penalty as he doesn't have a pattern of taking bad penalties like Hamilton did or Backlund at times.

The Johansen goal was also his fault. Drops his stick, leaves his man to grab it, and the guy is alone in front of the net to score. Pissed.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

The Johansen goal was also his fault. Drops his stick, leaves his man to grab it, and the guy is alone in front of the net to score. Pissed.

I'm throwing the guy a bone. Stop poking holes.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm throwing the guy a bone. Stop poking holes.

Can we still trade him for Nylander?

[Kovaz]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

It's just more of the same. The penalty was purely selfish. Center ice, retaliatory, and the Habs scored off it. Pissed.

His play has been a steady decline for the last three years and being reunited with Gio hasn't made a difference. Any attack is well deserved.

That's such a ridiculous stance to take. Criticize things that are actually problems. Being angry at Brodie doesn't give you carte blanche to attack everything he does.

There's really no pleasing everyone. We're calling out Brodie for a retaliatory hit, and Bennett got the same treatment for going after Zadorov a few games ago, and at the same time we've got a thread on the front page calling for us to dress a goon to retaliate after Gaudreau gets hit.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's not playing terrible. He's had some stretches of solid play for this team to start this season. He simply needs to cut down the defensive miscues as his for whatever reason a lot of his seem to end up in the back of the net relative to other players. Also to be fair he's not typically been a big offender when it comes to bad penalties as a person that's been critical of him this year I'm going to give him a pass on that one even though it was a stupid penalty as he doesn't have a pattern of taking bad penalties like Hamilton did or Backlund at times.

Brodie plays a lot of minutes, maybe too many minutes. Ease up his time, get him off the power play, see what happens then.

[Gaskal]

Somewhat different look for the PP. Neal in on 1st unit. Bennett in on 2nd.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1055500226067222528

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

That's such a ridiculous stance to take. Criticize things that are actually problems. Being angry at Brodie doesn't give you carte blanche to attack everything he does.

There's really no pleasing everyone. We're calling out Brodie for a retaliatory hit, and Bennett got the same treatment for going after Zadorov a few games ago, and at the same time we've got a thread on the front page calling for us to dress a goon to retaliate after Gaudreau gets hit.

Hockey players play the game. I pay to watch it. We all have the right to attack anything we don't like.

Taking a stupid penalty at center ice in plain sight that causes a goal, or leaving your man in front of the net to pick up your stick and that causes a goal, are two great reasons to attack Brodie's play.

So we are just to accept stupid? No thanks.

[dino7c]

Accept that these guys are human...#### happens

[TheScorpion]

I hope that, when Ryan gets back, Peters starts to play him in a purely 4C/PK role. Allows him to play a simple game that he's been good at and not try to make plays with players who are above his skill level.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It was one of those moments where a rookie looks completely over his head. Most of the team had trouble with the pressure from Montreal, but eventually they all responded to it. I thought Andersson was bad at times, but then he adjusted to the game and got better as it went on. The opposite could be said for Valimaki who crumbled under the pressure. The first time I've seen it from him.

It's just one of those nights in a raw rookie's career where they need to watch the game from up top and learn that way rather than continue to struggle on the ice. Remember, this is Valimaki's first season as a PROFESSIONAL. He hasn't had the seasoning time that Andersson has had in the AHL, and thus why Andersson looks a little more composed at times.

If I'm guessing, the game limit on his contract matters as well, and while he's been relatively good to start the year, it wouldn't shock me at all to see him go down to the AHL so his contract can slide another year. Andersson has looked better and better every game this year, so it might just be a situation where they can't afford to play two rookie defensemen night in and night out with all the errors that they make. Andersson isn't going to get much better in the AHL, but Valimaki likely will.

Sounds like it's a tough choice for the GM right now, so perhaps Valimaki gets a few more games to sort it out before they make a decision. I'm ok with carrying 8 defensemen in the short term.

Interesting. Did not watch the Montreal game (thankfully) so cannot comment, but prior to that game that's completely the opposite of what I saw.

To my eyes Andersson looked slow, panic-y, quick to get the puck off his stick out of fear of making a mistake, where Valimaki looked like a composed veteran and, frankly, the 3rd/4th best dman on the club.

