[PGT] Avalanche 5 - Flames 6

[Zevo]

Yup, I think it was a minor penalty for charging but hey, take the gift. We've been screwed a couple of times on questionable calls this season already and will get screwed again. Every team gets boned by a bad call now and then, it's all in how teams respond to it. Calgary has done well this year recovering, Colorado not so much last night.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Mike F

The Sagarin Ratings on USAToday.com take into account schedule difficulty, and have the Flames 9th overall in the league.

NHL 2018-2019 through games of 2018 November 1 Thursday                                                                                         
                                RATING    W   L   T  SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 |  PREDICTOR   | GOLDEN_MEAN  |  RECENT    
                HOME ADVANTAGE=[  0.24]                                                   [  0.24]       [  0.24]       [  0.24]
   1  Nashville Predators     =   4.83   10   3   0    4.12(   5)   6  2  0 |   8  2  0 |    4.89    1 |    4.99    1 |    4.64    3  CENTRAL (west)
   2  Pittsburgh Penguins     =   4.52    6   5   0    4.10(   6)   2  2  0 |   4  4  0 |    4.60    2 |    4.48    3 |    4.26    9  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
   3  Tampa Bay Lightning     =   4.41    8   4   0    3.95(  20)   1  2  0 |   2  3  0 |    4.50    3 |    4.55    2 |    4.06   16  ATLANTIC (EAST)
   4  Colorado Avalanche      =   4.37    7   6   0    3.98(  14)   0  3  0 |   2  4  0 |    4.43    4 |    4.25    9 |    4.12   13  CENTRAL (west)
   5  Boston Bruins           =   4.35    7   5   0    3.91(  28)   1  2  0 |   1  4  0 |    4.38    5 |    4.31    7 |    4.18   10  ATLANTIC (EAST)
   6  New York Islanders      =   4.33    7   5   0    4.15(   4)   2  2  0 |   2  2  0 |    4.29    7 |    4.11   12 |    4.77    2  METROPOLITAN (EAST)
   7  Winnipeg Jets           =   4.31    8   5   0    3.96(  17)   1  2  0 |   1  5  0 |    4.38    6 |    4.45    4 |    4.00   17  CENTRAL (west)
   8  Arizona Coyotes         =   4.24    6   5   0    3.93(  21)   1  1  0 |   1  3  0 |    4.19   10 |    4.05   15 |    4.78    1  PACIFIC (west)
   9  Calgary Flames          =   4.23    8   6   0    4.20(   1)   4  2  0 |   5  4  0 |    4.21    9 |    4.35    5 |    4.41    4  PACIFIC (west)
  10  Edmonton Oilers         =   4.20    7   5   0    4.16(   3)   3  3  0 |   4  5  0 |    4.18   12 |    4.28    8 |    4.37    5  PACIFIC (west)

What I really noticed about this is that Nashville and Calgary are the only teams with a better than .500 record against the top 10 and top 16. Making points against the best in the league.

[CsInMyBlood]

Although a couple of posts in here have touched on it, I just dont think enough love is being given to the 3M line for what they did last night.

Rantanen, MacKinnon and Landeskog are ranked 1st, 6th and 7th respectively in points in the NHL this season so far. They have 55 points between the three of them in 12 games played and were a combined +40 before puck drop vs. the Flames last night.

They came out of this matchup vs. the 3M line with 1 powerplay point and a collective -9.

Not only were they shut down, Matthew, Mikael and Micheal feasted on them with 2 goals, 4 assists and finished with a tidy +8 in a 6-5 final score. Simply awesome.

I love me some 3M. What a clinic they put on last night. We are lucky to have them.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

You're right and I'd venture to say 95%+ of the people on this board have acknowledged in a number of different ways that Mike Smith needs to get his **** together and that they should start Rittich next game.

But wasn't that comeback fun? Didn't we get two points and currently sit in top spot in the division?

They won in spite of Mike Smith's brutal goaltending performance. There are a lot of positives to take from that game.

They are often winning in spite of their starting goalie, and that's irritating.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I don't think I've ever been more irritated with a win.

This is a good team. The "Mike Smith is your starter" argument is fine if he's a) having a good start to the season or b) has years left on his deal and you have to try and salvage him.

Smith is a pending UFA. He's 36. The time has come for him to transition to a veteran backup.

Start Rittich Saturday.

The NYR win was way more irritating. The team played badly and they won on the back of Rittich and because the Rangers suck.

This was a deserved win that they fought back to obtain.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

They are often winning in spite of their starting goalie, and that's irritating.

It is irritating but what’s the solution? We have to work with what we have until such time we can get a legit #1.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The force of impact is what took Cole off his feet...

I have watched that sequence about a dozen times now and cannot see precisely the point at which Cole leaves his feet relative to impact. Do you have a view of the hit that makes you so certain?

I think it is a matter of interpretation on the basis of the replay angles I have seen.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I have watched that sequence about a dozen times now and cannot see precisely the point at which Cole leaves his feet relative to impact. Do you have a view of the hit that makes you so certain?

I think it is a matter of interpretation on the basis of the replay angles I have seen.

I don't know about his feet but to me he definitely elevates his body into the hit. So he essentially is crouching and then exploding upwards (including his left arm).

