[PGT] Flames win 6-3 over Vegas!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Strange, while he had a great game, he's been the team's 2nd best defender all season and a massive reason why we're in 2nd place.

I like his game quite a bit.

He's been pretty awful of late though as it's not just some forwards that have hit a tough patch. Better last night for sure.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I don’t mind Wills as a PBP guy but I find his understanding of the game to be minimal. He often has some really awful takes.

I kind of agree with his overall position on Smith.

But the need to constantly bring up Smith, whether he is playing or not, is starting to be unprofessional IMO. You're a PBP guy, do your job.

I don't know if its because of his disagreements with Pinder (more likely) or some propaganda mission (less likely), but it is highly noticeable.

And yeah, he is more of a professional radio voice vs. a hockey guy.

[calgaryfox]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Monahan's game isn't really built around skating and I think that really limits his effectiveness against tight checking because he's so easy to limit if you just pay enough attention to him. That's my opinion at least.

Agree. He is an excellent sniper, but tie him up in the slot and he offers very little else. A lawn chair would have been more effective over the last month.

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

did have a couple chances. I think he flat out missed the net on one, and the Dman blocked his shot on the other. I'd like to see him demoted down the lineup; I think it's in the team's best interest.

I would like to see Lindholm centre Johnny and Chucky. The trouble is, where else would you slot Monahan in the line up? He doesn't bring any speed, grit, tenacity or defensive awareness.

[---Hatrick---]

Originally Posted by cznTiburon

It’s funny reading the ATL both Vegas and SJ fans thought that backlund goal should count and the oilers fans were blown away by the favouritism shown to the flames on a call that should have been interference.

Lol, that sounds about right

[N26]

Originally Posted by UKflames

Fantastic game and the 3m line was just rolling. Sweet goal by Eat Bread, such control sitting on the back of his skate blades to get Subban to over committ.

Monahan is a problem right now, although Lindholm has gone missing too. So many times that JH was in the Vegas zone all alone as the other two couldn't keep up. Him and Mony may have been line mates for 4 years but when does that loyalty start costing you goals, if tonight had been a loss that time could have been now and a change would be needed. As it was they won, so they get a small reprieve, but something isn't right.

I played with a guy who had a similar style to Gaudreau's way back when. Obviously not as good as him but he was a small. fast winger with a lot of moves. When we, or even just him, weren't getting the points he would get frustrated and try to do too much himself.

We wouldn't enter the zone with much structure and it was very hard to know where to be for him. Good teams would force him into situations where he dazzled yet ultimately ran out of options. They did this by double-teaming him at crucial points and taking away his favourite options (say like Johnny's curl inside the zone and hitting the trailer). So many plays were ultimately "scrambled eggs" type plays and myself and the centre were forever guessing at what the right place to be was.

I don't think Monahan and Lindholm are playing well at all but I feel for them. The line needs to play with more structure and be less predictable. You can see half of Johnny's giveaways coming before they cross centre ice these days.

[PeteMoss]

winning>losing

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by N26

I played with a guy who had a similar style to Gaudreau's way back when. Obviously not as good as him but he was a small. fast winger with a lot of moves. When we, or even just him, weren't getting the points he would get frustrated and try to do too much himself.

We wouldn't enter the zone with much structure and it was very hard to know where to be for him. Good teams would force him into situations where he dazzled yet ultimately ran out of options. They did this by double-teaming him at crucial points and taking away his favourite options (say like Johnny's curl inside the zone and hitting the trailer). So many plays were ultimately "scrambled eggs" type plays and myself and the centre were forever guessing at what the right place to be was.

I don't think Monahan and Lindholm are playing well at all but I feel for them. The line needs to play with more structure and be less predictable. You can see half of Johnny's giveaways coming before they cross centre ice these days.

If Monahan doesn't misfire on the one shot that went about 15 miles wide - we're all saying they are back and everything is fine.

Yes you need results - but when they aren't coming you have to look to look at the big picture. Last night they had some good chances and didn't bury them. Its a step in the right direction.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's been pretty awful of late though as it's not just some forwards that have hit a tough patch. Better last night for sure.

While Hamonic hasn't been great lately, it's Hanifin that's really been struggling. It could be that Hamonic's been trying to cover for Hanifin's gaffes. Sometimes I forget Hanifin's still so young, so I'm still chalking it up to growing pains as he takes on more minutes. I'm still really high on him long term.

[-TC-]

Bummed I missed the game, but I'm glad to hear they put Vegas away.