I think it comes down to right side/left side too. If Valimaki played on the right side I'd contend he would be a better fit to play with Gio.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

Hockey players play the game. I pay to watch it. We all have the right to attack anything we don't like.

Taking a stupid penalty at center ice in plain sight that causes a goal, or leaving your man in front of the net to pick up your stick and that causes a goal, are two great reasons to attack Brodie's play.

So we are just to accept stupid? No thanks.

Nope, don't have to accept stupid but should realize that we are all stupid at some time or other...usually not just once either.

[Otto29]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

Hockey players play the game. I pay to watch it. We all have the right to attack anything we don't like.

Taking a stupid penalty at center ice in plain sight that causes a goal, or leaving your man in front of the net to pick up your stick and that causes a goal, are two great reasons to attack Brodie's play.

So we are just to accept stupid? No thanks.

You do have the right to free speech. You are correct. Should you be so nasty about it? No. Something that is often missed is how hockey players are that they are, in fact, human beings. If you make a stupid mistake, which I'm sure you have....we all have, Should everyone viciously attack you for that mistake?

No. Don't like what you are paying for? Stop paying for it. Yes, these are elite athletes and are held to a higher standard but do you think their fan base being nasty helps matters? No, it doesn't. They are still humans prone to mistakes and lapses in judgment.

Fans have this horrible habit of running the player out of town and then the next guy comes in and he gets run out of town. Be a fan and cheer your team on.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by Otto29

You do have the right to free speech. You are correct. Should you be so nasty about it? No. Something that is often missed is how hockey players are that they are, in fact, human beings. If you make a stupid mistake, which I'm sure you have....we all have, Should everyone viciously attack you for that mistake?

No. Don't like what you are paying for? Stop paying for it. Yes, these are elite athletes and are held to a higher standard but do you think their fan base being nasty helps matters? No, it doesn't. They are still humans prone to mistakes and lapses in judgment.

Fans have this horrible habit of running the player out of town and then the next guy comes in and he gets run out of town. Be a fan and cheer your team on.

Vicious? Being pissed that a stupid mistake caused a goal is hardly vicious.

I do like what I pay for, but I don't blindly cheer. I hope for excellence and criticize what falls short. This has nothing to do with being nasty. This is having a critical eye and wanting better.

I don't attack the person, I attack the mistakes and cheer for the successes.

I do think the Flames can do better than Brodie. Sorry if you don't like that, but I don't thinks he's that good. He's serviceable, so either be better or run him out of town.

But to sit there are be ok with stupid is foolish. I have the same standards for myself. No participation trophies for me.

[dieHARDflameZ]

I wish I was as perfect as some of these posters. Yeesh.

[The Boy Wonder]

Everyone needs to relax on Brodie.

He's down on the 2nd or 3rd pairing, whatever you want to call it, and it should help to boost his confidence if he plays well.

He really hasn't played that poorly this season, he's been unfortunate in that he's been directly involved in some poor plays,

and last game he wasn't any worse than anyone else out there. They all sucked

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Somewhat different look for the PP. Neal in on 1st unit. Bennett in on 2nd.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1055500226067222528

I like the looks of those better. Hopefully they can convert on some chances.

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Hockey, Hockey! Hockey, Hockey! Hockey, Hockey!

Get to see this one live, so I am hoping for a really good effort from the Flames to go with the $11.00 beers and a pocket dawg. All the best players are in this game: The Flames, plus Phil Kessel.

This time for sure! Flames 5, Penguins 3, Kessel has a hat trick!

Go Flames Go!

[troutman]

I don't like having 4 forwards on the PP.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Somewhat different look for the PP. Neal in on 1st unit. Bennett in on 2nd.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1055500226067222528

I like the shake up on the PP, but I wonder why we dont see the use of the wingers on their off side. You see guys like Ovie or Voracek playing on their off wing so that they have a one timer setup, or have a much better angle for a wrist shot. I get playing Lindholm on the right side during even strength but why not have him and Johnny switch sides. I hope that Neal can get that chance tonight on the right side being a left shot. It looks like he's playing net front, which is fine, but I'd love to see him line up to unleash that shot.