[PGT] Flames lose 10th consecutive season-opener (5-3 Avs win)

[bax]

I also love the fact that Lucic went straight over to Zadorov, face washed him a couple times and said let’s go and when Zadorov declined and just stares off at the ref Lucic decides he’s not getting off that easy and pops him one.

Lucic is on of the rare players that will take that extra shot and I like it

[Toonage]

Could have used Lucic to get at Zadorov before he erased Tkachuk in G2 last spring.

[Scornfire]

Frolik a genuine giveaway machine, never seen someone so proficient at coughing up the puck.

/pressbox

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

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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Yeah. I thought Kylington made some great plays on defense using his speed. Although, to be fair, I was playing a video game and browsing CP while the game was on, so I might have missed something LOL

[CroFlames]

I'm pretty happy with that outing overall, so it sucks that we lost. Officiating took away some flow from that game.

Some positive notes:

- Happy Johnny, Mony and Lindholm got on the scoresheet in game 1. Offensive guys need confidence and getting that first point/goal out of the way early is important IMO.
- Rittich looked good and made great saves. Looked a little rattled at times, so hopefully he settles in and believes in himself. I sure do.
- Loved Lucic sticking up for a 4th line teammate. I think that galvanized the team and they kept pushing despite having momentum taken away from them time and again with chintzy penalty calls.
- The d-men looked good, particularly Gio and Hanifin. Not sure what all the fuss is about with Brodie, the guy is a top pair d-man in the NHL with great positive metrics. Kylington continues to be a deer on the ice, and Andersson exceedingly high hockey IQ.
- Love Bennett's intensity and he made many smart plays.


Some negative notes:
- Frolik tough game. As a vet, you give him some time to figure it out before you look at benchings, trade or waive.
- Janko normally is solid defensively. Left a lot to be desired last night.
- First period the whole team except Rittich and maybe Lindholm were tentative, but did a 180 after the 2nd intermission.


I thought Dube would be on the opening night roster, I like the speed he brings. If you end up sitting Frolik, I'd put Bennett on 2nd line and Dube can take Bennett's spot.

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Game Takes:
Avs 5 Flames 3

- terrible start
- too many penalties
- good push back

Good takes... I'm with you on Oliver Kylington...

I noticed in the PGT he was getting lots of praise but it baffled me. I know its only 1 game and I won't put much stock in it, but I felt he looked like a mess out there.

Jankowski as many have stated was a liability as well. Did not look good on the PK and decision making was questionable at best. Again...only 1 game.

[bigrangy]

I wasn’t able to watch most of the game, but one new thought struck me.

I think Gaudreau could and should play Centre.

He’s as gritty as any other centre on the team if not more so, he’s much better at retrieving loose pucks, and his ability to skate and puck handle himself out of trouble in the d-zone is obviously strong.

A good first pass out to his winger, then they bump it back to him as he leaves the zone with speed could work.

It’ll never happen but I think it would work out. You’d need to have another guy take faceoffs for him most likely but once play is on I think he’d be the team’s best option at C.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Dion

Loooooooooch!

Yeah. If an angry Lucic is in your kitchen, you should probably pay attention son.

[Toonage]

That is a satisfying gif.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I don't get the Bennett love. I just don't get it. In the final 10 minutes he did nothing when the game was on the line. Missed guys with passes, muffed a golden setup from Tkachuk, then tried to beat the whole Avalanche team by himself and accomplished nothing. I really want to like this guy, but he does nothing except bump guys. He's third liner and playing him higher in the lineup is just going to hurt the team. I'm beginning to like the idea of making a deal for another winger. Brodie and Jankowski for Tofolli is really starting to look good. We need a finisher and Sam Bennett is not that.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

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.

Having read through the comments on the previous pages, I appear to be the one standing alone on Kylington's night.

I thought he looked jittery, wasn't moving the puck well, too many mistakes, and then it seems like he's hanging on to guys as they try to walk him wide almost taking holding penalties every time.

But I'm the one going solo.

Agreed on the Frolik night, but forgot to put it in the story

[Frank MetaMusil]

I thought Kylington was better than Hamonic last night.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Having read through the comments on the previous pages, I appear to be the one standing alone on Kylington's night.

I thought he looked jittery, wasn't moving the puck well, too many mistakes, and then it seems like he's hanging on to guys as they try to walk him wide almost taking holding penalties every time.

But I'm the one going solo.

Agreed on the Frolik night, but forgot to put it in the story

We all have our unique perceptions on players. I thought Kylington looked pretty damn good last night. Made a really glaring mistake, but had the skill to recover. That's what makes player conversations interesting. If we all agreed this would be a pretty dead board.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I thought Kylington was better than Hamonic last night.

I thought Kylington was pretty good, but I sure didn’t think this. A big positive for me last night was the play of the second pairing. I thought both Hanifin and Hamonic were excellent and this was good to see after their very poor showing in the playoffs.

Was anyone else as frustrated as I was by how much the puck was bouncing? It also felt like the Flames really struggled to hit the net.


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[Igottago]

Yeah count me as one that was impressed with Kylington. Not seeing where he had a particularly bad game. I thought he made several standout plays and showed confidence with the puck last night.

I'm sure he had trouble containing the Avs speed at times but you could say that about any defenseman.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I thought Kylington was pretty good, but I sure didn’t think this. A big positive for me last night was the play of the second pairing. I thought both Hanifin and Hamonic were excellent and this was good to see after their very poor showing in the playoffs.

Was anyone else as frustrated as I was by how much the puck was bouncing? It also felt like the Flames really struggled to hit the net.

I just saw similar things from the playoff series. Hamonic/Hanifin pair was -2 on the night, the Avs seem to target them effectively.

[genetic_phreek]

I wished we took a flyer on Nichushkin and got rid of Frolik. Then have Bennett moved to the second line.

Good overall effort by the boys and on to the next.

[bax]

Kylington miffed on a couple passes, but his skating really allows him to never be completely beat on a play. He also looked much stronger to me, but that’s just an eye test type thing.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Having read through the comments on the previous pages, I appear to be the one standing alone on Kylington's night.

I thought he looked jittery, wasn't moving the puck well, too many mistakes, and then it seems like he's hanging on to guys as they try to walk him wide almost taking holding penalties every time.

But I'm the one going solo.

Agreed on the Frolik night, but forgot to put it in the story

Nah, I'm with you on Kylington, he looked rough, hesitant and barely adequate, but he doesn't usually look that bad so I am not really concerned

He's a third pairing guy and played like it. Bend don't break.

I also agree about Bennett. He looked good. He's just not the answer to the question of who will be a top6 player with tkachuk.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Nah, I'm with you on Kylington, he looked rough, hesitant and barely adequate, but he doesn't usually look that bad so I am not really concerned

He's a third pairing guy and played like it. Bend don't break.

I also agree about Bennett. He looked good. He's just not the answer to the question of who will be a top6 player with tkachuk.

History would certainly suggest Bennett isn't the answer, and I'm fine with that.

Until they find someone better though he may just be the answer now.

Still hoping he's about to have a coming out party ... not elite point per game 4th overall coming out party, but 25 to 40 points. Does that and he could be the answer.