[PGT] Flames' New Year's Eve Offering: Burned Sharks for Family Dinner. 8-5 W!

[killer_carlson]

After a game like that, and Kane saying they need to target our better players, I'd like to rent Simmonds for the playoffs.

Bennett should not be fighting Kane, in my opinion.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

After a game like that, and Kane saying they need to target our better players, I'd like to rent Simmonds for the playoffs.

Bennett should not be fighting Kane, in my opinion.

Why? Bennett would likely win the fight and trading Bennett for Kane is a huge win on the ice for the Flames.

[Toonage]

Didn't Bennett already fight Kane in the pre season?

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Burns has some strange affinity for the Flames, or at least some of their players. Didn't he also chum around with Gaudreau (ASG perhaps?) as well as give Rittich & Andersson a lift back to their hotel last year?

Dude likes Flames.

Maybe he should come be a flame then.

It's weird but despite the losses to the sharks over the past year I don't hate them either. The exception is Kane of course. What a piece of ####.

[rooster]

Fat Bas$#@% Dan O' Halloran was watching Bennett take the stick from Dell from 15 feet away! He was staring right at it! Watch the replay. Guy should not be allowed to do Flames games if he has an axe to grind with them!

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

Back from the game and then a post-game New Year's ringing-in house party. A few thoughts:

-Hanifin really struggled tonight. He's been quite good all season, but every so often, his age shows and reminds me that he's a work in progress. With both Hamonic as his partner and this coaching staff, I'm completely encouraged that he will develop into a cornerstone D for us.

-Speaking of D-Men, if Kylington, Andersson and Valimaki can continue their progress, our D is in amazing shape for the foreseeable future. IMO, Andersson is ahead of the curve right now, but it's amazing to think that these three have all played meaningful minutes so far this year and that our bottom pairing is a rookie pairing. Remarkable.

-Having said that, our youth still shows with respect to size differential we give up (particularly in that bottom pairing D). Like the Nashville game I attended earlier this year, it was clear to see SJ's size advantage at times, especially in front of our own net. I think we are still a couple of pieces away from making a deep playoff run. I'd like to see one more mobile yet punishing defenceman and kind of a Nieminen/Nilsson/Donovan circa 2004 non-stop-motor type of player.

-The lineup tonight was, IMO, proper slotting of depth. It is clear that Tkachuk/Backlund/Frolik work really well together, so having Bennett/Janko/Neal experience some success is a step toward guaranteeing that second line stays together. It also put Ryan in a good fourth line role with the youngsters Dube and Hathaway.

-Speaking of Ryan, I don't get all the hate he gets on here. Sure, you may dislike his contract for what he is, but I never fault players for signing contracts that they've been offered. Tonight, Ryan won a number of important draws, created a number of chances offensively, proved to be a possession-driver on the second PP and, in one specific instance, came over the bench on a poor change from the on-ice guys to make a key defensive play, interrupting a shorthanded SJ rush. I understand completely why Peters is big on this guy.

-I am also a big Frolik fan and was happy to see him get two big points right away. Guys like Frolik are super important for playoff runs and this team would be silly to think of parting ways with him.

-Like others have posted, the crowd reaction to Neal's goal was superb. Flames fans get criticized for making the Dome seem like a mausoleum at times, but I've always thought that we will cheer when the team gives us reason to cheer. The Neal thing tonight provided further evidence to support the notion that our fan base is a very knowledgeable one that understands nuances in the game. After all, people could've "Bronx-Cheered" Neal, but they didn't, because they know he's been playing pretty well of late, and that he deserved that goal. The Jumobtron showed him grinning ear to ear on the bench for an elongated period afterward, while the crowd roared. That was awesome. (Incidentally, he deserved a goal in the second period when he hit that post...snakebit or what?)

-Did not see the Dell spear on Bennett until reading this thread--it happened at the opposite end of the rink from where we sit. We did, however, see Bennett on the ice and the angered reaction from the crowd in that corner. I now fully understand Bennett's anger. He will likely pay with a suspension, but if the NHL had any shred of dignity, it would retroactively punish Dell as well.

-With that in mind, this game has officially marked the end of me defending NHL referees this season. The Bennett disallowed goal was an unbelievable joke, not because it didn't necessarily fall under the purview of "goaltender interference", but because what constitutes interference seems to change game to game, officiating crew to officiating crew. Rittich getting taken out of the net against Dallas is fair contact, but Bennett breathing on Dell is not. Horrible. And like others have said here tonight, this crew allowed things to get out of hand by virtue of their non-calls (and phantom calls on other plays). What's most infuriating is knowing that so many of these soft-calls will not be made once playoffs start--the inconsistency abounds. The NHL has an officiating problem and I don't know how they'll be able to fix it.

