[PGT] Flames lose 10th consecutive season-opener (5-3 Avs win) - Page 10 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

btimbit · 10-04-2019, 07:42 AM

I think on Saturday I would demote Frolik or maybe even healthy scratch and I did not like his game one bit. he always came back fired up an effective after a healthy scratch last year

Textcritic · 10-04-2019, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 868904

...This the best way to give Tkachuk a legitimate top 6 centre and also retain some of the grit of Lindholm on the first line with Bennett, who also has some chemistry with Gaudreau.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Husky

No recent drafted players other then a very high 1st round pick is a legit top 6 player that drives offense. Backlund is a solid player but by no means is he an consistent offensive threat.

We would all love for the team to improve, but for Christ’s sake, and for the hundredth time MIKAEL BACKLUND IS A VERY GOOD SECOND LINE CENTRE. People pine for Jason Zucker and Nazem Kadri, and Backlund outscored both of them last year. He was a top-forty scoring centre at even strength.

Yes, an upgrade would be great, but adding a player of even equal caliber to Backlund is no small feat. If you are expecting something better, you are going to be disappointed.

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Huntingwhale · 10-04-2019, 08:01 AM

Some pretty weak penalties on some of those calls. Flopping and diving at the slightest touch. Pathetic to see. Still, the Avs play a speed/attack game that's hard for the Flames to counter. Unfortunately they are one of those teams who seem to have our number.

Lucic was awesome. As others have said, he did more this one game then Neal did the entire season with Calgary. Not a fan of his salary. But for what he brings on the ice vs what Neal brought it's an automatic upgrade on our side, likewise for the Oilers and Neal. The punch to the face of Zadarov was worth it for all the debating that went on over the summer about the trade. Flames lucked out that Lucic somehow managed to get Zadarov to take matching penalties on that play.

bax · 10-04-2019, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

We would all love for the team to improve, but for Christ’s sake, and for the hundredth time MIKAEL BACKLUND IS A VERY GOOD SECOND LINE CENTRE. People pine for Jason Zucker and Nazem Kadri, and Backlund outscored both of them last year. He was a top-forty scoring centre at even strength.

Yes, an upgrade would be great, but adding a player of even equal caliber to Backlund is no small feat. If you are expecting something better, you are going to be disappointed.

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To be fair though, the two seasons previous Kadri put up 32 goals in both and 55 and 61 points. Backlund has never had offensive output that high.

Nobody wants to replace Backlund, we just want to provide him better support and take off some offensive pressure from him

djsFlames · 10-04-2019, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Spoiler!

Yeeeeah... Not one ref sees this apparently.

That gets blown down in minor leagues.

Refs these days appear to be so caught up in managing and sending messages that they miss routine calls.

bax · 10-04-2019, 08:13 AM

My observations from the game:

- First period scared me. Felt like the playoffs all over again and I thought the Flames were going to get run out of the building.

-Loved the push back in the second and third. Still rusty, but Flames did a lot of good. They can build off of that and have another great season

-Gio, Dave, Hanifin, Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, Lindholm all looked great for the final two periods.

-Jankowski and Frolik were very rusty- should get better with time.

-Lucic has won some fans over and it's good to see. The team seems to love him too. He plays like that all year and there will be no issues.

- Really wish we had an upgrade to put on the second line

- Really bad officiating tonight, game had no flow.

Toonage · 10-04-2019, 08:17 AM

That game was nothing short of embarrassing and suggesting that they got better as the game went on is a weak moral victory.

That being said, its the 1st game and in the grand scheme of things, worthless.

Come out that timid against Vancouver? We got problems.

Geeoff · 10-04-2019, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toonage

That game was nothing short of embarrassing and suggesting that they got better as the game went on is a weak moral victory.

That being said, its the 1st game and in the grand scheme of things, worthless.

Come out that timid against Vancouver? We got problems.

Might wanna find a new hobby because I'd bet the Flames will have at least 15 games worse than this this year.

Monahammer · 10-04-2019, 08:37 AM

This is what I hope to see next game:

Johnny-Monahan-Dube ~18 mins
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Bennett ~18 mins
Lucic-Backlund-Frolik ~16 mins
Mangiapane-Ryan-Jankowski ~8 mins

Dube for now as a stand in until we can get a better fit on the RW. Lindholm is amazing there but I think it may be better for us to pair him with Tkachuk.

I thought Lindholm and Gio were our best players last night.

calumniate · 10-04-2019, 08:39 AM

Thought Ryan had drawn a penalty in the third, but refs had already obtained their quota for the night.

