Pretty much the perfect way to start the playoffs. An elite performance from Smith and Tkchuck showing yet another gear when it comes to leadership. I feel like the team has the right mental makeup this year to go on a great great run. On to game 2.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
As a huge Smith detractor all season, I prefer my crow rare, with a sprinkle of salt.
16 meals of crow would be perfect for me.
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Pylon on the Edmonton Oilers:
"I am actually more excited for the Oilers game tomorrow than the Flames game. I am praying for multiple jersey tosses. The Oilers are my new favourite team for all the wrong reasons. I hate them so much I love them."
The one it really reminded me of is Vernon’s save on Tanti. That one came after the save on Smyl, and after Vernie had made 2-3 great glove saves already (fast forward to 5:05):
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Lots of good trends and storylines from that first game.
-Tkachuk being a pest and getting two goals was good to see. He had a very lackluster 2016 playoff run against Anaheim.
-Loved the Smitty chants from that game. I’ve never been more embarrassed to be a Flames fan then when Smith was getting Bronx cheers earlier this year. I swear there are some fans who would rather be right about their “which goalie is better” pick than to see the team win. Nice to see Flames fans be a force of good for the team. The more Smitty chants, Ricci’s ugly chants, Go Flames Go’s the better.
-Flames PK was very good. Stood up the Av’s at the line multiple times. Gave them almost no good shooting lanes when they had zone time
-Limited the Av’s to two 2-on-1’s. Hamonic played one perfectly and the Av’s players flubbed the other chance. They didn’t have many chances otherwise.
-Lindholm laying the body was a bit of a revelation. The Flames now have 4 lines and 3 D pairings with at least one player that will actually hit people. I think it is understated how important this is.
-Mangiapane could be an X-factor for the Flames. That line is going to get favourable matchups all postseason. The Av’s did a pretty good job of containing the top line, but the Flames have a scoring threat on each line.
-Seemed to be a pretty equal effort from both teams. The Flames could win this in 4 or 5 if that trend keeps up. The Av’s played well, but unless Grubauer can stand on his head, they don’t have the depth to beat the Flames.
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Loved Smith's game tonight. He did almost get Fantanberg killed on one pass but got better with his puck handling as the game went on as they showed in the broadcast adjusting to what the Avs were doing when he had the puck.
Thought pretty much everyone did their jobs well. Lindholm stepped up the physical game. Hathaway with the big hit to free the puck leading to that beauty goal by Mangipane was a big weight off everyone's shoulders it felt.
If there was a goat out there - I'd say Monahan who weirdly let a few pucks just float by him on the boards on the cycle but I felt he upped his intensity a bit in the third so hopefully he's rounding into playoff form.
Thank god for Eatbread showing the rest of the boys "hey, we don't have to clutch our sticks and this grubauer guy isn't all that great"
Mony and janko still probably need to just have a separate practice and borrow some tackling dummies from the stampeders or something, never seen two softer 6'2", 200lbs + guys on the ice.
Hanifin was really gripping his stick early but loved the way he settled in after a couple of shifts
Brodie played a great game, we need his speed out there against mackinnon for sure
Benny and Neal both flying around the ice, they need more ice time
Derek ryan legitimately might be using the sports & entertainment sections of the herald as his shin pads.
What a huge surprise.
Not one word on the best player on the ice last night.
Keep up the narrative.
Sam and Neal played exactly the amount they should have played.
Great game and win Flames.
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From game to game in the playoffs there will be different heroes so not the end of the world if a few players weren't at their best but Monahan really needs to be a lot better than he was last night. Lindholm was at least taking the body and Johnny was trying to create offense but Monahan was a black hole and to make matters worse he was playing what I can only describe as a very gentle physical game.
The Flames spent eight minutes killing penalties. It is really difficult to roll lines when special teams play a big part of the game.
Yeah there was a stretch from the 2nd half of the first period to the halfway mark of the 2nd period where that line simply couldn't get on the ice due to all the special teams play.
From game to game in the playoffs there will be different heroes so not the end of the world if a few players weren't at their best but Monahan really needs to be a lot better than he was last night. Lindholm was at least taking the body and Johnny was trying to create offense but Monahan was a black hole and to make matters worse he was playing what I can only describe as a very gentle physical game.
I didn't think he was great, but this is overblown. Monahan was 9/9 on face-offs, and was 65% on his shot attempts. He can certainly be better, but he wasn't as bad as you are asserting.
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Dealing with Everything from Dead Sea Scrolls to Red C Trolls
Quote:
Originally Posted by woob
"...harem warfare? like all your wives dressup and go paintballing?"
Yeah there was a stretch from the 2nd half of the first period to the halfway mark of the 2nd period where that line simply couldn't get on the ice due to all the special teams play.
I really thought that the string of calls starting in the second half of the first period really threw the Flames out of rhythm. It looked to me like they were struggling to get any flow going, and really had to wrest that back in the second period.
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Dealing with Everything from Dead Sea Scrolls to Red C Trolls
Quote:
Originally Posted by woob
"...harem warfare? like all your wives dressup and go paintballing?"
From game to game in the playoffs there will be different heroes so not the end of the world if a few players weren't at their best but Monahan really needs to be a lot better than he was last night. Lindholm was at least taking the body and Johnny was trying to create offense but Monahan was a black hole and to make matters worse he was playing what I can only describe as a very gentle physical game.
Monahan has always played softer than baby ####, love the guy (wear his jersey) but this has always been an issue in his game.
Kristen Anderson @KdotAnderson
“Honestly I’ve never heard anything like that before in my career. It gives you confidence,” — #Flames goaltender Mike Smith on “Smitty” cheers.
Out of thanks, but this brought tears to my eyes.. the power of positivity can go very far for all of the players. I feel sick every time I see a negative thread about a player, because it makes the player's confidence plummet when he thinks the fans aren't behind him. Sooo good to see the support for Smith, and the fact that he recognizes it hopefully will make fans more cognizant of being more supportive if they want their team to win.
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Guys, I missed this during the game. On Mangi’s goal, Ryan not only sets a legal ‘pick’, but right before Mangi cuts to the net, Ryan flips up the defenders stick. It allows Mangi to make his move without getting poke checked. Just a very subtle but crucial move by Ryan
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