I just wish they'd done that in Vegas last week... still, I did win a bunch at the blackjack tables after the game, so upside I guess

[Textcritic]

I said it on Wednesday night, and it bears repeating: VGK is NOT scary. The Flames have looked like the much better team in all four games they have played this year, despite losing both games in Vegas by the slimmest of margins.

I don’t know why people are freaking out about them. I like the Flames chances in a playoff series to beat them—with or without home ice advantage.

Excellent game last night.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

While Hamonic hasn't been great lately, it's Hanifin that's really been struggling. It could be that Hamonic's been trying to cover for Hanifin's gaffes. Sometimes I forget Hanifin's still so young, so I'm still chalking it up to growing pains as he takes on more minutes. I'm still really high on him long term.

Hamonic has also been guilty of turning over the puck and it's a case of both hitting a rough patch. While it's easy to blame Brodie for top pairing mistakes last night Gio would probably tell you that wasn't his best game.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I said it on Wednesday night, and it bears repeating: VGK is NOT scary. The Flames have looked like the much better team in all four games they have played this year, despite losing both games in Vegas by the slimmest of margins.

I don’t know why people are freaking out about them. I like the Flames chances in a playoff series to beat them—with or without home ice advantage.

Excellent game last night.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think the biggest pro of not facing Vegas in the 1st round is that they seem to have the Sharks number and that would probably be a hard fought series that would benefit the Flames if they were able to get to the 2nd round and face the winner.

[bettercallbettman]

Wins a win! Caught a team on a back2back and an awful tendy but hey let’s hope this gets em rolling

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I said it on Wednesday night, and it bears repeating: VGK is NOT scary. The Flames have looked like the much better team in all four games they have played this year, despite losing both games in Vegas by the slimmest of margins.

I don’t know why people are freaking out about them. I like the Flames chances in a playoff series to beat them—with or without home ice advantage.

Excellent game last night.


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Vegas is loosey goosey as all hell. Their bottom lines and d-pairings are brutal. Stone is really good defensively but he has zero chemistry with his linemates. Guy looks totally out of place.

[Travis Munroe]

It would be a close series but not what you hope to get by finishing first or second in the west.

James Neal could help even things out if he comes back and plays to his size.
Jankowski at 6'4" 212 lbs and Mony at 6'2" 200 lbs are ghosts in the physical game.

That leaves Tkachuk and Hathaway as our only forwards over 200lbs and 6' +

Both teams have good heavy back ends but Vegas has some big boys on the forward end that are not afraid to throw the body any chance possible. This is what concerns me about a series against them. Tkachuk seems to have pest mode or skill mode but rarely do we see a game where he excels in both. Hathaway is going to be crucial come playoff time. I feel we lost to the ducks a couple of years back because by game 2 our skilled guys were hesitant every time they touched the puck given the ducks heavy style of play. Vegas has...

Tuch at 6'4" 222lbs
Pacioretty (there Mony/Jankowski) 6'2" 206 lbs
Reaves at monster size
Nosek at 6'3" 210 lbs
Carrier at 6'2" 212 lbs
Stone at 6'4" 220lbs

[Robbob]

Vegas relies biggly on Fleury. Yesterday was Subban's 6th start since November. They have added some big pieces, but depth wise I think the bottom parts of their roster can be exposed, which is why Fleury is key. He has played 58 games and will probably play 8 to 10 of their remaining 12 games. That is a lot of games, especially for an older goalie that played till June last year.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Is it me or is Gallant a real whiner? He went on an on about the Backlund goal. Look at the replay for crying out loud. He got the last game handed to him by the NHL, what more does he want?

He whines for the same reason as goalies do, to influence the call or get a future call.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Strange, while he had a great game, he's been the team's 2nd best defender all season and a massive reason why we're in 2nd place.

I like his game quite a bit.

Hamonic is the modern day Regehr. An absolute warrior, the heart of a champion, and somebody you don't want to run into in the corners.

[---Hatrick---]

Vegas does rely heavily on Fleury, that is true. But to write them off as a non threat in the playoffs is dangerous. They are a very fast team and we saw how deadly they can be off the rush last night. And in Vegas, in front of that crowd, there isnt a team that would have a tough time winning there.
I think the Flames are the better team, and I think they’d pull out a best of 7, but a combination of Fleury, and playing in that building would make it a scary series in my opinion

[Duffalufagus]

Really solid game. Still worried about the first line (Monahan is just awful), but they have some softy matchups against teams not playing for anything to get it figured out.

I still want no part of Vegas in the first round. Subban isn't Fleury.