Toonage · 10-04-2019, 08:39 AM

We could have used elite penalty killer Tobias Rieder in there last night too

Textcritic · 10-04-2019, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toonage

That game was nothing short of embarrassing and suggesting that they got better as the game went on is a weak moral victory...

Well, no. The first period was embarrassing. Periods two and three were an entertaining contest between two very good, very closely matched teams.

No one should be too surprised by the first period either. The Pepsi Center is a really difficult building in which to play; Colorado did this to teams—good teams—a lot last year. Add to that the adrenaline of the home opener and a string of power plays, and that was bound to happen. It’s the same thing the Flames did regularly to teams last year, including top teams like TB, Boston, and VGK.

It’s what good teams do. Colorado is a good team, but it is more than a little premature to declare them unbeatable. This is going to be a fun rivalry all year.

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8sPOT · 10-04-2019, 08:47 AM

Rittich was good, basically mid-season form. The top line got better as the game went on. The team got better as the game went on. But for me, Frolik and Kylington were both really bad. I'd sit both of them tomorrow night if it were up to me. Especially Frolik. Get Dube in there or something.

Textcritic · 10-04-2019, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

Game Takes:
Avs 5 Flames 3

- terrible start
- too many penalties
- good push back

I continue to be fascinated by this stuff, because I rather thought Kylington had a good game last night. Shows how poorly my intuition matches reality.

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tkflames · 10-04-2019, 08:51 AM

The first period felt like the playoffs because we played the same strategy as the playoffs. Most of the teams in the NHL we will be able to smother with wave after wave of speed. The Avalanche are not one of those teams. What I saw in the second period was the flames slowing the game down and as a result the chances balanced out. If we had started this strategy in game 2 or 3...there wouldn't be this angst with them.

I honestly really dislike early season hockey. Its exciting because hockey is back...but our last memories are playoff hockey and the first 4-6 weeks is just slop in comparison. Suicide passes, bobbled pucks and shots, all kinds of mistakes.

Guys that stood out for me: Gio, Hanifin, 1st line, SB, Lucic and of course Rittich.

The bad:
1. Frolik: 2 bad penalties and fighting it all night
2. Janko....it has been a while since he had a great game. He needs to find a way to get involved. Give a punch, take a punch...something.
3. Tkachuk...reminds me of Gaudreau and Monahan after signing their big deals. Hope he shakes it quick.
4. Backlund...I love that guy....but when his offense is sputtering he is hard to watch. It's all between the ears. There are runs where he buries everything and then there is last night + last years playoffs. Two grade A chances and nothing.
5. I know Kyllington and Andersson broke up some plays and had some nice looks, but to me they definitely looked like a pair struggling. This seems to run counter to what others saw...but to me...a good defensive pair is one you dont notice much because they are in position and control the play. It is great to watch Kyllingtons speed breaking up partial breakaway...but those plays were only necessary because he was out of position in the first place.

Overall..best game 1 I have watched in a decade. When the schedule comes out I honestly look at the season opener because when you look at a cusp team as we have often been...you cant afford to give up 2 points to a bottom feeder. That definitely didnt happen yesterday.

Robbob · 10-04-2019, 08:52 AM

The first was just one of those games where Colorado were buzzing from the home opener and kept building momentum from PPs. I think the Flames did well to battle back into the game. Once the whistles were put away I thought Colorado were on their heels and benefited from a bunch of non calls. I would have liked to see the first line out there attacking with the goalie pulled, but meh.

I also liked what Lucic brought to the table. From the board battles to being that physical presence. Opposing players definitely know when he is on the ice. Even before the face punch to Zaradov in the second, I thought Zaradov was less of a physical factor compared to last year. If there was a scrum in front of the net, I thought he didn't take the shots he did last year, especially when Lucic was on the ice.

So glad hockey is back and I can't wait for Saturday.

BigFlameDog · 10-04-2019, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

Loooooooooch!

I gotta say...if Lucic is standing in front of you and angry, you might want to consider looking AT him so you at least see the inevitable shot coming.

Bingo · 10-04-2019, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Bennett for opportunities tonight, same story as usual.

Tkachuk found him right in the slot, in stride, uncovered.

Puck rolled off his stick, couldn't accept the pass.

Tkachuk needs a real top 6 player to play with, not something cobbled together.

Well he did send Giordano in on a nice pass. Was one of the better players and was noticeable. I'll take it.

Johnny Makarov · 10-04-2019, 08:58 AM

Lucic did more in one game than Neal did all of last season!

Neal's highlight as a Flame was a slow mo replay of him losing his teeth.

Toonage · 10-04-2019, 08:59 AM

Positive takeaway - 3M is always better at home than on the road. I expect them to stay together on Saturday night.