-Finally, as we ring in 2019 together, I must say that it is so much fun watching Flames hockey again and then reading this site. Win or lose, the Flames are playing a style of hockey that makes an old guy like me take time at 2:30 in the AM to ramble on about his favourite team and stay up to read all the posts in the PGT.

-Oh, and the Oilers went 0 for 5 on their latest homestand.

Happy New Year, CP, and here's to the Flames getting even better in 2019!

Great takes. I agree with much of this.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Why? Bennett would likely win the fight and trading Bennett for Kane is a huge win on the ice for the Flames.

I don't think Bennett wins too often against Kane.

Bennett fights and throws for the fences, but Kane is a way better fighter than this thread has him pegged.

[OldSam]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

After a game like that, and Kane saying they need to target our better players, I'd like to rent Simmonds for the playoffs.

Bennett should not be fighting Kane, in my opinion.

If the idiot actually said that, it constitutes a threat and the NHL better keep a close eye on that next game. Ha. Ha. Ha. What am I thinking? The NHL being pro-active.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Monahan 48 points
Crosby 48 points
Ovechkin 45 points
Tavares 44 points

Not a number one!

He's well over a point per game too. Probably looking at an 80-100 point season for Monahan when all is said and done, given his knack for consistency.

[3rd liner]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Stupid comment . This post is terrible.

Ok, now that I re-read it, admittedly not my most intelligent post. I might have had a couple NYE crown royals... what I meant to say was I don’t like karlsson and should have left it at that....

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I don't think Bennett wins too often against Kane.

Bennett fights and throws for the fences, but Kane is a way better fighter than this thread has him pegged.

Yeah but it is ridiculous to suggest we trade for Simmonds because Kane is threatening retribution. Let’s give up a 1st+ because we might play the Sharks in the playoffs and their one toughish guy is angry?

[rooster]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Especially since no matter where he's gone, all reports indicate that Neal is a terrific teammate with a great attitude. So I'm curious what Francis' source is on that, and if it's the same one saying Monahan had a bad attitude and no compete

I think Francis meant Neal should be a little more upset he is not producing the way everyone expected and probably the way Neal expected too, not that he is a problem in the room. He has had a big smile on his face all season even when things haven't gone his way.

[FlamesAreOne]

Originally Posted by darthma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvzkFc6x7Qo

That seriously didn't get a penalty?????

I am happy to see Bennett crush that dude then. F em.

[Bingo]

Game Takes:
Flames 8 Sharks 5

- Flames bury the Sharks with a three goal third period
- Monahan career best five points
- Frolik returns with two points
- Bennett creates controversy in terms of non goal and late hit

[Radio]

Originally Posted by mdubz

Gaudreau is Burns’ son’s favourite player, not Tkachuk. There have been many stories about it.

I don't presume to know who Burns junior's favourite player is but I am certain the stick exchange was Tkachuk. Tkachuk had taken the stick out of Burns' hands as he was going to the bench during a game. He later said during an interview that they exchanged sticks in the off-season. Some of the details are probably debatable, but it was definitely Tkachuk.

https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-tka...ns/c-290643014

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Radio

I don't presume to know who Burns junior's favourite player is but I am certain the stick exchange was Tkachuk. Tkachuk had taken the stick out of Burns' hands as he was going to the bench during a game. He later said during an interview that they exchanged sticks in the off-season. Some of the details are probably debatable, but it was definitely Tkachuk.

https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-tka...ns/c-290643014

I recall a TV interview about Burns and how Johnny was his kid's favourite player. IIRC it was around the all star game.

[GioforPM]

Here is is:

https://www.nhlpa.com/news/1-11906/t...r-game-moments

[Red]

Even though Rittich let 5 in I thought he was great. Made some really big saves when needed. What do you all think?

[blender]

Originally Posted by Red

Even though Rittich let 5 in I thought he was great. Made some really big saves when needed. What do you all think?

Flames won because of Rittich. Made some great saves throughout the game.

[Kasi]

He made some big saves but let in some average goals too. Decent effort but he can be better. I read/heard something about that his knee was bothering him. I would guess Smith gets the Detroit game and Rittich is back in for Boston.