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

It is irritating but what’s the solution? We have to work with what we have until such time we can get a legit #1.

You'd think these things grow on trees.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't know about his feet but to me he definitely elevates his body into the hit. So he essentially is crouching and then exploding upwards (including his left arm).

Yeah, that's what I have noticed also. It certainly colours my opinion about the hit overall, and fairly sharply distinguishes it from Valamaki's in the third.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

You'd think these things grow on trees.

No kidding. People forget that in order to get any of Bishop, Fleury or Andersen would have cost us huge assets like Tkachuk etc.

[AC]

TSN has a little video about the charge where Button calls it classic charging. The replay shows he travels 35 feet to make the hit and his skating hard into it.

I'm surprised it was 5 and not 2, but I honestly don't know the rules for what bumps it up a category.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by AC

TSN has a little video about the charge where Button calls it classic charging. The replay shows he travels 35 feet to make the hit and his skating hard into it.

I'm surprised it was 5 and not 2, but I honestly don't know the rules for what bumps it up a category.

Its also important to note that the Reffs only got to watch it once before making a call. They discussed it and did what they thought was fair. A 5 minute major was likely too much, but obviously the league takes big hits seriously, and there was no way for them to know if it was a hit to the head or not.

[Monahan For Mayor]

I could watch that Valimaki hit to Neal goal all day.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Although a couple of posts in here have touched on it, I just dont think enough love is being given to the 3M line for what they did last night.

Rantanen, MacKinnon and Landeskog are ranked 1st, 6th and 7th respectively in points in the NHL this season so far. They have 55 points between the three of them in 12 games played and were a combined +40 before puck drop vs. the Flames last night.

They came out of this matchup vs. the 3M line with 1 powerplay point and a collective -9.

Not only were they shut down, Matthew, Mikael and Micheal feasted on them with 2 goals, 4 assists and finished with a tidy +8 in a 6-5 final score. Simply awesome.

I love me some 3M. What a clinic they put on last night. We are lucky to have them.

Very well put. Flames are lucky to have an elite shut down line that can also put up offensive numbers. Mikael Backlund certainly has come a long way in his career.

Also it should be noted just how awesome it is having a versatile forward like Michael Frolik. He's a great bottom 6 player on his own. But when the team needs someone to step into the top 6 and shut down the best lines on the other team, he fits right in and does his job. Many players are 'boom or bust' type players in that they are either top 6 or bust, or bottom 6 and have no skill. Frolik easily fits both sides of the coin, and it's a coach's dream to have players like that.

[AC]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Although a couple of posts in here have touched on it, I just dont think enough love is being given to the 3M line for what they did last night.

Rantanen, MacKinnon and Landeskog are ranked 1st, 6th and 7th respectively in points in the NHL this season so far. They have 55 points between the three of them in 12 games played and were a combined +40 before puck drop vs. the Flames last night.

They came out of this matchup vs. the 3M line with 1 powerplay point and a collective -9.

Not only were they shut down, Matthew, Mikael and Micheal feasted on them with 2 goals, 4 assists and finished with a tidy +8 in a 6-5 final score. Simply awesome.

I love me some 3M. What a clinic they put on last night. We are lucky to have them.

Same vs Boston and the Marchand line. They put Frolik back in the lineup and reunited the 3M due to Boston's elite #1 line.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Random day after thoughts:

I didn't know that Neal liked the one knee shot (like Cammi). But that's a confidence booster right there.
I love the one armed carry of Johnny by Neal.
Valimaki got an assist even though I can't see him touch the puck. Totally deserved but I've never seen that before.
The "top line in hockey" got owned.
"Not ready to play" has been cured.

Valimaki did touch the puck. It hit his back foot during his hit.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Valimaki did touch the puck. It hit his back foot during his hit.

Hah. That's lucky (and serves justice).

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by AC

TSN has a little video about the charge where Button calls it classic charging. The replay shows he travels 35 feet to make the hit and his skating hard into it.

I'm surprised it was 5 and not 2, but I honestly don't know the rules for what bumps it up a category.

It was razor close to being a blindside hit. At full speed it would look like a full on blindside hit. Combine that with the distance traveled and as button described Cole sped up into the hit making it charging. I think it's pretty easy to see why he got the 5 and a game.

It was a bit of a suicide pass by Hanifin too, instant analysis by Hrudey on that one. It was a brilliant observation actually. But it's also what made it appear to be a blindside hit. Janko had to look back to his left and Cole came in from the right side, fast.

[AC]

Originally Posted by KootenayBound

The entire tying goal sequence made my day. Not sure if my old age has invented an imagined memory of the event, yet I seem to remember Rasmus’ reaction to the Valimaki hit. Rather than the typical celebratory huddle and gather at the goal scorer Rasmus went directly to his d partner. Exciting times. Watching this young pairing grow together has incredible potential. Top, second, or third pairing ...whatever the ceiling. Happy for them.

Wow. Long time to take for first post.

You were right! This is the only angle on either broadcast that shows Rasmus, but he's at the top of the frame and immediately points to Valimaki then goes over to him.

Link
Smaller GIF version if WEBMs don't play for you.

Also that Neal shot is still ridiculous. He basically reaches forward and slaps the puck perfectly top corner while sliding on his knees.