[PGT] 1-1 series. Off to Colorado.

[Strange Brew]

It’s not just that the Avs top line has looked better than the Flames top line, it’s that they have done it against far more difficult matchups. In theory at least.

Now it’s a short series and that trend really needs to change in Denver. I suspect the Flames come out flying in game 3.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I realize that the series is tied, but I feel that the avs likely feeling way better about their situation than the flames going in game 3 in Colorado.

The avs came through with a game plan and have successfully executed it. Flames have been on their heels, way too conservative, playing like it's a pk.

Flames special teams and smith have been the only reason the game was even close.

I don't doubt the flames will be better, but i also think the avs will have another level at home, not to mention getting Mackinnon more favourable match ups with the last change.

The flames top players have been outclassed and outplayed by the avs top players. This series will be a lot closer and potentially an upset if the gap between the 2 remains this wide.

I dunno. The Avs reminds me of when the Flames would go into a series as underdogs and would have to play out of their minds to even have a chance at winning.

But the Flames have to be very careful.

[ozzy]

Originally Posted by Red

Top line C wanted!!!

This

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

It absolutely floors me how lackadaisical Brodie looks even in the intensity of the playoffs.

The weird thing is Brodie's bungles all look like a lack of focus. Not holding pucks in at the line. Making blind passes to opponents. Puck sliding off his stick while he's carrying it. Surely whatever else players may feel during the playoffs, a lack of attentiveness shouldn't be one of them?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The weird thing is Brodie's bungles all look like a lack of focus. Not holding pucks in at the line. Making blind passes to opponents. Puck sliding off his stick while he's carrying it. Surely whatever else players may feel during the playoffs, a lack of attentiveness shouldn't be one of them?

Burke has spent enough time with the Flames to know what they have in him and he called him a high risk/reward player. One has to wonder when the day comes where the risk is just too high for the Flames.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I don't doubt the flames will be better, but i also think the avs will have another level at home, not to mention getting Mackinnon more favourable match ups with the last change.

If Colorado has another level they're cup favourites.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Rando

If Colorado has another level they're cup favourites.

I dunno about that. Flames haven't played good enough to warrant that in my opinion.

That being said, of the games that I have watched, there hasn't been a player as individually dominant as Mackinnon.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Full marks to the Avs they were extremely determined last night. The Flames were outworked almost the entire game.

Smith was incredible and THE ONLY reason the Flames were in it.

The Flames had some great opportunities but did not play with enough urgency. Especially on that PP in OT. Like what are you waiting for? As a PKer I'll gladly let the team spin around with the puck along the boards. What a waste of a glorious opportunity.

Not sure what the Flames expected but they sure seemed pretty content to just win that one game at home.

Johnny had Monahan wide on open to his right on that late rush when he shot it into Grubauers crest.

Hopefully the Flames can find another gear because the Avs found basically another two gears.

[djsFlames]

Thread is embarrassing. One game doesn't equal a series. Move on and burn the tape, just like the team is going to.

[Manhattanboy]

MacKinnon reminded me of ‘04 Iginla last night.

[CaptainCrunch]

Now the Flames know that the Avs are going to fight back.


The Flames were the better team in the first game, and even the shots that did get through to Smith were routine made to look extra routine by dramatics. But the Flames were engaged in that game.


The Avs came out as the desparate team in game two, and were extremely good, the Flames were flat and didn't match intensity until late in the game.


The Flames have no one to blame but themselves, but I think its a little early to declare the Avs as the far better team or the eventual winners in the series.


Its the Flames turn, and I would hope that all Peter's has to do at the start is open the gorilla cage and let them on the ice.


I still think that the Flames depth, and better blueline will win the game, but we have to take advantage and be confident in Smith's performance so far, and Sam Bennett and Breads performance.

[Flash Walken]

I see some comments about backlund but IMO he's doing everything he can out there. Ideally he's a 16 minute per night player, asking him to play 24 minutes is simply unfair. Putting Lindholm down on the second line helped distribute the load somewhat but that isn't a permanent solution because it kills your top line.

James Neal's presence in the lineup is screwing things up up and down the roster. I almost cant believe he got the 6th most icetime for Calgary forwards last night. I don't know what the solution is, but it's not wasting 16 minutes a night in the slowest guy on the ice for either team in one of the fastest series in the playoffs this year.

Czarnik isn't an answer, either, but I'd rather be playing Czar 10 minutes than Neal sixteen.

Backlund can't keep playing 20+ hard minutes a night though. The flames absolutely need to make a coaching adjustment to deal with Colorado's top line. I don't know what that adjustment is but it almost certainly means cutting Neal's minutes severely and elevating Ryan, Bennett and mangiapane's minutes considerably.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Backlund can't keep playing 20+ hard minutes a night though. The flames absolutely need to make a coaching adjustment to deal with Colorado's top line. I don't know what that adjustment is but it almost certainly means cutting Neal's minutes severely and elevating Ryan, Bennett and mangiapane's minutes considerably.

Would going top line v top line be an answer?

MacKimmon is playing well, best forward of either team but the answer might be offense is the best defense.

[keenan87]

It just annoys me that the Flames were a few minutes away from a lucky win. Would have been nice.

Oh well, let's get the next one tomorrow!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Thread is embarrassing. One game doesn't equal a series. Move on and burn the tape, just like the team is going to.

I see a lot of posters giving the Avalanche credit and discussing how the Flames need to and can play better. Your post is reflective of a low tolerance for anything other than praising the Flames which is fine but calling out others for being embarrassing because you don't agree with them is simply a bad take.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Rando

Would going top line v top line be an answer?

MacKimmon is playing well, best forward of either team but the answer might be offense is the best defense.

The flames would get absolutely murdered in that scenario imo.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Burke has spent enough time with the Flames to know what they have in him and he called him a high risk/reward player. One has to wonder when the day comes where the risk is just too high for the Flames.

When are we going to see any of that reward? I haven’t seen it in 3 years.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

When are we going to see any of that reward? I haven’t seen it in 3 years.

He has good games. When he's playing well he's integral in the transition game. He wasn't bad in game one. I'm of the opinion that the team needs to move on from him in the offseason as I'm just not a fan of players like this that you don't know what you are going to get from them on a game to game basis.

[Flash Walken]

I thought Brodie was the worst defender for Calgary in both games.

You gotta dance with the one that bring ya, but the pressure is obviously having a negative impact on Brodie. You can see it in his body language.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Now the Flames know that the Avs are going to fight back.


The Flames were the better team in the first game, and even the shots that did get through to Smith were routine made to look extra routine by dramatics. But the Flames were engaged in that game.


The Avs came out as the desparate team in game two, and were extremely good, the Flames were flat and didn't match intensity until late in the game.


The Flames have no one to blame but themselves, but I think its a little early to declare the Avs as the far better team or the eventual winners in the series.


Its the Flames turn, and I would hope that all Peter's has to do at the start is open the gorilla cage and let them on the ice.


I still think that the Flames depth, and better blueline will win the game, but we have to take advantage and be confident in Smith's performance so far, and Sam Bennett and Breads performance.

The Flames played down to the Avs level instead of dictating the play. When the game was 2-1 the Flames stopped skating and started chipping the puck over the line. Only bad things are going to happen if your giving the puck back to the other team. At that point they should have driven the play made the Avs work harder and put them in a panic mode while running out the clock.